Sam Gagner: the next great Oilers draft pick, or the next great 1st round flop?

After the draft, I've been doing some reading about Sam Gagner, the Oilers 1st 1st round draft pick from this past Friday. He sounds like a decent Canadian kid, hopefully turns out to be a great player, and he seems genuinely pleased to be picked by a Canadian team.
He seems like a bit of a momma's boy, but he's not 18 until mid-August, so maybe we'll cut him some slack in the that department. Maybe.
He's not half bad looking either, he's actually sorta cute (for a 17 yr old), so he won't hurt the Oilers' "hotness" factor.




He won't be NHL ready for at least 2-3, possibly 4 seasons; but by then Joffrey-can't-buy-a-goal-Lupul will be traded to the Islanders where he'll score 468 goals in one season and the be on his way to winning the Stanley Cup, so there will be a roster spot on the Oilers open for young Sammy.

His favorite NHL player is Peter Forsberg; he patterns his game after Forsberg because "he makes all the players around him better". The Oilers could use a Forsberg type player. Like RIGHT NOW. As it always is with the Oilers, they are building for 4-5 years down the road. Every year, they are aiming for 4-5 years to be great. EVERY YEAR. Well, that team in 4-5 years isn't ever coming, because I've been an Oilers fan for 10 years, and I'm still waiting for the kick-ass team that's 4-5 years away. But that's a rant for another day. Back to Sammy.

He gives away his shoot-out move. Not the smartest thing to reveal.
He's more of a passer than a scorer, so he won't be on Hemsky's line anytime soon. Given the coaching staff's track record, he would end up on Hemsky's line and they'll just pass it back and forth to each other 5 bazillion times without taking a shot. Maybe Hemsky will have learnt to shoot by then. Or Andrew Cogliano will centre them and score 469 goals, beating Lupul by one goal to win the Rocket Richard trophy.


Is it just me, or does he look like a fortune teller without his crystal ball in this photo?





One thing is for sure, that number has got to go. 89 holds to many bitter, angry memories in the minds of Oilers fans.

Draft day part 1.

The Oilers used all 3 of their 1st round picks. Lowe was unable to swing a trade of dramatic proportions today, but he hopes to have something in the works for Saturday (draft rounds 2 thru 7.) I'm excited and nervous at the same time. He di, however, trade up to the 21st pick from the 30th pick, trading with his old buddy Gretzky and the Phoenix Coyotes. Neither player the Oilers picked at 15 and 21 where thought to be 1st round picks, and I hadn't heard anything about them, except from TSN's mock draft saying that Alex Plante was a sure thing to the drafted by the Oilers, but they had him listed at the 30th postion.

Since I don't know too much about the crop of kids that where available for this year's draft, and I had't heard much about Plante or Nash until the Oilers drafted them, I'm going to be lazy and just use TSN's story. It's better than anything I could of wrote anyways. :P



Oilers get Gagner, Plante and Nash

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CP) - The Edmonton Oilers came to the NHL entry draft armed with three first-round draft picks, and GM Kevin Lowe had hoped at least one of them would be trade bait.

In the end, failing to make a deal for the defenceman he craves, Lowe went ahead and drafted three times Friday night. But he did report some progress in trade talks.

"I want to say there's a couple deals pending," said Lowe. "A little bit frustrating because in both cases they're tied to teams doing other things and maybe that has to do with the cap world.

"But I remain optimistic that that'll happen. You spend a long time in the days leading up, 72 hours of non-stop effort and if it doesn't happen it can be a little disappointing, no question.

"But I'm still very optimistic."

In the meantime, the Oilers drafted a nifty playmaking centre, a big defenceman and a solid two-way forward. They were the first Canadian team to the mic and they used the sixth drafting position to select centre Sam Gagner of the OHL's London Knights.

Gagner, the son of former NHL forward Dave Gagner, scored 35 goals and assisted on 83 in 53 regular-season games. The 5-11, 190-pounder from Oakville, Ont., reads plays well, which makes him an exceptional set-up man. He also was a member of Canada's world junior championship team.

"To hear my name called was a great feeling, especially the Edmonton Oilers, a Canadian city," said Gagner. "I couldn't be more thrilled."

Scouts have compared him to NHL forward Marc Savard.

"I'm happy to be picked but I realize this is just the beginning, there's a long way to go," said Gagner. "There's a lot of work to be done."

Another year with the Knights will more than likely be in the cards for Gagner.

"I'm going to continue to work hard and try and get as NHL-ready as possible but if I were to spend another year in junior I think it would be great for my development," he said. "I thought I developed a lot this year in London. The Hunters (Dale and Mark) really know their hockey and they're able to teach me a lot about the game. I don't think that would be bad for me at all."

Edmonton was up again in the 15th slot and took six-foot-four, 225-pound defenceman Alex Plante of the Calgary Hitmen. Plante scored eight goals, assisted on 30 and was assessed 81 penalty minutes last season. His improvement in agility and overall play led to a jump up in the rankings in the second half of his season. Scouts have compared him to NHL defenceman Kyle McLaren.

"We just like his potential," said Oilers scouting director Kevin Pendergrest. "He's 6-4, for a big guy he uses his reach really well. Lots of upside there."

Phoenix traded the 21st pick to Edmonton for the No. 30 and 36 spots, and the Oilers selected six-foot-one, 175-pound centre Riley Nash, who scored 38 goals for the B.C. Jr. A league's Salmon Arm team.

"I was mostly Canucks growing up but the Oilers are a good fit," said Nash.

Nash will play college hockey at Cornell in the autumn and has some areas he wants to improve in his game.

"I've got to get a better stride," he said. "I'm not quick enough. And I need a better shot, all NHL players have great shots."

At least one Canadian team won something!

Oilers prospect Zack Stortini helped lead the Bulldogs to a 4-1 series victory over the Hershey Bears on Thursday night. Stortini scored three goals in the playoffs, including one in the finals, to help Hamilton capture the AHL Calder Cup.

Well FUCK.

Ahem.

Now that I got that out of my system, (see previous post), Lowe says he is not bitter.
He is also impressed with the Oilers prospects that are/were in Edmonton this week.
Dick Tarnstrom may be coming back (is our defense really that sad and pathetic? I guess so, if old Dicky boy is returning. I suppose he isn't any worse than Tjarnqvist.)
Petr Sykora is still on the Oilers radar, but only after Lowe fails in UFA signings and/or a monster trade at the draft.
Raffi, as I have figured, may be a goner too.

Karma is not real, all backwards, or she hates Oilers fans.

Me bitter? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Pronger suspended AGAIN

For one game, for a blow to the head of Dean McAmmond that went unpenialized at the time of the hit. Much like his hit on Holstrom in the Western Conference final.
Man, this guy gets hated everywhere he goes.
Prior to the hit, he actually had a hand in scoring the GWG for the Senators in the 2nd period. Funny enough it was Dean McAmmond that was credited with that goal. According to Pronger he was just trying to finish his check, but it was a late hit, and a hit to the head.
The Ducks did win game 4 of the Western Conference series without Pronger, but the Sens are back up to form and they better take advantage of his absence unlike the Wings.

Some Oil-y gossip

Keep an eye on the Oilers

In the days leading up to the NHL Entry Draft, be sure to keep an eye on the Edmonton Oilers. They have three first round picks, including the sixth pick overall. But there is another reason and it's that Oilers' General Manger Kevin Lowe is big game hunting.

Between now and the July 1 free agency period, Lowe would love to add a pair of top-six forwards and a quality defenceman.

Lots of people think there's a better chance of doing that via the trade market than by free agency and Lowe has a lot of currency from which to deal.

He has the three first round picks and an entire roster of players that are not untouchable especially after the way the team finished the season after the Ryan Smyth trade.

The Oilers would love to get a guy like Brad Richards from the Lightning. With Tampa's expanding budget, Richards isn't likely available but that's the type of splashy and bold move that Lowe would like to pull off.

There's no guarantee that a big Oiler trade will happen, and if one doesn't, it won't be for a lack of trying.

For TSN.ca, I'm Bob McKenzie.

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From Eklund on HockeyBuzz.com:

I couldn't agree more with Bob's opinion here...I've been writing a lot about the Oilers lately. They are very much active right now. And it makes sense they would be. Losing Ryan Smyth the Oilers are in desperate need of an identifiable star.

A rumor I was about to post today was that one source told me, "The Edmonton Oilers are the Canadian team most likely to grab Kariya. It is the kind of city and situation that Paul feels comfortable in."

Along with Kariya, who was added today, on our THE RUMOR CHART the Oilers are currently listed to be possibly linked with Timonen, Stuart, Sopel, LeCavalier, and of course Ryan Smyth.

Other players via trade, included Joni Pitkanen, Marleau, Brisebois, and even a longshot rumor (that was discussed recently in a press box during the playoffs) that would send Jagr to Edmonton. Bizarre to even mention this, but have we learned nothing?

The Oilers are definitely being discussed at length in the rumour mill, and for good reason..

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HELL YES!

How FUCKING sweet would it be to be sportin' either one of those two jerseys in October?!?!
They would out-sell the Lupul jerseys, that for damn sure.

{I know Reasoner wears 19, so either Richards would have to change his number, or since Richards would be the new 'superstar' in town maybe Marty would go back to 15 (the number he wore in his 1st season with the Oilers.) }
Oh, for either player to become an Oiler; can you say it with me Oilers fans?! "I have died and gone to hockey heaven! "

Oilers forward Joffrey Lupul can't bear to watch as his former team sits just two wins away from a Stanley Cup championship

By TERRY JONES June 1, 2007

NEWPORT BEACH, California -- Joffrey Lupul sat in the stands in Anaheim for Game 2. The baseball stands. Four blocks away.

Where the Angels play.

"I haven't gone to a game. It hurts a little bit to watch it," he said of Anaheim Ducks games on their march to the Stanley Cup.

"I don't have any interest in going to a game and putting myself through that. I've watched a few on TV. Mostly I tape them and decide whether or not to watch them later.

"It's human nature to be jealous, a little bit," he said.

It's bad enough that Lupul was traded from the two-wins-away from the Stanley Cup Ducks. He's also been kicked out of house and home.

Dustin Penner not only moved up to take over his right wing spot in the lineup, but the native of Winkler, Man., also moved into his house here two blocks from the beach made famous by the Beach Boys song Surf City.

"Dustin said he'd pay me at the end of the season," he said, thinking maybe sometime in May, not June. "I hope he doesn't skip out."

The two played together in the AHL during the lockout.

"I have a good friendship with him," said Penner. "I'm sure right now he wishes he was still with the Ducks.

"He's been a good landlord. And I've been a good tenant."

OFF-SEASON IN L.A.

Lupul, who spends his off-season here, is back in his half of a duplex for the next few days while Penner and the Ducks are in Ottawa for Game 3-4 with Anaheim leading the series two games to none.

Lupul, the Fort Saskatchewan product, has tried to keep out of Penner's way, staying in his place only a couple of times between rounds.

"I work out every day in Los Angeles doing weight training with Ethan Moreau's brother Chad and guys like Jarret Stoll," he said of his Edmonton Oilers teammate.

He's stayed with them when the Ducks are at home.

"I haven't been around that much," he said.

"But I've been out for dinner with Dustin a few times. Having gone to the third round of the playoffs last year, I know you talk hockey the whole day and it's the last thing you want to talk about when you go out for dinner, so we haven't talked about hockey much."

TALK IS TOUGH

Besides, what do you say?

"When I was traded, it created more opportunity for Dustin and Corey Perry. Those two, along with Ryan Getzlaf, have done really well with it. They've had such a good playoffs. Any time you're on a team and know the guys, you have to be really happy for them. I'm especially happy for the young guys. They've really responded."

You could make the case, of course, that the Ducks wouldn't be two wins away from the Stanley Cup if it wasn't for them getting Chris Pronger.

"Absolutely," said Lupul, who came to Edmonton with Ladislav Smid in the deal which provided the Oilers with a first round draft choice this year and both a first and second round pick next year.

"I'm mature enough to look at it and say he's a big reason they're here."

Lupul, who had a terrible time of it in his first season with the Oilers, scoring 16 goals with 12 assists for 28 points and a minus 29, says he's not in any stage of denial.

"It doesn't look very good for me personally, but I hope it might look a little better four or five years from now when he's out of the league and I'm in the prime of my career."

Lupul, who other than going back to Edmonton for a week in late June to move into a new house he's purchased, plans to spend his entire summer in L.A.

"It's a great place to be for young single guys like myself."

And he wouldn't say no if some of the Ducks asked him to join them in celebration if they win the Stanley Cup.

"That could be a lot of fun."


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Poor "Dreamy eyes" Lupul; I guess we OILERS FANS should feel sorry for him. * Rolling of the eyes and a mock snort/laugh inserted here*.

Oh, to be able to live the NHL dream when your summers involve working out in the morning, hanging out at the beach in the afternoon, trolling for the hotties at night. But no Stanley Cup. Boo-fuckin-hoo.

Let's hope he cuts back on his rumored cocaine habit though and doesn't get a STD (or two) hey?
Or a sunburn. Sunburns hurt like a mofo.