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Gagner Talk Heats Up, Is Pittsburgh A Good Fit? |
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TALK GETTING LOUDER
The Sam Gagner rumors are really heating up right now. Last year the Oiler Centerman finished 2nd in team scoring ahead of Eberle, RNH, and Yakupov. If everything was going right for him last year then this year has been the exact opposite. He started the season with a devastating injury and came back too early. When he came back he wasn’t nearly as effective as he had been the year prior or even in previous seasons. The good news is that he has recently lost the full face shield and has 4 points in his last 4 games.
However, via Darren Dreger we are hearing that multiple teams have been contacted and the asking price is apparently a Top 6 Forward, Top 4 Defenseman, or a Starting Goalie. That price may seem steep but the club cant afford to turn a Center who can provide offense into anything less than that. The Oilers also have a few other pieces they could part with in their minor league systems they could add in any potential deal.
COINCIDENCE?
As of practice this morning Gagner has been bumped up to the top line with Hall and RNH. He’ll be playing RW for now, which should relieve a lot of the defensive pressure that he was having trouble with until most recently. It will also showcase him with Edmonton’s best two young players. This could as easily be the Oil trying to boost his confidence as it is trying to showcase Gagner to the league. This experiment at the wing has been a long time coming. The offense was there for Gagner in the past but his abilities in his own zone and on the faceoff dot have always been questioned. For what it’s worth, Eakins has said that he is unsure if he will keep Gagner on the wing for the game tomorrow.
It’s maybe no coincidence that Gagner could get a look at RW against the Penguins who themselves are rumored to be looking for depth on the RW. Looking at the Penguins depth on the Blueline, there are a few targets the Oilers would love to go after. In the order of desirability to the Oil I see it as Letang, Maatta, Niskanen. Neither of the 1st two options are likely and in both cases Edmonton would have to up their package greatly. Letang is the #1 Defenseman the Oilers need so badly. If he was available the club would pay a huge premium for him. Maatta is just 19 years old and playing 17 minutes a night for the Pens and adds both offense and a little size. They aren’t likely to give him up unless the pot is sweetened considerably as well.
Just because Gagner is the subject of the trade rumors doesnt mean the deals that are being discussed are 1 for 1. The Oil have the extra pieces to pull off a substantial deal. They have Klefbom, Marincin, Gernat, and their 2015 (NOT 2014) 1st Round Pick to add into any trade discussion if necessary. With trading chips like that even a package centered around Gagner could potentially land the Oil a significant piece that they desperately need.
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Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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