Gagner hasn't matched or beaten his rookie point totals and he's been in the NHL for 5 years.
That's alarming.
I don't disagree, but then the same argument could be made for all of our players, with the obvious exceptions of Eberle and Hall. Fact of the matter is that the best TEAM Gagner has played for was in his rookie season and that was also his best season. The team's performance needs to be taken into consideration, also.
All of this said, it's getting darn close to make it or break it time with Gagner. I'm a fan of his, but he's got to find a way to break the cycles of inconsistency he's prone to.
By all means lets give Sam Gagner the Ray Whitney treatment, how has that worked out for us by the way?
If Gagner isn't succeeding here, then what's the point of keeping him? If he goes on to light it up on another club, that's great, but that just means he wasn't a fit with this team. There's no guarantee he would have done the same on the Oilers.
Realistically, what #2 centers are available that play with grit and have size? Dubinsky is the only one I can think of off the top of my head but he's played LW the past couple seasons.
The issue I have is not whether Gagner is a sufficient 2nd line center, or even if he fits on this team anymore; its whether there is a viable option that is better than him for the second line, and Kadri is most definitely not the answer.
Whats even more problematic is that so often I see Oiler fans making proposals to move Gagner for a D or even a winger without anything coming back in the Center position. The point is, if you are going to move Gagner, you have to have at least an equally effective player fitting in his spot.
Edit: Joey Moss this wasn't specifically directed at you. Just a general statement.
The issue I have is not whether Gagner is a sufficient 2nd line center, or even if he fits on this team anymore; its whether there is a viable option that is better than him for the second line, and Kadri is most definitely not the answer.
Whats even more problematic is that so often I see Oiler fans making proposals to move Gagner for a D or even a winger without anything coming back in the Center position. The point is, if you are going to move Gagner, you have to have at least an equally effective player fitting in his spot.
The issue I have is not whether Gagner is a sufficient 2nd line center, or even if he fits on this team anymore; its whether there is a viable option that is better than him for the second line, and Kadri is most definitely not the answer.
Whats even more problematic is that so often I see Oiler fans making proposals to move Gagner for a D or even a winger without anything coming back in the Center position. The point is, if you are going to move Gagner, you have to have at least an equally effective player fitting in his spot.
Edit: Joey Moss this wasn't specifically directed at you. Just a general statement.
For me personally, I get the argument that you don't move Gagner until you have someone more effective to replace him.
That being said, you have to evaluate what you have, and IMO you don't win in the playoffs EVER with RNH-Gagner-Horcoff down the middle.
So instead of waiting around to see if someone will take Gagner's spot, I would be actively searching for an upgrade, and trade him when that day comes.
So for me, I guess the issue IS that I don't see him as a viable 2C on a winning playoff team.
For me personally, I get the argument that you don't move Gagner until you have someone more effective to replace him.
That being said, you have to evaluate what you have, and IMO you don't win in the playoffs EVER with RNH-Gagner-Horcoff down the middle.
So instead of waiting around to see if someone will take Gagner's spot, I would be actively searching for an upgrade, and trade him when that day comes.
So for me, I guess the issue IS that I don't see him as a viable 2C on a winning playoff team.
Yes, again, as I said that's is fine. The issue is whether there is a replacement that is better.
Not going to argue with yall anymore on this, throw him under the bus then.
Lets get Horc back in there and set course for suck.
Playoffs? lmfao lets get out of the basement first.
This is totally correct. Gagner is by FAR the best bet as a #2 C right now. It amazes me that for years we have had a crap 3rd line at the very best be our 1st line center and we finally get a true #1 and a reasonable #2 and people want to dump the #2 guy for pocket change with no viable alternative.
Yeah because making a mid size winger play centre is the same as acquiring a big centre.
Part of the reason we want a big 2C is so that Taylor Hall will have a grittier player to play with so he doesn't have to be so reckless. It would be pretty counter productive to make him that guy, don't you think.
we spend all this time comlaining about not having a big 2 way center. we know theyre hard to find. he could be it.
why not try him?
we have tons of top-6 wingers (this just in, top-6 wingers does not mean elite scorers, which we also have an above average quantity of).
Sure, you can try Hall at Center. But are you prepared to go into next season with Hall as the definite second line Center? If you do go that route, then you better dang well not trade Gagner in case it doesn't work.
Yeah because making a mid size winger play centre is the same as acquiring a big centre.
Part of the reason we want a big 2C is so that Taylor Hall will have a grittier player to play with so he doesn't have to be so reckless. It would be pretty counter productive to make him that guy, don't you think.
How would that work?
Quote:
Originally Posted by soothsayer
Sure, you can try Hall at Center. But are you prepared to go into next season with Hall as the definite second line Center? If you do go that route, then you better dang well not trade Gagner in case it doesn't work.
Can we try him there with gagner on the team? I would say a reasonable window to evaluate would be a full year.
Yes, again, as I said that's is fine. The issue is whether there is a replacement that is better.
I guess I misunderstood. When you said your issue isn't with whether Gagner is a viable option as a 2C, I assumed you meant that he was in fact good enough in that spot.
