Tambo, Renney and Horcoff are what's wrong with this team. Mostly Tambellini and Renney. Its ridiculous to blame Gagner for what's happened the last few years. But coming from you, not a surprise.
Where did I solely blame Gagner for the team finishing last and being at the bottom again this year.
MAybe a few more #1 picks and this team will be better, maybe not. Keeping a stagnant, redundant asset like Gagner around will not help make this club better especially when a player like Schenn is clearly available in a trade for a top 6 forward.
The ease with with failure and lack of improvment is accepted by the oragnization is what has caused this team to fail recently.
Gagner is just an example of that accepment of lack of improvement. A guy who cant be counted on to step up when others go down with injury. A guy who if he continues his rate of development should be a solid 2nd line player by the time he is 50. I point out that he hasnt been directly involved ina scoring play in the past 8 games and everyone here except for BBO seems to be willing to give him a free pass. Why? He is a 5th year player in the NHL time to step up or get for Sammy.
The thing is if you put Belanger on that line you know everything just turns to complete muck. Or with Horcoff he remembers how to make a pass every half dozen games when he's not tripping over the puck or highsticking himself.
Gagner has supported the puck movement, transition, made good passes, brought the puck to the net etc. If anything on that line Gagner has been helping to kickstart Hemsky's interest. This is the best hemsky has played all year, on a line with Hall and Gagner. Hemsky has pretty much stunk the joint out with anybody else this year.
I'm not saying a causal relationship, just that its interesting. Also that it doesn't exactly line up with Gagner sucks.
Gagner is facilitating offense as he did with lesser lights like Cogs and Nillson. Cept now he's got better to work with and the results will come.
Gagner caught lightning in a bottle in his rookie year and IIRC it was one of the highest scoring years post lockout, kid was creating like an artist on the ice. I haven't seen anywhere near enough of that player since then. As for Belanger and Horcoff, trust me I know, I get to watch them just like you do, getting offense out of them is about as easy as extracting blood from a stone. I would also disagree that Gagner is bringing the best out of Hemsky, IMO that honor belongs to Hall. He is the guy that drives that line.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GreatestOilFan
I'm not gonna make excuse for Gagner, although I don't think he's as bad as people make him out to be, he still needs to be better than his last 8 games. One point in his last 8 doesn't cut it.
And I find it BS to pinpoint the blame on Gagner for finishing 30th for the last 2 seasons.
There comes a point where he needs to up his game, potential only means so much for so long, after awhile a player becomes what they are regardless of what they could be. It would be unfair to blame all of the losing on Gags, however I'd like to see him rise above the losing a bit and really buckle down and improve his game. It is a team sport, however for teams to continually improve the individuals on the team need to get better. Horcoff hasn't, a number of guys haven't however many of the guys that haven't are past their primes. Gagner needs to ask himself if he's fine being at the level that he is now, or if he wants to be more. If he's fine where he's at then his mentality is every bit as bad as the fat cats like Horcoff.
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Originally Posted by Ol' Jase
Gagner isn't drowning playing with Hall and Hemmer, but Taylor is the engine which drives that line by a country mile. The other two need to play at their absolute best just to keep up with him, and Sam has had a bit of a challenge on the production side. Hemsky can play at the speed Hall plays, Gagner will need to play more with Hall if he hopes to produce consistently with him.
Effort is there, though, IMO. I expect Gagner to return to his point producing ways sooner than later when Nuge returns. Sam produces best when he isn't called on to do so, if you get my meaning.
All good points, however we need Gagner to be more than this, we need him to be able to step up for 20-30 game stretches and play on the top line without missing much of a beat in an injury hits one or more of our big 3. That's what good/great teams do. We shouldn't be building a team full of guys that can't cut the mustard when the going gets tough.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nabob
Where did I solely blame Gagner for the team finishing last and being at the bottom again this year.
MAybe a few more #1 picks and this team will be better, maybe not. Keeping a stagnant, redundant asset like Gagner around will not help make this club better especially when a player like Schenn is clearly available in a trade for a top 6 forward.
The ease with with failure and lack of improvment is accepted by the oragnization is what has caused this team to fail recently.
Gagner is just an example of that accepment of lack of improvement. A guy who cant be counted on to step up when others go down with injury. A guy who if he continues his rate of development should be a solid 2nd line player by the time he is 50. I point out that he hasnt been directly involved ina scoring play in the past 8 games and everyone here except for BBO seems to be willing to give him a free pass. Why? He is a 5th year player in the NHL time to step up or get for Sammy.
The possible mentality of "I'm good enough" that seems to be running rampant on this team reeks of career losers. If that attitude has rubbed off on Gagner and other young guys here they need to ****can it and quick.
__________________ Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated
He is a streaky scorer, I think everyone knows this. He'll probably score 8 points his next game and you will disappear from this thread, waiting for his next cold streak.
I can't knock his effort though on a team that has so many passengers, and there's so many more guys that deserve criticism on this club before Samwise.
“This year has been tough,” he said after the media mob had cleared and he started to peel his uniform off.
“There have been a lot of rumours. It’s hard to keep your mind focused. I’ve said it before. I want to stay here and be part of the future of this team,” said the Oilers first-round pick, sixth overall, of 2007.
“And I want to keep playing with him,” said Taylor Hall, who was moved to join Gagner and Jordan Eberle after the first period.
Very possible with how hot he is. I'm hoping he finishes with 55-60 points. But then again he's always been a streaky scorer throughout his career.. so you never know with him.
Gags has been incredible and i myself have been very impressed with his play,heart and determination,i say we keep him and sign him to a 2-3 year contract as he's starting to find his game ,found a good line to play on and he's still very young.I think it would be a huge mistake to trade him now.
I'm just wondering where Nabob and BBO are?? Anyone seen them since ground hog day?
Congrats to Samwise. Very happy he is getting things going his way just now. I know he'll go on an 8 game scoreless streak but then he will just drop the gloves. He wants to contribute, never takes a night off and so what if he falls down a bit, the kid is a player and all those who wanted to trade him will regret it if he is ever gone. He is an NHL player, no doubt.
