Arbitration hearings start up tomorrow, and this year, they begin with Sam Gagner. Good news for fans who are sick of hearing about his contract battles. Bad for fans of the player and the team.
Both sides have run out of time.
The Gagner camp seriously believes the center is worthy of a $5mil per season long-term contract. If the matter does go before the arbitrator, they'll ask for $5.5mil. They won't get it.
You can find...some...comparables around the $5mil per mark, but there are few. Keep in mind the arbitrator cannot compare Gagner against UFA signings; only RFAs. Even though Chris Stewart is a winger that doesn't play anything like Gagner, his $4.15mil deal for the next two seasons that was signed a few days ago is perhaps the most relevant number that can be looked at. Almost a million less than what Gagner wants.
It's my understanding that the Oilers feel Gagner is getting bad advice, and that they have a range in mind as to what they're willing to spend on him. It is also fairly well known that back about a month ago, they offered him a long-term deal in the three to five season range which was shot down. Part of the reason, it is believed, was that the contract offer did not include a No Trade Clause.
The player wants to stay in Edmonton. So did Ryan Smyth, and we all remember how that worked out. The difference this time is, Smyth and the Oilers were only a few dollars apart. Gagner and the Oilers, on a one-year deal, are at least a million apart at this moment. Scary.
I highly suspect the Oilers have a deal ready to move the center should a last-minute contract extension not be signed. There's a market out there for someone with Gagner's gifts. The Devils, Islanders, Blue Jackets, Coyotes, Capitals, and Predators are all possible destinations. Heck, half the league could offer up something for the player. But will the deal be a win for the Oilers? Likely not. Remember how the Smyth deal went?
I have been and will continue to advocate Oilers management to find opportunity in this situation, and to deal Gagner plus other assets to upgrade at the position. The way I look at it, if you're going to pay Gagner, who is a decent 2nd line center, $5mil per season, you might as well get a 1/2 center of proven quality and pay him $6mil per season instead. Oilers management have shown they want to take a step forward this season. The roof didn't fall in when they moved female-fan favorite Magnus Paajarvi plus a pick for David Perron. If you want to make a cake, you need to break some eggs. Fact of life. Take Gagner and get crackin'.
The one thing I will say is, if both sides sign some sad one year deal, the player, the team, and the fans are all going to hate it. As much as Oilers fans are tired of this team being bad, they're just as tired of not knowing where the organization stands on certain players. I think I can speak for everyone when I say the hope is to have a clear picture of where (or where not) Ales Hemsky, Sam Gagner, and Devan Dubnyk fit into things by the end of summer. Hemsky needs to be dealt. Dubnyk needs a long-term contract extension, but we all know it probably won't happen until around the trade deadline, when the organization has a clearer idea if he's good enough to be the starter.
And Gagner?
The Gagner soap opera has dragged on for years now, and we all want it to end. Pick a direction and go with it. Offer him five years at $4.5mil per season. Last and final offer sort of thing. An ultimatum.
And if he says no, he needs to be dealt. Do what you can within reason to bring back a better all-around center. Thrown is a defenseman. Throw in prospects not named Nurse or Klefbom. Throw in the Oilers 1st round pick in 2014 or 2015.
Whatever.
Just get it done.
BOLD moves MacT.
Tick tock.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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