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Gagner Turning Over a New Leaf?

June 23, 2013, 5:09 PM ET [728 Comments]
Richard Cloutier
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Today's Leafs/Kings deal for Jonathan Bernier woke everyone up. Twitter is going crazy.

Rumors indicate the Leafs have interest in Sam Gagner. Perhaps. I think Sam Gagner has interest in the Leafs.

I think I wrote a blog about this...ummm, maybe a years and a half ago. At that time I heard a rumor that Gagner wanted to be dealt, and preferred if it was to a team in Ontario and/or Buffalo (which, let's be honest, is more or less Toronto-South).

I've heard recent rumors that Gagner and the Oilers are far apart in contract extension negotiations. Gags put up solid numbers this season, and wants to be rewarded. Hey, if Ryan O'Reilly is a $5mil per season player, why shouldn't Gagner be too? I have the Oilers more coming in at $4.5mil per season on Gagner. Enough of a difference to force a trade? Maybe not.

I've been reading some interesting stuff on Dallas Eakins being open to moving Taylor Hall to center. I've also been thinking about the draft more. Or, more specifically, who will be available when the Oilers pick from the #7 spot.

Maybe the Oilers like Elias Lindholm. Who does he compare to? Some say Gagner. Others say Peter Forsberg. Either way, if the Oilers like Lindholm, they'll find a roster spot for him.

Moving Gagner would be done for two reasons: Cap is one. If they think he wants too much money, that could be a motivation to move him. The other reason is the moving Gagner might be the easiest way to upgrade the defense.

I'm not convinced Dion Phaneuf is the target. Maybe the Leafs would like that, but it makes no sense from the Oilers perspective. Dealing for a guy in the last year of his contract, soon to be UFA?

The Oilers are looking at Jake Gardiner.

Aside from making Justin Schultz a very happy guy, the deal would give the Oilers more mobility. From the Leafs perspective, they probably have a better player in Morgan Rielly ready to step into the roster.

I don't believe Gardiner for Gagner is a straight-up swap. Gagner has proven more as an NHL player. But that being said, what else could be involved? And why are the Leafs going crazy making deals all of a sudden?

Somehow, James Reimer works his way into this conversation. The Leafs didn't bring in Jonathan Bernier to be his backup. But Reimer + Gardiner is an overpayment for Gagner. The Oilers need to cough something up in return. It could be draft picks; it could be prospects; it could be a combination. I can't see the Leafs wanting Horcoff or Hemsky. Maybe Nick Schultz?

So there's where I'll leave it: Gardiner and Reimer for Gagner and ?...Perhaps Nick Schultz.

Stick around. Life is just about to get interesting again.
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