Metal&Oil:
Just to put Gags contribution in his 5 years into perspective I found this piece of information from Lowetides “RE 12-13 Sam Gagner “pretty interesting:

The flip side of that is that he is an average centre on a bad team.

in the last 5 seasons, Edmonton has had 9 seasons of 40 or more points by a centerman. Sam Gagner owns 5, Shawn Horcoff 2 and then Cogliano and the Nuge had 1 each.

chucker: Really, to me, this just illustrates how far down hockey has fallen. Ten years ago a guy with an average of 40 points was called Marty Reasoner. Now he is a top six player. Sorry but it really disgusts me that a scrub like Gagner gets 3.2. (historic scrub). Guys who get 35 goals get 100 million dollar contracts. I truly hate what hockey has become on the business standpoint. 30 teams is to many and the talent level has dropped enormously. A guy like Gagner would have been an AHL player in the good days of the 21 team league.

Having seen many of the greatest players of the last few generations, I am jaded, but I don’t recall a guy like Dave Lumley being considered anything other than another guy every team had four of. 70 points used to be a secondary scoring player. Now that seems like some magical marker that is awesome. It isn’t. We are participants in the worst talent pool I have seen since I have been alive.All, caused by expansion and false elevation of what used to be mediocrity, and in many cases, just crap.

What do I know?Just a fan who pays attention. Gagner is nothing special. He just seems like he might be, but even then, he is just better than some of the crap that is floating around this league.

Devils advocate time.

80′s high scoring hockey, not much in terms of defensive stratagy. (relative to later years)
90′s butterfly goalies, with better lighter pads lowers scoring.
mid 90s trap system used by the devils becomes more popular.
late 90-lockout clutch and grab/dead puck
first season after the lockout scoring increased, but has been on the way back down every year since.
Also it seems everyone now has to be a 2 way player. So there is an even larger commitment on D.

It could easily be argued that you’re seeing the best standard of hockey ever. Especially on the defensive side of the puck.

Personally I want Hard capped pads gone, and smaller goalie pads. Less injuries & more scoring.

jeeze. thats a debate that isnt even a debate…. but nhl will never go back. plain stupid. want goals? old equipment. reduce injuries? old equipment. with better materials they should never have gotten bigger. rediculous.

on topic i will say this about sam. i never doubt this guy wants to be an oiler i just am leery we give a good guy too big of a contract when someone cheaper can come in and do the same or better. -horcoff.
guys shouldnt just get millions because they are good guys. i also dont like huge terms so i like the 1 year. i honestly dont think the owners intend to push for the 10 year ufa , i think its fine at 7 but they will use it as a concession they can drop. (not exactly good faith bargaining, but i was always taught that first offers are always bluffs until both hands are seen and momentum builds on getting the job done.). if he gets a two year it is bad timing for the oil UFA wise. if sam does really good this year than 4 years is a good deal imo. 4 years max. i hate contraacts over 5 and those should be for the top guys that cost 5 players in trade to acquire…or a full losing seaon and lottery pick.

5 year ELCs are rediculous.
personally i think we look like assholes not signing Nail yet. we look like cheap schmucks. or have we signed him and i missed it.

Metal&Oil: Yeah but you have to look at it from another prospective too. If Gagner was playing in the days before Jacques Lemaire with no traps & scrawny netmindershe would have had a lot more then 40-50 pts in a season. Gags is an NHL player now and would have been one then as well.

Can’t you just let an old codger have his moment? Yes, this argument holds water for sure. He is an NHL player, I am just not enamoured with him any more than I was Craig Janney or Mike Ridley etc. coming into the shite situation he did, Gagner has done well. I like that he has done well but I also find myself cursing him most of the year for broken plays and his complete lack of anything physical. Just not my kind of player.