Sam Gagner

[AlowlyMcOilersfan]

Since he'll return to the line-up soon, we might as well discuss what he brings to the table.

GP:414 Goals:91 Assists:167 TP: 258 +/-: -48 Powerplay goals: 29 - SHG: 1 - GWG: 6 S%:10.57

Career FO%: ~43%

http://stats.tabita.org/faceoffs/player/sam_gagner

weird little statline is that he seems to be better at winning them on the PP and in the offensive zone

In the preseason, he played 3 games and had 1 goal.

He is a shifty forward with great hands. His skating has improved since he got in the league, but he doesn't have great speed. He is not afraid of the corners. He had a career season last year, albeit a shortened one.

He's still recovering from his broken jaw, but will probably return soon. slight update : Gagner won't be on the 2-game roadtrip, looking like more then a week till his return

I think he'll have an immediate impact on the PP when he returns.

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[Draiskull]

Dont care about his stats or skills..
If he can get Yakupov scoring he has done his job.

 

[Insta]

Dont care about his stats or skills..
If he can get Yakupov scoring he has done his job.

Pretty sure he will have more to worry about than getting 1 slumping 2nd year player going.

 

[2Sedins0Cups]

Dont care about his stats or skills..
If he can get Yakupov scoring he has done his job.

Agreed. I don't think the line last year was especially good at tilting the ice the right way, but he did seem to have chemistry with Yak.

I'd like to see ??/Gags/Yak get the soft minutes. RNH and, surprisingly, Arco have proved they can deal with D zone starts and tougher match ups than Gags has in the past. Or start him on the wing, at least until Hall gets back.

 

[The Nuge]

Pretty sure he will have more to worry about than getting 1 slumping 2nd year player going.

They play very well together. If Yak gets going, both of them are going to be producing

 

[Da McBomb]

When is he most likely back in the lineup?

 

[SterlingArcher]

They play very well together. If Yak gets going, both of them are going to be producing

Agreed they do. So

Hall-Gagner-Yakupov (great chemistry last year very offence heavy more of a second line)
Joensuu-Hopkins-Eberle (RNH and Ebs can play together feel they could use a net driver and grit)
Perron-Arcobello-Hemsky (two way line solid chemistry can play really against any line)
Smyth-Gordon-Pitlick (not a true fourth line more of a shutdown grinder third line can play 10-15 min)


Looks balanced no??

 

[Soli]

I concur with those that say Gagner and Yakupov should line up together.

I have no clue how they're going to do it though with RNH - Arcobello - Gordon - Acton currently making up the center depth. Gordon's too important to be playing with 4th line wingers and minutes. Maybe Gagner to RW and Yak to LW on a Gordon line? I dunno.

If the lineup stays the same till he gets back, I could totally see Jones - Gordon - Gagner and Pitlick to the 4th line bumps Eager out of the lineup.

 

[Draiskull]

I concur with those that say Gagner and Yakupov should line up together.

I have no clue how they're going to do it though with RNH - Arcobello - Gordon - Acton currently making up the center depth. Gordon's too important to be playing with 4th line wingers and minutes. Maybe Gagner to RW and Yak to LW on a Gordon line? I dunno.

If the lineup stays the same till he gets back, I could totally see Jones - Gordon - Gagner and Pitlick to the 4th line bumps Eager out of the lineup.

Should be fine if Gordon gets Smyth and Pitlick as wingers. Even Jones should be fine. Acton was playing upwards of 15 mins per game at the beginning of season due special teams while his wingers were getting 5 mins each.

 

[Oiltankjob Fail]

Agreed they do. So

Hall-Gagner-Yakupov (great chemistry last year very offence heavy more of a second line)
Joensuu-Hopkins-Eberle (RNH and Ebs can play together feel they could use a net driver and grit)
Perron-Arcobello-Hemsky (two way line solid chemistry can play really against any line)
Smyth-Gordon-Pitlick (not a true fourth line more of a shutdown grinder third line can play 10-15 min)


Looks balanced no??

We need enforcer in there.

 

[nabob]

Our 7th year, nearly $5m/year player needs to be sheltered by a 20 year old string bean and a career AHLer.

 

[2Sedins0Cups]

Should be fine if Gordon gets Smyth and Pitlick as wingers. Even Jones should be fine. Acton was playing upwards of 15 mins per game at the beginning of season due special teams while his wingers were getting 5 mins each.

Acton's game high for TOI is just over 11 minutes (and that was in the Van blowout game) and he's usually under 10, averaging under 8 so far this season. Definitely isn't, or ever was, playing upwards of 15 minutes. So they would have to work to get Gordon minutes in a 4th line role. I think they would be wasting Gordon in a 4th line role. Not sure Gazdic can be effective alongside him on a shutdown line.

If Gordon is 4th line, just double shift wingers in Gazdic's place most of the game. That I don't mind.

 

[smackdaddy]

Gordon's not going to be placed on the 4th line. That's just stupid talk.

 

[2Sedins0Cups]

Gordon's not going to be placed on the 4th line. That's just stupid talk.

I agree, it's a waste of his skills.

 

[Cassano]

Would like to see this lineup fully healthy.

Hall-Gagner-Yakupov
Joensuu-RNH-Eberle
Perron-Acrobello-Hemsky
Smyth-Gordon-Jones

 

[SeriousBusiness]

He was traveling with the team on this past stretch wasn't he? He must be really close to coming back.

 

[tempest2i]

He was traveling with the team on this past stretch wasn't he? He must be really close to coming back.

I suspect that he wants to be in team meetings, attend practices and to generally stay as close to the team as possible so he knows exactly what is going on when he steps back into the lineup.

 

[tiger_80]

Gagner would be better off a s a RW. Maybe he replaces Hemsky there eventually.

 

[molsonmuscle360]

Does anyone else think a line of Gagner/Arco/Yak could put up some numbers?

 

[McOilers97]

Agreed they do. So

Hall-Gagner-Yakupov (great chemistry last year very offence heavy more of a second line)
Joensuu-Hopkins-Eberle (RNH and Ebs can play together feel they could use a net driver and grit)
Perron-Arcobello-Hemsky (two way line solid chemistry can play really against any line)
Smyth-Gordon-Pitlick (not a true fourth line more of a shutdown grinder third line can play 10-15 min)


Looks balanced no??

I really like this. Every line looks like it can contribute consistently. First line has Hall to drive the play, and Gagner and Yak as a one-timer set-up man and finisher duo. Second line is skilled and has a banger that can actually play. 3rd line can all handle tough minutes while still being very effective offensive players; this is a 2nd line on most teams. 4th line looks like they could actually give some decent minutes and at least break-even on most nights. Gordon as a 4C is awesome if we still give him ~10 minutes + PK, Pitlick does exactly what you want in a bottom 6 player, as long as he plays like he did last night, and Smyth can still be useful in certain capacities around the net and is fairly reliable defensively. I like that all 12 guys can contribute, no "wasted" roster spots like with Brown etc in the lineup.

 

[thadd]

I really hope he, Yakupov and Joensuu become the third line. All three of those players will thrive offensively if they're put together. Their abilities and skill sets are perfect for one-another. Gagner is the playmaker, Yak the sniper and Joensuu runs the interference.

 

[SeriousBusiness]

I suspect that he wants to be in team meetings, attend practices and to generally stay as close to the team as possible so he knows exactly what is going on when he steps back into the lineup.

If those are primarily his reasons for being with the team, and not because he was close to returning, good on him.

 

[McOilbleeder]

If and when we're fully healthy, I'd like to see:

Hall-RNH-Eberle
Perron-Arco-Hemsky
Joensuu-Gagner-Yakupov
Smyth-Gordon-Pitlick
Acton, Gazdic

 

[Koto]

Gordon's not going to be placed on the 4th line. That's just stupid talk.

agreed, gagner to wing until injury/arco regresses.

 

[40oz]

I suspect that he wants to be in team meetings, attend practices and to generally stay as close to the team as possible so he knows exactly what is going on when he steps back into the lineup.

He's been practicing too, filling in for players who can't practice (maintenance days and what not). At very least he'll be getting used to wearing the cheese grater.