Once In a Lifetime
Lowetide
February 03 2012 06:01PM
One of the best things about Sam Gagner's 8 point all-world explosion has been the reaction. The fans are streaking in the streets, the former Oilers are calling 89 to congratulate him and the young man who did it all remains humble, perhaps even a little bewildered. What an awesome 24 hours.
Paul Coffey and Wayne Gretzky were interviewed today on Sportsnet and sang the praises of Dave Gagner's boy. Coffey even used colorful language to describe what Gagner's been through and sounded very happy Gagner had a big night. Coffey suggested this could be a springboard to a higher plateau. Is that reasonable?
WHAT ARE HIS MAJOR SKILLS?
Gagner's skills are somewhat cerebral: he is a sublime passer (that rope to Taylor Hall was brilliant and he made several others last night of similar quality), thinks the game well without the puck and sees the ice at a very high level. Proof of that came last night when he played in the middle between Hall and Eberle. THAT was an elite line, if only for one night.
Can brain boy turn this one game into a stepping stone? Well, he's still in the range when good young players become very good ones. Two players I have compared to Gagner in the past--Vincent Damphousse and Doug Gilmour--took big steps forward at around this time and it is most certainly not too late for Gagner to show another gear of productivity at the NHL level.
DOES HE FIT IN?
We've all heard about Gagner's shortcomings--too small, too slow, too poor in the faceoff circle, too something. Sam Gagner's skills--amazing passing ability combined with exceptional creativity added to an increasing dedication to the defensive side of the puck--cannot be overlooked. Add to that all kinds of try and 89's now almost 5-year burial deep in the second division.He's a survivor of the worst kind of muck at age 22. That's a helluva deal, and he did not break.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Last night was a terrific reminder about what skill can do. Putting Sam Gagner in a position to succeed would go a long way to unlocking more offense. The Oilers need to add more Sam's, not trade them away.
For one night it seemed like the glory days again, god it felt good
That third period was exactly like the 80s. I used to work the 5-8pm shift at CKGY radio in Red Deer, ITV game started at 730. I'd get home and make a mental bet on the score (first period would be pretty much over).
It was RARELY 1-0 or 0-0. Oilers of the 80s were very often like the third period last night. Probably caused water shortages in Northern Alberta (commercials=bathroom break).
:-)
Aberration
You dont give up on 22 year olds like this. I have to admit i was not in Gagners camp early on but, he does enough that i know he is a keeper. This wasn't Stortini fluking off one, this was Sam Gagner , 22 years old.. No he probably won't do it again but it could turn his season and or career around. Better in Oiler silks than someone else's.
Speaking of silks. What about a third jersey mostly copper with the Rig hand on the front ? I ALWAYS loves that logo.. Copper-Blue and orange. That rig hand wrenching is what the Oilers should mold themselves after, work like a demon. Add talent like we have and will obtain = Contender.
I just want a nice third jersey..we deserve it. Lol
I'd buy it....
Just ask Montreal about small skilled forwards.
C'mon there Nancy Drew, I'm sure you could have used your detective skills to come up with a more positive word to describe last night... or a song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W888EzZ0lrk
I only wish I was able to see all the games growing up. It wasn't until 1987 or 88 that ITV popped up on Cape Breton cable. Before that it was quite rare to catch a game. A brother who already lived in Alberta would record games on VCR tapes for me and mail them home to CB.
I still remember sneaking downstairs to watch playoff games in the middle of the night. The year of the Miracle on Manchester was the worst, another hour later than normal.
Why didn't Gretzky score 15 points in a game?
Your not old enough to realize Gretzky should have scored 15 in a game
Gagner's face off percentage is currently 49.3 per cent, which isn't too shabby for a 22-year-old who can't win faceoffs.
I think we're seeing what a few years experience can do for a kid. His faceoffs are much better this season, he came in quicker, and knowing how to battle through adversity is showing. He still has fire in his belly even though the season is lost, again.
The guy is a 5 year pro and 3 years younger than one of the top runners for the Calder trophy. Don't give up yet.
Pretty funny,
This reminds me of the so called "Global Warming" one hot day and all of a sudden you are a believer.
I've always been a fan of Gagner. Well, starting fall 2007 after Louise talked to me. :-)
~i blame his linemates~
Is she also a Pouliot fan?
Gagner is only 22 and is still developing as a centre.
Last night, he proved that under the right circumstances (such as playing between two highly skilled players such as Hall and Eberle), he could blow out the lights.
I would never expect him to put on a clinic like that again during his career, but his top end may be as a second line centre who can produce 60 to 90 points a season.
If the Oil draw another lottery pick, you can start to build a solid second line around Gagner if you give him some talented wingers to work with.
To younger oil fans: I know you missed the 80's but you got a taste last night. The difference is, of course, back then, every time you turned on the telly an 8 pointer was possible. To give Gags even more credit, he did it against the mighty, top o' the league Hawks in the modern game; Gretz and Coff did it against Mickey Mouse and the North Stars in the small goalie era. Samwise is alright. Let's hope it's a sign of things to come. That line was amazing last night, my god, I was priapic for two whole periods.
Yes, priapic. I love old tyme Oiler hockey.
the kid is 22....we all forget that too often!!! also, I will be at the game tomorrow!!! Good freaking timing!!
Sam doesn't even know if he can become consistent. But if any of you caught the look in his eyes on the ice after a goal, not when his humility set in on the bench or on camera, there is some fire igniting in his belly.
I think the coals that set it ablaze came from T Hall.
Hall created so much havoc, that created so much room for Sam and Eberle, well it was a thing of beauty.
Another manimal winger for RNH and maybe we're set well enough up front.
Passion, and determination pay off. Good for Sammy to stick with it. He has bleed copper and blue since he got here, nice to see.
~ya but let's what he can do against a real team like Detriot~
ARE YOU ALL KIDDING ME????
SAMMY GAGS NEEDS TO GO!!!!
This guy barely had 5 goals the entire season. Put him on a line with TAYLOR HALL and Jordan EBERLE..... Well everyone on the ice was trying to control Ebz and Hall.... OF COURSE SAMMY GAGS WAS LEFT OPEN!!!
MY GRANDMOTHER COULD RACK UP 8 POINTS PLAYING WITH HALL AND EBERLE.
Tambo I Know you're reading this right now: Go and pry LUKE SCHENN or PK SUBBAN into OILER Silks. YOU HAVE OUR BLESSING TO TRADE SAMMY GAGS... You may even throw HEMSKEY in the to sweeten the pot.
THIS IS THE OPINION OF 98% of EVERYONE IN HERE!!!!
So we should trade Gagner for your grandmother then? BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAY IT IN CAPS IT MUST BE TRUE!!!
The opinion of 98% of the people in here is that he should be traded? Interesting take, would like to see that set as a poll and see how wrong you are ;)
either my sarcasm detector is badly in need of repair or your mother thinks you're a special kid...
A great night, but it was just one night out of 335 others he's been in. Celebrate it, but it was a career night that few get close to seeing and fewer see again. Lets take a deep breath everyone.
If Sam shaves that beard off, he goes back onto the market...
Another fine In a lifetime tune from a few yrs ago http://youtu.be/b_klil_eOEY
Is this how Gagner racks up 45 point seasons? Disappear for 15 games then pad the stats with 1 huge game?
At least now he might have some value on the trade market. We still need a top-4 defenceman...
To be fair Datsyuk plays with big strong wingers a lot. If Gagner did always, that would be a better test of his mettle. As Babcock said before the Canucks game on why other teams don't hate the Wings even though they have been so successful (unlike the CANTknuckleheads) - to paraphrase -
"we play between the whistles. That is how we play because of the players we have. If we had different players it might not be the same."
And Babcock also recently said ( I think I read it on Kukla) that he would like another "heavy forward or D" for the stretch run. The Wings are about the same size overall at F but have more big players, 3 vs 1, and two are skill players (Bertuzzi and Franzen), ours no.
Point being, if you have two skilled "light centres" you're keeping, you get them some beast wingers (Datsyuk playing mostly with Bertuzzi and Franzen, 229 & 223 on the Wings site) if you want production and success. We have one in Hall (by attitude instead of size), need at least another guy with strength and offensive aggression, one for RNH one for Gagner.
See what happens when Horc doesn't play that much,hopefully the coach noticed
NOT!!
@Alex Steenberger
THIS IS THE OPINION OF 98% of EVERYONE IN HERE!!!!
where is here?In your room alone with your laptop?
I've always been a Gagner fan. Out of the three that were graduated together (Nilsson, Cogliano and Gagner) my guess was that Gagner was going to have the best career based on the fact that even early in his career, he seemed to know that there was a game away from the puck.
Players who think the game can do more with less than those who can't understand the nuances of a successful strategy. And if a cerebral player has some skill, then they can be that much more effective. Marchant played that way, as did Doug Weight.
Gagner's game will develop and evolve as he adapts to his role as a second-line centre. His faceoff percentage will improve as he becomes better at outworking his opponent with the stick and his positioning will improve on defensive coverages as he continues to learn the game. I would rather have a player Gagner's size who has enough fight in him to take on Beauchemin than a player Penner's size who doesn't. I absolutely believe that in this game, a lot of the battles depend on the old adage that it isn't the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
It is often said that Gagner was rushed into the league and that we forget that he has spent five years in the NHL but is still only 22. Well, the first three years of that career were played under coaches who weren't dedicated to teaching the game to young kids the same way that Renney is. Perhaps Gagner's game will flourish now that he has some linemates who could put the puck in the ocean off a pier and he has a coach who is a committed and successful teacher. Just a thought.
I like FastOil's suggestions about equipping a small centre with wingers who play a large man's game. It could be that Gagner ends up doing well playing with someone like a Pitlick or a Hartikainen. It likely won't happen again in his career, but for one night, Gagner looked better than that "other guy" from his draft class.
This was Sam Gagner after he scores 8 points in one game...
LOUD YELLING!
It's funny how so many people can still be on the guys case, 5 years in the best league in the world, still only 22 and coming off a career game most players will only ever dream about. Some call it an aberration, sure but a game like that is an aberration for every player in the league; 8 points has only been accomplished 13 times ever and Gretzky and Lemieux combined for 5 of those occasions.
Gagner is the first to admit it's been a tough couple of years but he's worked pretty hard and persevered where many other players would/have given up or mailed it in. At his age it is more than reasonable to believe that his best years are still in front of him.
Had it been Hall, Hopkins or Eberle fans would have been just as amazed, the fact that it was Gagner, the reaction that he received, that his jersey basically sold out at RX1 last night resonated with Edmonton fans, if but for one night the hard work payed off and he deserves every congratulatory comment he receives.
Posters can try and push the credit to Hall and Eberle, they both had pretty good nights in their own right, and of course Sam doesn't register 8 points playing with Belanger and Jones. For Gagner to tally 8 points is more than fluke or because of his line mates, it's a culmination of his hard work and intelligence on the ice and it's time 98% of the people in their room alone with their laptop recognize that and give the kid some credit.
I don't think I am the only one who hopes this kid continues to progress and solidifies his spot as this teams second line centre for years to come.
He had no support and bad coaching and it was tougher then.
I will likewise be at the game. Good timing? Yes, but better timing would have been being at the magical game Thursday.
Can't exactly put my finger on why but I've always been a Gagner fan. I'm in the "re-sign" camp.
I thot one of the best comments came from Gagner himself. When asked about the impropability of his accomplishment Sam said 'Set no limits on yourself'. That would look good beside the Oiler motto 'Relentless ...
The young man gets it.
Forget the trade talk! I think you might be onto something there!
What a novel idea! Let's play the kids more and see what they can do? Let them go hard after the Wings too.
Let's see them on the PP and PK! Play the Crap out them!
30 + games left
Do you think Renney will buy it?
...hmmm juicy fruit
trade 89...ask for big heap trouble
Line up for tonights game with RNH between Horcoff and hemsky? It's great that they are keeping Ebs, Hall and Gagner together but there has to be a better combination than your "1-2" centres on the same line
I am old enough to remember those 80s Oilers. At 46 I saw alot of those games. The key to those blowouts was that the Oilers had depth. Teams were unable to focus on one line. First Gretzky and Kurri and Lumley. Then Mssier Andersonand whoever. Then Hughes, Hunter and whoever. The Oilers had a balanced attack that wore teams down. By the 3rd period the teams were out of gas. At that point the Oilers lit them up for 3,4,5 and 6 goal. I watched a game against the Kings one night where the Oilers were down 8-2 going into the 3rd period. Nobody left after the second. The score at the end of the game was 8-8. My point is that most teams have first line scoring in todays NHL. Its the 2cd and 3rd and at time the fourth line scoring that decides a game. The Oilers have 5 legitimate top 6 forward. They are RNH,Hall,Eberle,Gagner and Hemsky.
Gregor has pointed out over and over that top 6 players don't grow on trees. Successful teams have those guys. The Detroits, Chicago's and Bostons have those guys. The trade talk pervading the OilersNation has involved Hemsky and Gagner for the most part. Do we really risk losing 1-2 top 6 forwrds right now for a Top 4 dman when the result would be the same as not trading Hemsky or Gagner? How does trading either of these 2 players make us better? Sure we would get a Dman who could help us right now. But now is not when we need him, 2-3 years from now when the Oilers are peaking is when you look to add that player. We have time. I say be patient. Offer Hemsky a contract with incentives to perform. The better he does the better he gets paid. Hopefully we will have more nights like the other night.
Hate to rain on your parade..... But Horc played the most minutes of any forward on the team and only second to Cory Potter.
At age 22 Dave Gagner was not yet an NHL regular. If Sam is near the player his dad was we have a keeper.
I have been saying this all along, Gagner is too young to give up on. Case in point Henrik Sedin only scored 42 points the year he turned 22. The old saying goes the one thing you can't teach is talent and this kid has it. I think we have found a long term solution to our second line centre problem. At his age Gagner is going to score 700 more points in his career, I hope most of those are here and not somewhere else.
If the Oilers draw another lottery pick they should take the best player available... Even if it's the big Russian center. Cory Potter could step on Sam's face next practice for all we know.
Now, now... don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Horc is like a good defensive d-man right now. The nights when you don't notice him, that's when he's done his best work. (And probably failed to fail on a one-timer.)
As for Gags, I'm still torn on dealing him or not. If he's being traded, it needs to be a hockey deal and not your typical deadline deal. The return has to be already proven top 2 d-man. Not a top 4, but a top 2. And, there aren't a whole lot of teams willing to trade away those kinda players at the deadline.
And how much do you want to bet most of those minutes were against Toews/Kane/Sharp/Hossa Leaving Gagner/Hall/Ebs to go wild on the bottom 2 lines.
@Lowetide
HA! You still doubted what I was saying even after you "saw him good" in pre-season. ;-D
Gagner thinks a 200 foot game, always has. He just wasn't strong enough to be effective against men. His huge brain, hard work, and commitment to the game suggest he'll never stop trying to be better. He's getting stronger and faster, and becoming a solid 2-way centre. IMHO, his cerebral game is the perfect complement to dynamic wingers. But then, you already know this.
....
I'll take, "Big Brains in the Zone", for 8, Alex. ;-)