Last night's topic was discussing if the Oilers should move Ales Hemsky. Today, it's Sam Gagner's turn.

I like Gagner. Hard worker. Very committed to winning. You get full effort from Gagner every time he steps on the ice. He certainly has a high hockey IQ and he owns a set of sick hands.

Gagner isn't in the same class of player as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle. If we're looking at pure talent, Gagner's closer Oilers comparables at forward would be Ales Hemsky and Linus Omark. Of course, we know what is happening with Omark...he's in the minors because the Oilers don't know what to do with him. You can only have so many small forwards in your Top 6.

Omark doesn't have much trade value, in part due to his size, and in part, due to his inability to yet prove at the NHL-level that he's a true Top 6 player. If the Oilers gave him a full 82 with talented linemates, I think Omark would prove his worth...but until he has a chance to do that, his trade value will be somewhere between a 2nd or 3rd round pick, and no greater.

Gagner has trade value. After his eight point game, with quality play in games before and after that one, his value has increase. At one time, if you suggested "Gagner for Schenn" for example, people would have laughed you out of the building. Now, "Gagner for Schenn" sounds like a bad deal for the Oilers. Oilers GM Steve Tambellini, should he desire to deal Gagner, could get more than Luke Schenn, and that means this might be the time to sell, sell, sell.

There are logical arguments that could be made to deal Gagner. It's all about organizational depth and the NHL draft.

1. Gagner is a center. He's not better than Nugent-Hopkins, so he doesn't have a 1st line opportunity on this team. Ideally, a team with a smaller, extremely skilled 1st line center wants someone with beef to center the second line. Think Gretzky-Messier or Crosby-Malkin. Malkin might not be known for physical play, but he's big. It takes a different skill set to stop Malkin (if you can) than it takes to stop Crosby (if you can). Back in the Gretzky-Messier days, the Oilers tried to have muscle in the Bottom 6.

There are two quality centers with size available in this year's draft, and the Oilers will have a shot at either of them. Mikhail Grigorenko is considered the 2nd best prospect available, but if Alex Galchenyuk wouldn't have been injured to start the season, many think he's the better prospect.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if Galchenyuk is the pony to bet on if you're the Oilers. Why Gal over Grig? Because he's North American-born, and there have been questions about Grigorenko's work ethic. Galchenyuk is described as being a power forward who drives the net with authority, and is someone with a high compete level.

The Oilers could never get enough players like that. At worst, Galchenyuk is a taller, heavier Sam Gagner. Would that be so bad? Could that make Gagner expendable?

2. So let's just say the Oilers draft one of these two big centers. If Nuge is your #1 center going forth, and, let's say, Galchenyuk is the #2 guy, where does Gagner fit? We've seen him play in the Bottom 6, and he was bad at it. He could play the right wing, but plenty of people don't like him there either.

Let's say the Oilers find a way to hang on to Ales Hemsky. The Top 6 in 2012/2013 then looks something like...

L1: Hall - Nuge - Eberle
L2: Paajarvi - Galchenyuk (or Grigorenko) - Hemsky

If Hemsky goes and if Gagner were to go, most likely insert Linus Omark into Hemsky's above listed spot. Hall, Nuge, Galchenyuk, Paajarvi...All over 6'. Hemsky plays small because of shoulder injury fear, and Omark would play small because he's a smurf. My point is, the Oilers wouldn't have that small of a Top 6.

Aside from the fact that the Oilers could find ways to create a decent future Top 6 without Gagner comes the reality that Gagner is perhaps the one asset the Oilers could accept dealing right now that would bring in a real and immediate player for them. Consider the following proposed deal:

To the LA Kings - Sam Gagner, Ales Hemsky and a 3rd round pick

To the Edmonton Oilers - Jack Johnson and Jonathan Bernier

Why would this deal work for both teams? LA has an awful offense, and they'd immediately upgrade their Top 6 by adding two players who can contribute. LA has defensive depth galore, and in Jonathan Quick, they have one of the league's best goaltenders.

In Jack Johnson, the Oilers would get a legitimate Top 4 guy. Yes, he's a tad one dimensional. He's an offensive weapon, but the Oilers could use that type of guy moving forward, considering the number of horse-like D prospects they have in development. In Bernier, the Oilers get a brilliant goalie who's dying for a chance to be a starter.

Cap management-wise, this deal is completely possible for both teams. The Kings get a real chance to re-sign Hemsky for the next few months, and no matter what happens, they have a young talent in Gagner for years to come. Linus Omark would get at least a one-season audition as the 2nd line RW. Everyone wins.

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