Probably not. No team will need him for his skillset, but he'll be a useful player if he continues to grow.

Unlikely that the mythical perennial 20g 45a ~50% FO guy who can play PP and PK that many thought he'd become, but what I just described is an excellent 2nd line centre, so making good on some of that promise leaves a player that could be considered a 'need' if he can be had for a competitive price.

No one needs Stephen Weiss, but a lot of teams will be clamoring for him because he'll be pretty good bang for his buck. That's likely what Sammy will be like.
- Morris

Funny you bring him up. Another guy who people seem to think has a lot more value than he should.

Frankly, I'd take Gagner at a higher price over Weiss any day of the week.

also...

Kane, Subban, McDonaugh, Sutter, Couture, Patchioretty, Vorachek, JVR, Turris, Shattenkirk, Perron, Simmonds, Benn.

You're saying only one of these players is better?

edit: forgot Alzner.
- Feeling Glucky?

Well let's put it this way, we were one of 10 teams to select a decent player in the first round. We whiffed on two other 1st rounders in the process, but that's good enough for me. There's still an awful lot of "time will tell" players on your list.

It's also tough to praise teams for their drafting, as Montreal and Colorado traded McDonagh and Shattenkirk like doofuses.

Funny you bring him up. Another guy who people seem to think has a lot more value than he should.

Frankly, I'd take Gagner at a higher price over Weiss any day of the week.
- Feeling Glucky?

Gagner's still got a bit of room to grow, and short of having any glimpse of an attitude problem, he's captain material among the likes of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.

But there's no guarantee that Gags will become as rounded even as Weiss is. It's going to be the offseason of the overpayed pedestrian centres though: Weiss, Hodgson, Bozak, Kadri, Johansson and Gagner will likely all get overpayed.

also...

Kane, Subban, McDonaugh, Sutter, Couture, Patchioretty, Vorachek, JVR, Turris, Shattenkirk, Perron, Simmonds, Benn.

You're saying only one of these players is better?

edit: forgot Alzner.
- Feeling Glucky?

I don't see one who isn't better

Gagner's still got a bit of room to grow, and short of having any glimpse of an attitude problem, he's captain material among the likes of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.

But there's no guarantee that Gags will become as rounded even as Weiss is. It's going to be the offseason of the overpayed pedestrian centres though: Weiss, Hodgson, Bozak, Kadri, Johansson and Gagner will likely all get overpayed.
- Morris

Bolded: only guy on that list to come close to PPG

edit: and that's getting 3rd line minutes.

Well let's put it this way, we were one of 10 teams to select a decent player in the first round. We whiffed on two other 1st rounders in the process, but that's good enough for me. There's still an awful lot of "time will tell" players on your list.

It's also tough to praise teams for their drafting, as Montreal and Colorado traded McDonagh and Shattenkirk like doofuses.
- Morris

Those were some terrible trades
Like Darryl sutter bad

I don't see one who isn't better
- Redmile247

For me (in no particular order)

Tier 1:
Kane

Tier 2:
McDonagh
Subban
Couture
Benn
Pacioretty
Shattenkirk

Tier 3:
Sutter
Alzner
Voracek
JVR
Gagner
Perron
Simmonds

Tier 4:
Turris

We can argue the minutia of whether Gags is at the top, bottom or middle of that third tier on not, but that's approximately correct in my opinion.

Bolded: only guy on that list to come close to PPG

edit: and that's getting 3rd line minutes.
- Feeling Glucky?

Being that none of them are likely to be PPG players and he now has the best claim to get paid like one, I dunno that that's a good thing

also...

Kane, Subban, McDonaugh, Sutter, Couture, Patchioretty, Vorachek, JVR, Turris, Shattenkirk, Perron, Simmonds, Benn.

You're saying only one of these players is better?

edit: forgot Alzner.
- Feeling Glucky?

I'd take Kane, Benn, Subban, McDonaugh and Shattenkirk over Gagner. But the rest, I wouldn't. Especially that bean pole, JVR. Useless. I watched him struggle to score on an internet blogger in a game of street hockey.

http://www.barstoolsports...uring-james-van-riemsdyk/

I'd take Kane, Benn, Subban, McDonaugh and Shattenkirk over Gagner. But the rest, I wouldn't. Especially that bean pole, JVR. Useless. I watched him struggle to score on an internet blogger in a game of street hockey.

http://www.barstoolsports...uring-james-van-riemsdyk/
- JShack

Only issue with JVR is his consistency. When he's on his game, he's a beast.

And it seems whenever he's in the playoffs, he's on his game.

Probably the Leafs' best forward vs. Boston.

Only issue with JVR is his consistency. When he's on his game, he's a beast.

And it seems whenever he's in the playoffs, he's on his game.

Probably the Leafs' best forward vs. Boston.
- Feeling Glucky?

How many 8 point nights he have, that's what I (frank)ing thought.

How many 8 point nights he have, that's what I (frank)ing thought.
- Lahey

Actually if you sort drafts by 8 point games Sam Gagner is the best draft pick since Mario Lemieux.

For me (in no particular order)

Tier 1:
Kane

Tier 2:
McDonagh
Subban
Couture
Benn
Pacioretty
Shattenkirk

Tier 3:
Sutter
Alzner
Voracek
JVR
Gagner
Perron
Simmonds

Tier 4:
Turris

We can argue the minutia of whether Gags is at the top, bottom or middle of that third tier on not, but that's approximately correct in my opinion.
- Morris

I agree with this actually
Logan couture may be up in the top very soon tho

I'd take Kane, Benn, Subban, McDonaugh and Shattenkirk over Gagner. But the rest, I wouldn't. Especially that bean pole, JVR. Useless. I watched him struggle to score on an internet blogger in a game of street hockey.

http://www.barstoolsports...uring-james-van-riemsdyk/
- JShack

Couture ?
Voracek ?

And actually since his 8+ club compatriates Wayne Gretzky, Petr Stastny, Bert Olmstead, and Maurice Richard weren't drafted and he's on pace to surpace the career points of fluke 8 pointer Tom Bladon, it's safe to say Sam Gagner is the 7th best draft pick of all time.

Gagner is a magician when he plays with talented players...

Hall ~ Gagner ~ Eberle
Paajarvi ~ RNH ~ Yakupov

Given that opportunity, Gagner gets 160-170 point this upcoming year. Bank it.

*Paajarvi will break out this year and post over 60 points*

How many 8 point nights he have, that's what I (frank)ing thought.
- Lahey

How many playoff points does Gagner have?

Gagner is a magician when he plays with talented players...

Hall ~ Gagner ~ Eberle
Paajarvi ~ RNH ~ Yakupov

Given that opportunity, Gagner gets 160-170 point this upcoming year. Bank it.
- laughs2907

- Feeling Glucky?

You saucy (frank)ER!!!!!

How many playoff points does Gagner have?
- Feeling Glucky?

PPG

How many playoff points does Gagner have?
- Feeling Glucky?

29 in 16 games with the London Knights

Couture ?
Voracek ?
- Redmile247

I hate that Dbag, Couture. Sweet teeth. Voracek, i'll wait to comment on until after next year.

For me (in no particular order)

Tier 1:
Kane

Tier 2:
McDonagh
Subban
Couture
Benn
Pacioretty
Shattenkirk

Tier 3:
Sutter
Alzner
Voracek
JVR
Gagner
Perron
Simmonds

Tier 4:
Turris

We can argue the minutia of whether Gags is at the top, bottom or middle of that third tier on not, but that's approximately correct in my opinion.
- Morris

Subban is up with Kane

I hate that Dbag, Couture. Sweet teeth. Voracek, i'll wait to comment on until after next year.
- JShack

Voracek and Gagner have near identical stats. Look it up, it's eerie.

I'd rather have Gagner on the Oilers, given our makeup right now.

Subban is up with Kane
- robin_steele264

That is very possible, painful as it may be.

JVR, if he finds consistency could jump up to that 2nd tier.