Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gagner, Dillabaugh, Konecny, Zepp and More

The descrepancies in his skating ability certainly is puzzling.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Gagner, Dillabaugh, Konecny, Zepp and More
- bmeltzer

it's unfortunate that they have to make a decision on Gagner before they know about Vinny.

They may very well already know what is going to happen with VLC. Whatever happens will occur after his bonus is paid on July 2nd, but some type of deal or an agreement of termination may already be in place.

They may very well already know what is going to happen with VLC. Whatever happens will occur after his bonus is paid on July 2nd, but some type of deal or an agreement of termination may already be in place.
- BiggE

Gagner status may give a big hint as to where they are with Vinny

The discrepancies in his skating ability certainly is puzzling.



Agreed. The last thing we need is another mediocre skater

The descrepancies in his skating ability certainly is puzzling.
- MJL

Reported you by mistake, sorry! If any mods read this, it was an accident!

I was just going to follow-up on your comment. I remember them saying he had some skating issues, hadn't heard the other side of it. How is everyone so far apart in their opinions on his skating? That seems really odd.

Reported you by mistake, sorry! If any mods read this, it was an accident!

I was just going to follow-up on your comment. I remember them saying he had some skating issues, hadn't heard the other side of it. How is everyone so far apart in their opinions on his skating? That seems really odd.
- SolidGoldBricks

From the clips I've seen of him, his skating looks fine to me.

I'd keep Gagner for a year. He should be highly motivated with a baby on the way in the last year of his current contract, potentially the last of his NHL career. A player hungry to prove himself is exactly the kind of guy you want.

From the clips I've seen of him, his skating looks fine to me.
- BiggE

I watched Ottawa 7 or 8 times, at least, and came away thinking Konecny was a pretty good skater. There's always aspects that can improve, but he had no issues making moves and creating space for himself, and he did everything well at full speed.

I've heard a few people say that Konecny's skating is solid, but lacks the first step explosiveness. I'm not too worried about that, as many others have said that his skating is one of his strong suits.

Regardless of the discrepancies in opinion that are out there, I think the main thing that he'll have to work on is harnessing his style of play. He can be exciting to watch, but might get himself in to injury trouble when playing against bigger, stronger competition.

They may very well already know what is going to happen with VLC. Whatever happens will occur after his bonus is paid on July 2nd, but some type of deal or an agreement of termination may already be in place.
- BiggE

Hearing the same thing about Kessel and his $4mm bonus.

Reported you by mistake, sorry! If any mods read this, it was an accident!

I was just going to follow-up on your comment. I remember them saying he had some skating issues, hadn't heard the other side of it. How is everyone so far apart in their opinions on his skating? That seems really odd.
- SolidGoldBricks

It's ok, we report him all the time, but for some reason we just can't get rid of him.

I'd keep Gagner for a year. He should be highly motivated with a baby on the way in the last year of his current contract, potentially the last of his NHL career. A player hungry to prove himself is exactly the kind of guy you want.
- wolfhounds

I sent time watching Gagner highlights and also some random Coyotes games from last season. He didn't stand out as either good or bad, but given the weak FA class, and the prices that it seems guys like Belesky and Frolik are getting, hanging onto Gagner and giving him a one year audtion is the way to go.

I'm off the fence, might as well keep him. Worst case he sucks and is gone in a year. If he plays well and demands too much for an extension, trade him for picks at the TDL. If he agrees to a friendly deal and fits in, you got a solid player for cheap. Might as well see what he can do in a year where they're not likely to contend

I've heard a few people say that Konecny's skating is solid, but lacks the first step explosiveness. I'm not too worried about that, as many others have said that his skating is one of his strong suits.

Regardless of the discrepancies in opinion that are out there, I think the main thing that he'll have to work on is harnessing his style of play. He can be exciting to watch, but might get himself in to injury trouble when playing against bigger, stronger competition.
- Coleman

The second part of this is why I was worried about taking him at 7. To land him at 24 is a coup.

So...Buttons and Pierre are full of it?

Hoping they keep ganger this year. He could prove to be an effective player, and letting Laughton play one more year in the ahl could be better for him. Not that he isn't ready, just could help his game in the long run I think.

It's ok, we report him all the time, but for some reason we just can't get rid of him.
- wolfhounds

I sent time watching Gagner highlights and also some random Coyotes games from last season. He didn't stand out as either good or bad, but given the weak FA class, and the prices that it seems guys like Belesky and Frolik are getting, hanging onto Gagner and giving him a one year audtion is the way to go,
- Jsaquella

Keep him, buy him out, I'm fine with either.

Since when did Pierre become a reliable analyst on anything other than how much he loves Sidney crosby?

So...Buttons and Pierre are full of it?
- section32

It depends on what point they were trying to make. If their point was he's a poor skater, then sure, they're wrong. If however, their point was that there are aspects of his skating that he could work on, they are most likely correct.

It's going to be a few years before Konecny makes an impact at the NHL level, but he was a steal at #24

So...safe to assume that most folks here are fairly giddy after the weekend activities?

I sent time watching Gagner highlights and also some random Coyotes games from last season. He didn't stand out as either good or bad, but given the weak FA class, and the prices that it seems guys like Belesky and Frolik are getting, hanging onto Gagner and giving him a one year audtion is the way to go,
- Jsaquella

Hopefully we have the room and can deal a couple more contracts. Need to move a D man or 2 and if we can agree on early termination with VLC I say keep him.

So...Buttons and Pierre are full of it?
- section32

I don't know about that, but I would take the opinion of the coaches that he regularly plays against (who voted him best skater) over theirs.

Keep him, buy him out, I'm fine with either.
- BiggE

with the current roster he makes sense if hextall has something up his sleeve that requires cap and vlc isn't happening it's bye bye. So far though he has not had any ill will to Arizona for trashing him and he's said all the right things about our organization. Seems like a classy good locker room guy. I really think read gagner schenn with gagner schenn being interchangeable at center would make a really solid third line. 3 40 point scorers ?