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Could it be? A third tour for Sam Gagner with the Edmonton Oilers? If you ask most fans it would be a welcome addition to the team’s roster. His invite does raise some interesting possibilities.
THE ATHLETIC!
- New Lowetide: NHL teams that are best positioned to take advantage of the 2024 free-agent watershed
- Lowetide: New Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson promises innovation. What will it look like?
- Lowetide: The 5 best pro hockey players not in the NHL
- Lowetide: What Blackhawks can learn from Oilers about winning with a generational talent
- Lowetide: For Oilers in 2023-24, a more aggressive in-season approach is likely
- Lowetide: Why skating ability has such an impact on NHL Draft scouting and success
- Lowetide: What Oilers’ Jeff Jackson hire could mean for front-office’s future
- Lowetide: The 5 most impressive NHL offseason moves and what they mean for 2023-24
- Lowetide: Oilers sign forward Ryan McLeod to 2-year extension: What it means for Edmonton
- Lowetide: Connor McDavid, the Art Ross and challenging Wayne Gretzky’s record
- Lowetide: How Oilers’ pro scouting upgrade helped elevate team in 2022-23
- Lowetide: Projecting Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard’s points for 2023-24
- Lowetide: Oilers’ graduate a strong group of prospects to pro this fall
- Lowetide: Oilers’ late-summer options intriguing with cap crunch and lingering UFAs
- Lowetide: What are the Edmonton Oilers’ keys to success in 2023-24?
- Lowetide: How Oilers’ veteran roster, cap issues could impact Raphael Lavoie
- Lowetide: What the Oilers are getting in 2023 NHL Draft pick Beau Akey
- DNB: The Oilers roster is improved but evolution must continue into next season
- Lowetide: Edmonton Oilers top 20 prospects, summer 2023
- DNB: 10 questions with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright
A CONVERSATION
- What do you think of this rumour? The first thing you have to ask yourself is can he help anywhere?
- Well? Can he? He was an excellent power-play contributor in his prime. Over the last three seasons, Gagner has scored 1.66 pts-60 on the power play. It was an area of strength earlier in his career, and the Oilers could use a RH option for the five-on-four. I’m not sure Gagner is that player now.
- What about five-on-five? Puck IQ has him holding his own with the Winnipeg Jets a year ago at five-on-five versus all qualities of opponent. I don’t think he’s going to push the river, but he’s a PTO, so the entire exercise surrounds filling one of the final roster spots.
- Is he a good fourth-line center? He isn’t a center. He took 29 faceoffs at five-on-five last year, lost 20. He’s a right-winger.
- Does he penalty kill? Gagner did it quite a bit with Detroit in 2019-20, leading the team’s forwards with 2:21 per game in the discipline. It hasn’t been a cornerstone for him, but he’s a smart player.
- Is he almost done? He is probably close. Veteran NHL players have a point where they play below replacement level for a disappointing team and then they’re done. Gagner hasn’t had that season, but he might hang ’em up if he can’t get a contract this fall.
- Has his career been disappointing? He has played in 1,015 NHL games, averaging 16-26-42 per 82 games. You aren’t looking for a second-line RW at No. 6 overall, and Jakub Voracek (chosen next) was the superior player. That said, I think disappointing is a stretch. I think he goes top-20 overall in a re-draft.
- Why does he keep getting NHL jobs? Gagner has, over time, become more responsible without the puck and he could always contribute offensively. That’s it, basically. He scored 1.52 pts-60 in Detroit during 2021-22 playing with Joe Veleno (336 minutes, 0.89 pts-60) and 1.95 pts-60 playing with everyone else; he posted 1.21 pts-60 last season with the Jets, he scored with scorers (1.98 pts-60 in 200 minutes with Kyle Connor) and did not score with lesser players (86 scoreless minutes with Adam Lowry). In fairness, the role with Lowry would have been different and the two men were 3-3 in on-ice goals during those 86 minutes.
- Can the Oilers use him? Probably, but only if he comes to camp and impresses. God knows he’s done that before.
- What would his role be? Right-wing depth. I imagine the Oilers start the season with Zach Hyman, Connor Brown, Warren Foegele and Derek Ryan as the four starters. Candidates to fall in behind are Raphael Lavoie, Lane Pederson, Drake Caggiula, Seth Griffith and eventually Xavier Bourgault and Tyler Tullio.
- Where does Gagner land? If he makes the team, it will be as the fifth winger and he could slide up and down depending on injury.
- What about Bakersfield? If the plan is to get into coaching, then that makes sense. Otherwise, I think Gagner can sail into the sunset head held high. He’s clearly earned the respect of the entire hockey world. There’s nothing in Bakersfield that can add to his resume beyond a coaching or management position.
- Did you ever interview him? Yes, I think a couple of times. He was engaging, intelligent, humble. You can see why he’s universally liked, it would be easy to be an arrogant ass with the life he’s lived. Good parenting but also a good person.
- Do you want him to succeed? Always. I’m a fan.
- Why? Gagner arrived at a time when the Oilers had no direction home, were complete unknowns, like rolling stones. He gave the fans something to cheer for, and made some electric moves. I wish he had played for a better Oilers team. Maybe he gets that chance now.
THE INVITES
The vitals come from JP in the comments section, I’ve added a sentence or two for each player.
- Ethan de Jong RW 24 5’11, 181 NCAA 41 19-21-40, (ECAC 2nd all star, ECAC/NCAA champion). A two-way winger, De Jong ended his college career in fine style with a national championship. He has a good shot and some offensive acumen, but I think the big selling point is his responsible play while in pursuit of the puck. His NHLE (22) is good and if he plays a 200-foot game Bakersfield’s coaching staff will play the hell out of him. I would say there’s a chance he lands an NHL contract next spring. Edmonton needs help at this position across the pro depth chart.
- Preston Lounsbury LC 18 5’11, 163 QMJHL 58 11-17-28. He was a 54 percent outscorer at even strength last season, the team 46 percent when he was off the ice. Information I’m reading says he’s a smart player who can be effective with or without the puck. Offense seems shy.
- Josh Van Mulligen RD 18 6’2″, 181 WHL 68 1-8-9. Big defenseman, can move the puck.
- Noah Van Vliet LD 19 6’2″, 205 OHL 61 3-12-15. Good size, rugged, decent rookie OHL season.
- Nate Misskey RD 18 6’2″, 190 WHL 65 5-9-14. Called rugged, tenacious and skilled. I like his size at that age.
- Brady Stonehouse RW 19 5’10”, 194 68 37-20-57. I had him No. 116 on my final 2023 draft list. He’s a smaller forechecking demon with skill. He is a goal scorer but more than that he’s an effective player without the puck. I think he would be an excellent candidate for the Oilers to sign out of this camp.
- Jake Sloan RW 19 6’4″, 214 58 20-35-55. Playmaker, fine passer, he has a chance. Good size, RLR had him No. 104 overall in the 2022 draft, saying “massive winger not yet the sum of his parts” and Sloan would be a fine player to sign for this organization.
I think mgmt just likes having Gagner’s wife nearby … Hottest doctor on the planet
Jason Gregor
@JasonGregor
Cui out as President of Elks. The issues of the organization are much bigger than him. He made some mistakes, but the main question is the board qualified to make a better hire this time?
More.
https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/edmonton-elks-set-to-part-ways-with-president-victor-cui-1.1996096
NHL ‘Analytics’ list, by team, from Shayna Goldman.
https://twitter.com/hayyyshayyy/status/1691232669521022976
Seattle taking this seriously.
7 people working in analytics.
Chicago would appear to be the class of the league, if we’re counting numbers (9).
Just to be clear, forgive my sun addled noggin… are these reported camp invites in the article, or a wish list of invites?
Rookie camp, I believe.
Antonin Verreault apparently now also added to the rookie camp invite list.
LW 19 5’8″, 162 QMJHL 38 10-19-29
https://twitter.com/oilersaccess/status/1691173279007150082
Ah! All players from Development camp. Any thoughts on those not included as yet from Dev Camp, ie. Will Zapernick, Jake Johnson, Zach Bowen, Samuel Jonsson,and Mike Brown?
Jonsson is an Oilers draft pick so wouldn’t be listed on an invite even if he were attending.
The others? No, I really don’t have any insight beyond: not being invited back is unlikely to be a good arrow.
Holland is well liked by players and allowing Sam a PTO is something he might do just to be good to someone who played for him and he was forced to trade.
With no other callers, Sam would still like shot and a good showing with the Oil might still allow him an offer from another team.
The Oilers don’t have to have a position for him to allow him a chance to show what he’s got.
Gagner doesn’t seem like the right fit but 12F is wide open it seems.
Noodles was on the Two Mutts Podcast on August 8th and I just realized now that he did about 18 minutes on the Oilers – talked about McLeod, Bouch, Skinner/Cambell, Kane and the team in general.
For me, Noodles is an absolute start in analysis – whenever he speaks about the Oilers he is incredibly well-informed on the team and offers great insigh.
Its a great 18 minutes on the Oilers.
As an aside, Stauffer was on the previous episode of Two Mutts – for about 45 minutes – a bit dated now but not much has hanged and it was great listen.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/bruins-david-krejci-announces-retirement-from-nhl/
There was some speculation a couple days ago but Krejci made it official earlier today
https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/roster-redux-philip-broberg/c-345590790
I have been posting quite a bit about how good Broberg was mid-season and how the word “untouchable” started to be thrown around again.
I have also been posting about the need to acquire Ekholm (to solidify the 2nd pairing) and insert Deharnais to help stop a leaking PK cratered his deployment and the pop he was starting.
I have little doubt that a Kulak/Broberg pairing would take right off where Broberg/Bouchard left off this past February and the coaches will start contemplating Broberg up the lineup as we’ve often discussed.
There really isn’t the time to keep Broberg on the slow train of development. The urgency of now demands that one push him up the roster, and play him with Nurse out of the gate.
Sort of similarly with Holloway.
One needs to risk exploring if significant upside is possible from these two this year, and to find that out before the trade deadline. And if they succeed, they need the reps to get the maximum experience possible before the playoffs.
I’m just being somewhat realistic and I think Broberg going from clear 7D in the mind of the coaches to top 4 RD from one game to the next seems a bit of a stretch.
Manson seemed loathe to go away from Nurse/Ceci and I imagine they go in to camp with that pairing in mind along with a more of a “work-share” with the Ekholm pairing.
Sure, maybe there is urgency but I don’t think giving Broberg the a stretch of 10-15 games on the 3rd pairing to get fully comfortable and confidant and then moving him up is an issue – there is plenty of run room from mid-November to late February to asses.
Of course, the likely pairings would be Nurse/Bouchard and Ekholm/Broberg – I can provide substantive reasons for that opinion but I have done zone a dozen times and they never get responded to with actual substance.
Glad you’re going to be back on the radio again LT, that is just terrific news!
Congrats LT, excited for you.
Can’t say how excited I am for am1440!!! It’s going to be an awesome fall!
I don’t know much about this guy except for what I have learned in this community – combine that verbal with the fact that he was a legit draft candidate this past season (McCurdy linked an article from the Hockey News on it) and he’s clearly the main intriguing invite.
I note that 5’10 frame comes with 194 pounds – not sure if its the thickness we like or a bit of a Carter Savoie type build.
Congrats!
Congrats LT!!
Old man strength!!
congrats Lowetide! rockin the airwaves once again!
The 1440 news is fantastic! It makes my August! I’ll find a way to listen to it in Southern Saskatchewan. LT’s voice has been missed – so great for you to return to the airwaves. Woohoo!!
Dan Milstein-Hockey
@HockeyAgent1
It is we great sadness that we announce the passing of Rodion Amirov. Two years ago, Rodion was diagnosed with a brain tumour. From the moment he received the news, he refused to speak in the negative, determined to enjoy every day, facing it with the same positive attitude he showed during his hockey career. We will always remember his courage, his desire, his will, his smile, all of the great things about him. We’d like to thank his doctors, who took great care of him. We’d like to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs and his KHL – Salavat Yulayev Ufa team. Both did everything possible to help in any way, do whatever was necessary for Rodion and the Amirov family. And we’d like to thank hockey fans all over the world who sent notes of encouragement and best wishes over the past two years. They meant so much to the Amirov family
Ethan de Jong’s signing by Bakersfield is interesting to me. I wonder if the Oiler scouts saw him while scouting Skyler Brind’amour at Quinnipiac and determined de Jong was the better player. De Jong had better offensive stats to go along with the supporting verbal on his strong two-way play. The two are the same age (within a couple weeks) although Brind’amour is bigger.
24 years old…not much runway but could be a good addition in Bakersfield.
For me, there were four main loses when 1260 shut down:
1) Morning Show with Dusty and Eric
2) Lowedown
3) Gregor Show
4) pre and post with Gazzola and Matty Kassian
First three are all back and that is amazing.
I heard rumblings about the pre and post coming back in some way as well.
A great day!
I hope Strudy is still involved in the Gregor Show but haven’t heard anything in that regard.
Strudy is great with Rishaug on the Got Yer Back podcast too, and would be awesome for him to reunite with Gregor as well. Terrific day for radio!
Oh yes, I do like Rishaug but Strudy absolutely brings it on GYB.
Is the morning show on 1440? Part of the Kevin Karius show or is it returning in a different format.
Interested to see if 1440 reaches red deer too! My kids love complaining about scratchy AM radio!
Different platform:
https://twitter.com/yegsportstalk
I think there may be a bit of a disconnect as the fifth winger is destined for Bakersfield, isn’t he? I mean, the team will only be able to carry 12 forwards unless something unexpected happens (or there is a long term injury to a “real contract”), right?
As of right now, I would expect that Gagner, if invited to camp, is competing with the likes of Pederson, Lavoie and Sutter for 12F.
I could see Gagner signed and starting in Bako as the 13F/14F but not sure he can, or should be, much more than that.
Lets not forget: Sutter is coming off of two years of not playing due to health and Gagner is coming off of hip surgery in March.
Both these guys were barely hanging on to their NHL careers and neither could afford to lose a step. I think its likely or reasonable to suggest that they have lost a step since they last played. We’ll find out.
I’m not sure Gagner would even expect to make the team. He wouldn’t be a candidate for 4c, whereas Sutter & Pederson are. And it would be a shame to see Gags win a roster spot over a deserving youngster.
Does a third line with (Foegele-Macleod-Gagner) work? And does Sam a good 4th liner?
Yup, that is it.
Lavoie, Pederson, Sutter, Gagner, Caggiula (maybe others?) competing for that single remaining 12F spot.
(that’s assuming the Gagner PTO isn’t just a rumor, and also pending any other signings/PTOs)
I’m sure they’d prefer a natural C as the 12th but it’s not critical as they also have Ryan, Holloway and others who can play C.
Seems like almost all of them fit that description 🙂
I don’t think there’s a disconnect at all. If Gagner makes the team, it’s as the fifth winger on RW. If they don’t make room for that contract, he doesn’t make the Oilers. Pretty simple.
I’m not sure there is an open slot for him to be slotted. I think Derek Ryan would be his competition for a roster spot. Could he beat out Derek Ryan? Gags would be great in Bakersfield and if there’s injuries, he could very easily be called up. But that would be at the expense of a younger player that might deserve a chance and I could name a few. However, he may be valuable in the playoffs rather than a younger inexperienced player.
So, I’m torn. They may have a plan for Sam somewhere in the organization.
It would be pretty cool to see him lift the cup over his head as an Oiler.
I am also torn. Younger players are more likely to surprise you offensively. However, that is usually because they have put themselves out of position defensively.
What has been more common on winners in recent years? Vets or rooks?
Vets for sure.
Why have we spent so much time talking about Lavoie then? Holland has done a good job of bringing in vets for the bottom of the lineup, and Woodcroft does seem to like playing them.
Who’s talking about Lavoie apart from the fans 🤔.
This is kind of it. We’re talking about Lavoie because it hasn’t been decided if he’ll make the team or be sent down and whether he’ll be claimed. There are very few “maybes” and that’s why we talk about them because when we’re looking at the 12,13,14F there are lots of possibilities depending on what happens at camp.
Great to hear the radio news LT. it’s been a extra quiet summer for Oilers fans.
What is the news?
https://oilersnation.com/news/sports-radio-is-coming-back-to-edmonton
AM 1440 in Wetaskiwin changing to Sports Radio (OilersNation Radio?) format as of Sept. 5.
THE DETAILS
The Kevin Karius Show: 7 AM – 11 AM
Fantasy Frenzy with Halley & Douglas: 11 AM – 12 PM
The Lowdown with Lowetide: 12 PM – 2 PM
The Jason Gregor Show: 2 PM – 6 PM
That’s great.
Back to the Future for LT.
That’s great news! As someone living away in a vastly different time zone I sure hope the episodes will be available to download after the fact so I can keep up with LT once again. Very excited to hear this for all of northern AB.
Wow, that’s great news! Congrats LT!!
Whooot! See you on the radio!!!!
Hopefully, you won’t have to drive down there every day, but if you do …….
Cars cost less in Wetaskiwin!!
That 8 point night for a very bad Oilers team against a very good Hawks team will live on in the lore forever.
That was a special night he could of had ten. Sam managed to play over a 1000 games as L.T alluded too. I believe only 382 players have achieved that milestone. I wish Holland wouldn’t have shipped him off a few years back as we seen he still had game in him and he deserved a run. The number 1 reason I have respect for Sam is he was the only that went after Gio ( Dirty Fuk) Kassian, Nurse and the rest except Mike Smith put their heads in the Sand. If that was Gretzky who Gio hurt he wouldn’t of made it off the ice in one piece as well as any future games against the Oil.
DoD treats. Handjob on a Greyhound as Black Dog Pat put it. Poetry.
He was quite good at shootouts early on too
/right foot up..,
/deke-deke-deke goal
It was completely his night. 4 goals 4 assists in an 8-4 win, IIRC.
I don’t think Samwise makes the team, unless there are injuries in camp. From the orgs perspective, this is another long term NHLer that their prospects can lineup alongside in preseason games. I think it’s beneficial to have guys like this in the preseason even if they don’t make the team.
New for The Athletic: NHL teams that are best positioned to take advantage of the 2024 free-agent watershed
https://theathletic.com/4769296/2023/08/14/nhl-free-agency-2024/