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Sam Gagner Watch: First Impressions At Training Camp

By Catherine Silverman

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Mar 20, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel (5) and Edmonton Oilers center Sam Gagner (89) battle for the puck during the first period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

I want everyone to close their eyes. 

Now, raise your hand if you’re nervous about Sam Gagner’s performance this upcoming season. 

Everyone good? Okay, open your eyes and look around. 

Obviously, this would have worked better if I was a motivational speaker, and you were all attending my seminar. It’s a lot harder to prove a point when I’m writing this from my coffee table, and you’re reading this from your office chair. I’M TRYING, DAMNIT.

All jokes aside, though, the Coyotes are on the edge of a cliff this season. They really have two ways things can go- either Sam Gagner and a hand-selected group of elite rookies can lead the team into the postseason, or it’s going to be a third consecutive year of disappointment for the desert dogs. No pressure or anything, Sam.

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    • These kinds of expectations can make or break a player. Mike Ribeiro, as we all know all too well, didn’t step up and perform the way the team was hoping he would. He’s not alone- teams pick up these salvation players every year, only to be disappointed come another missed postseason.

    Gagner, by no means, is being brought into the desert with the expectation that he’ll become the team’s top-line center. At the moment, it’s anticipated that he’ll be slotted in as either the team’s third line center or winger, depending on where he’s most needed.

    This is a step down from where he stood in Edmonton, but the ‘downgrade’ is deceptive. With the Oilers, Gagner was an unhappy top-six scorer who grossly underperformed in comparison to where he was expected to play based on his talents. He failed to hit the 20 or 30 goal marks due to playing one of the most drastically inconsistent games in the league- you’d be hard pressed to find another player who could tie single-game points records with Gretzky and Lemieux, yet struggle to even reach the 40-point mark for an entire season. Even other players criticized for their ‘off’ years- such as Boston’s Brad Marchand, also a top-six player who underperformed- ended the season with fifty-plus points.

    “Heading into training camp, though, things seem to be looking up for Gagner. He’s happy about the change of scenery, and seems to be stepping into an accommodating leadership role with his new team.”

    Heading into training camp, though, things seem to be looking up for Gagner. He’s happy about the change of scenery, and seems to be stepping into an accommodating leadership role with his new team.

    In talks with Fox Sports AZ, Sam Gagner was focused and ready for the upcoming season. He spoke about line chemistry (something he didn’t seem to have a ton of in Edmonton), and reiterated how focused he is on the upcoming season.

    “Once the regular season starts, you kind of have your linemates set and you can talk about building chemistry…” he insisted. “For training camp, it’s about getting sharp, getting yourself ready for the season.”

    Gagner will skate out as number 9 with the desert dogs this season. More updates on him to come, as preseason and training camp progress.

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