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Sam Gagner to play for the Marlies

CarltonTheBear

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https://twitter.com/TorontoMarlies/status/1047246529705074688

Gagner recently passed through waivers, and reports were that the Canucks were trying to find an AHL team closer to home he could play for. Seems like the Marlies volunteered.

It's a pretty surprising turn of events for Gagner. He put up 50 points with the Blue Jackets in 16/17 playing a very sheltered and PP-heavy role... then signed a 3-year, $3.15mil AAV contract with the Canucks. He put up 31 points with the Canucks last season.

Aside from Adam Brooks, the Marlies don't really have any centre prospects so this won't be taking time away from our young guys. If he comes even slightly motivated Gagner should be one of the AHL's top players.

The Canucks can also recall him at any point they want as well.
 
I looked at his numbers when he was waived and its kind of remarkable how consistent he was. Other than unusual production in the lockout year he's basically between 37 and 50 points every year of his career.

 
Nik the Trik said:
I looked at his numbers when he was waived and its kind of remarkable how consistent he was. Other than unusual production in the lockout year he's basically between 37 and 50 points every year of his career.

That statement even still applies if you take out his 8-point game in 2012.
 
Nik the Trik said:
I looked at his numbers when he was waived and its kind of remarkable how consistent he was. Other than unusual production in the lockout year he's basically between 37 and 50 points every year of his career.

I genuinely don't understand this move from Vancouver's perspective. 30 points last year wasn't great (but on a low scoring team it wasn't awful) and yeah he's overpaid (good job Benning) but he's still definitely a NHLer. Maybe he was big into Fortnite.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Nik the Trik said:
I looked at his numbers when he was waived and its kind of remarkable how consistent he was. Other than unusual production in the lockout year he's basically between 37 and 50 points every year of his career.

I genuinely don't understand this move from Vancouver's perspective. 30 points last year wasn't great (but on a low scoring team it wasn't awful) and yeah he's overpaid (good job Benning) but he's still definitely a NHLer. Maybe he was big into Fortnite.
That's what I'm thinking, there could be other issues at play here. I read somewhere they sent him to Toronto to be closer to his family so maybe personal reasons are at play here
 
CarltonTheBear said:
I genuinely don't understand this move from Vancouver's perspective. 30 points last year wasn't great (but on a low scoring team it wasn't awful) and yeah he's overpaid (good job Benning) but he's still definitely a NHLer. Maybe he was big into Fortnite.

No, I think it actually makes some sense. Gagner's production has always been linked to his being the team's #2 C on the power play. If he's not going to be that for a team, if he's 3rd on the offensive C depth chart, it's pretty hard to see what he brings value wise. Especially for a team like Vancouver that's invested pretty heavily in a couple of checking C's like Beagle and Sutter.
 
Vancouver's goal is to deprive us of the schadenfreude of Ottawa winning the Jack Hughes sweepstakes, so waiving a player that actually scores goals is on brand.
 
cabber24 said:
Don't the Marlies have enough "gud pro's"? Why another?

I don't think anyone is saying Gagner is here to be a leader or a good professional. If he's a consistent 40 point scorer in the NHL, I think the idea is that he could really help the Marlies win by means of scoring goals and such.
 
Nik the Trik said:
cabber24 said:
Don't the Marlies have enough "gud pro's"? Why another?

I don't think anyone is saying Gagner is here to be a leader or a good professional. If he's a consistent 40 point scorer in the NHL, I think the idea is that he could really help the Marlies win by means of scoring goals and such.

Yeah, the front office wants the Marlies to be a consistent winner.
Vancouver wanted to waive Gagner and he wanted to play closer to home if successfully waived. Toronto's Marlies GM, who was the former Utica GM, Laurence Gilman, obliged as the Marlies' scoring and centre depth is quite depleted.
 
herman said:
Nik the Trik said:
cabber24 said:
Don't the Marlies have enough "gud pro's"? Why another?

I don't think anyone is saying Gagner is here to be a leader or a good professional. If he's a consistent 40 point scorer in the NHL, I think the idea is that he could really help the Marlies win by means of scoring goals and such.

Yeah, the front office wants the Marlies to be a consistent winner.
Vancouver wanted to waive Gagner and he wanted to play closer to home if successfully waived. Toronto's Marlies GM, who was the former Utica GM, Laurence Gilman, obliged as the Marlies' scoring and centre depth is quite depleted.
Although winning is a great component to development so is ice time for prospects. I am worried about "gud pro's" taking too much ice time from prospects.
 
cabber24 said:
I am worried about "gud pro's" taking too much ice time from prospects.

Thing is, the Leafs don't really have much by way of C prospects. One of the weird things about the Leafs drafts over the last few years has been the lack of C's. In '15, '16 and '17 the only Centres they drafted, or guys listed at that position, are Matthews, Brooks and Ryan Macgregor(and Marner).

I still think that '16 draft is going to look really bad when all is said and done.
 
Literally the only young centre we have on the Marlies this coming season is Adam Brooks, and he's likely not ready to take the 1C job right now anyway. A move like this will only benefit him really.
 
cabber24 said:
Who were the Marlies C last year vs this year?

last year:
Miro Aaltonen
Chris Mueller
Fredrik Gauthier
Adam Brooks

Colin Greening and Ben Smith took earlier games in the middle when Brooks wasn't ready for action (mono).

This year:
Mueller
Brooks
Gagner
Cracknell
*shrug* probably Gauthier when Nylander signs
 
herman said:
cabber24 said:
Who were the Marlies C last year vs this year?

last year:
Miro Aaltonen
Chris Mueller
Fredrik Gauthier
Adam Brooks

Colin Greening and Ben Smith took earlier games in the middle when Brooks wasn't ready for action (mono).

This year:
Mueller
Brooks
Gagner
Cracknell
*shrug* probably Gauthier when Nylander signs
Thanks, so basically there is opening at C..
 
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