This is a pretty funny blog. To compare Gagner to Staal is like comparing a skateboard (Gagner) to my Mustang (Staal). I like Gagner, but it seems to me that he was drafted far to early in that draft. He benefited far too much from Patrick Kane and is really more second round draft talent. (mind you it was a terrible draft). I can see Pittsburgh doing a trade that involved Gagner but your second round pick this year and Paajarvi would be going to them as well...maybe even Omark or Pitlick too. Staal's not coming to any team cheap. Whoever gets him, is going to overpay.
- Suckitcrosby

Holy cow, you could lead the Let's Overrate Jordan Staal parade. Sad, sad, sad.

This is a pretty funny blog. To compare Gagner to Staal is like comparing a skateboard (Gagner) to my Mustang (Staal). I like Gagner, but it seems to me that he was drafted far to early in that draft. He benefited far too much from Patrick Kane and is really more second round draft talent. (mind you it was a terrible draft). I can see Pittsburgh doing a trade that involved Gagner but your second round pick this year and Paajarvi would be going to them as well...maybe even Omark or Pitlick too. Staal's not coming to any team cheap. Whoever gets him, is going to overpay.
- Suckitcrosby

That's ridiculous.

Anyway, your pic/username made me think of what sort of contract Crosby will receive... Injuries will undoubtedly be a concern...

Sam Gagner is listed at 5'10" ( ) Mike Richards is listed at 5'11" - which one is closer to the truth?

Mike Richards is exactly the smaller (ish) type of second line center the Oilers need, he provides the intangibles that I'm not sure Gagner ever will. Not saying go after Richards but a player like him. A ying to RNH's yang.

Sam Gagner is listed at 5'10" ( ) Mike Richards is listed at 5'11" - which one is closer to the truth?

Mike Richards is exactly the smaller (ish) type of second line center the Oilers need, he provides the intangibles that I'm not sure Gagner ever will. Not saying go after Richards but a player like him. A ying to RNH's yang.
- LeftCoaster

I would be 100 times more interested in the Oilers going after a Mike Richards-type for the 2nd line than a Jordan Staal. No comparison when it comes to intensity.

Kessel is way better than gagner... why even question it?

Kessel is way better than gagner... why even question it?
- DarcyTucker16

Kessel is the most easily intimidated player in the league. Gagner throws punches. Didn't he have more fights than Ben Eager most of the last season?

Kessel is the Tin Man. No heart. I wouldn't give up much for him, even if he can score 30+ goals per season. We had one of those...Dustin Penner...and he pissed everyone off. He might be having a good playoff right now, but imagine what that guy could do all the time if he cared?

Staal will go to Anaheim for the 6th and etem.

We should be making a deal with the coyotes. Gagner for gormley and a 2nd. Turris fetched rundblad and a 2nd.

I wonder if PHX would do Yak for Yandle or OEL. Anyways who cares. Gags will be an oiler for a while. Tamb wouldn't trade him, because he is afraid of making a mistake.
EDIT

Staal will go to Anaheim for the 6th and etem.

We should be making a deal with the coyotes. Gagner for gormley and a 2nd. Turris fetched rundblad and a 2nd.
- ystoil

Etem AND the 6th overall? If the Pens pull that off, they'll be laughing. Etem is a machine.

I wonder if PHX would do Yak for Yandle or OEL. Anyways who cares. Gags will be an oiler for a while Tamb would trade him, because he is afraid of making a mistake.
- FiretheGM

There is some truth in this statement.

Ganger really isnt that good, the only thing he is good at is getting points, no other redeeming qualities, and he is really only a 50-60 point players which is great but nothing special

You can't compare the two. Yes Staal played 3rd line center sometimes but how often were one of the two front line centers hurt. Or for the times when they tried malkin and crosby on a PP line leaving staal to center the second unit. He played as much if not more second line ice time than gagner. He played with a team that performed better and had better players. Especially on defense who would rotate to his line regardless what pairing he was on.

Staal is a 1 year rental player and should have more points for a player on a team like pittsburg. He doesn't bring anything to the table in Edmonton. He offers Edmonton a potential of 50 points a year in a two way center. So does horcoff. Gagner is second line center because he has the potential to offer more than 50. He is still improving and his line mates are finally decent. This year will be his first year on a real line. Who knows what he can do.

The only thing we are sure of is that no one on Edmonton is Crosby or Malkin yet or maybe ever and Staal can only get 50 points. He is not going to get better team mates. We know his max - we don't know gagner's. However we do know that Horcoff can consistently get 50 points a season if healthy on a bad line. Makes him better than Staal in my books and he is not as good as gagner. Whoever trades for staal is going to be sorry and I think teams know that. It will be a Toronto or Winnepeg that gambles on the name to sell tickets. He is too good for the fourth line in Edmonton but not better than the other 3 centers we have. Unless they are throwing something good in I wouldn't even dump Horcoff's contract on them for him.

Ganger really isnt that good, the only thing he is good at is getting points, no other redeeming qualities, and he is really only a 50-60 point players which is great but nothing special
- Meeqsb

Ahaha Watch an oiler game much? Oilers fans use Gags as a scapegoat, because that is what we do. Gilbert, Penner.....You get it. I even hate on him time to time, but one thing he dose more then most players except Hall is play hard. I mean he trys alot, even when he dosent play well. he is the guy trying to be tough for the other guys on the team.

Mark my words if we ever make the playoffs again, Gags will shine during them.

Etem AND the 6th overall? If the Pens pull that off, they'll be laughing. Etem is a machine.
- Maxbone

In theory yes but it's kind of like our trade with Penner to LA. Two unguaranteeds for a guaranteed. In theory the 2 prospects wins the trade but if the pick and prospects turn out to be busts, which is always likely, Anaheim in this case wins the trade.

In theory yes but it's kind of like our trade with Penner to LA. Two unguaranteeds for a guaranteed. In theory the 2 prospects wins the trade but if the pick and prospects turn out to be busts, which is always likely, Anaheim in this case wins the trade.
- ystoil

The Penner deal hurt the Oilers in a way no one could foresee...Penner was good in the "room" and was well liked on the team.

Last season the Oilers "room" wasn't a very happy place by Game 70. Penner was a calming influence. The Penner for Teubert and the pick that turned into Klefbom isn't great...yet. The Bom will be worth three Penners in about four years time.

Mark my words if we ever make the playoffs again, Gags will shine during them.
- FiretheGM

Gags has fire. That's what so many people who don't watch Oilers games don't seem to get. He's an angry little man who could do some damage on the right team.

Ganger really isnt that good, the only thing he is good at is getting points, no other redeeming qualities, and he is really only a 50-60 point players which is great but nothing special
- Meeqsb

Sorta like Matt Duchene then?

Sorta like Matt Duchene then?
- Maxbone

You went a little to far there..

I will admit there is no reason for my fellow fan to come in and put a player down so I am not defending that.

What I will say and I think you know this.. Is that people just don't covet players that are on the smaller side. You did point that out but the next thing I will admit is that often it seems people don't read blogs to their entirety before they post.

Why can't we have both? Gagner has played some wing in his day with the Oil.

There is a fundamental flaw in Cloutier's thinking. He proposes that "one year" of Jordan Staal is worth Sam Gagner plus another skater. The problem is the Pens do not regard Staal as a one year asset. In fact, there are probably a dozen teams capable of dealing with Staal on the assumption that he will sign a long term deal.

The flip side of the issue has to do with the fact there is so little enthusiasm for Gagner except for this small group of Oiler apologists. There must be reasons why other teams are not knocking down doors hoping to deal for him. You have to ask yourself, why would the Oil be so anxious to give up Gagner (plus another skater) for a one year rental?

The rest of us are having difficulty following this particular strain of Northern Alberta logic. If your goal is to make Gagner the new Hemsky of the discussion boards, you are succeeding. You have effectively turned what we may have thought was a flaw in the little skaters's game into a worry that there is a gaping hole in the package of what the kid may be able to offer another team.

With Crosby out for much of the season, Jordan Staal had plenty of ice time and every opportunity to have a major break out season. He didn't. Staal is a 50 to 60 point player at best.

RNH is our number 1 going forward, Staal would be the 2nd line centre. 50-60 points isn't worth a terrible overpayment. Yes, I'd love to have Staal but not to the point where an overpayment would be in store.

This is a pretty funny blog. To compare Gagner to Staal is like comparing a skateboard (Gagner) to my Mustang (Staal). I like Gagner, but it seems to me that he was drafted far to early in that draft. He benefited far too much from Patrick Kane and is really more second round draft talent. (mind you it was a terrible draft). I can see Pittsburgh doing a trade that involved Gagner but your second round pick this year and Paajarvi would be going to them as well...maybe even Omark or Pitlick too. Staal's not coming to any team cheap. Whoever gets him, is going to overpay.
- Suckitcrosby

So you think the 2nd most productive player from that draft year (after Kane) shoulda been taken in the 2nd round?

You went a little to far there..

I will admit there is no reason for my fellow fan to come in and put a player down so I am not defending that.

What I will say and I think you know this.. Is that people just don't covet players that are on the smaller side. You did point that out but the next thing I will admit is that often it seems people don't read blogs to their entirety before they post.
- Steve-B

Most scouts don't necessarily look at height so much but rather centre of gravity. Gagner is stocky he maintains a low centre of gravity, great strength in his lower body which prevents him from being outworked. At 5'11" and 195 pounds he isn't really that small. http://oilers.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8474040