12 Days Of The Oilers Rig Christmas – Back Checks For Gagner

Well we are less than a week from Christmas morning, and that means we are closing in on the end of the “12 Days” series. There have been some great gifts so far, and there are a few more to come. Today’s gift would be a welcomed one by everyone that roots for and evens plays for the Oilers. Today’s target is struggling center Sam Gagner.

Let’s get this out of the way now. Gagner is a much better player than what he is currently showing. Right now, Gagner would struggle to make the local high school team in my area. His defensive play has gone so far down the tubes, it looks like he doesn’t belong in the NHL.

Gagner has 12 points in 24 games, .5 per game exactly. Normally, that would be pretty good, and it’s right around Sam’s career average points wise. It’s what we expect, but for a guy that’s as big of a liability as he is, he needs to score more. That said, outside of last season, Gagner doesn’t really have it in him to score more. He’s a guy that will get you between 40-50 points and that’s it.

Gagner, in order to be part of the long term plans, will have to improve in other areas, and that is where today’s gift will focus in. I’m giving Sam Gagner more back checks and better defensive play this Holiday season.

Gagner is a -16 on the season. Normally, I’d say the +/- stat is a skewed one, but for Gagner it kind of applies. Far too often Sam has been caught out of position this season. He leaves guys open in the slot with regularity, and far too often goes puck chasing, leaving someone wide open in the defensive zone.

It seems like a nightly occurrence that Gagner blows a defensive assignment and it ends up in the Edmonton net. It’s gotten to the point where he doesn’t look like an NHL center, and it’s costing the team big time. Plays like the one against LA Tuesday where Sam was literally standing there watching Dwight King score is just unacceptable, and happens far too often.

He looks confused on the back-check almost every time he attempts it, and as our good friend Lowetide would say, it looks like one year’s experience six times over. That’s a huge problem, and it is hindering Sam’s career and the Oilers as a whole.

Personally, I’d be looking to dump Gagner ASAP, NTC or not, this simply isn’t working out. He’s just not what this team needs right now. Realistically however, that probably won’t happen. That’s why I’m offering Sam this gift of more back checks and better defensive play.

Gagner’s offense is what it is, it isn’t bad, and it isn’t great. If he wants to be a second line center in Edmonton, he’ll need to fix his defensive game. It’s quite simple, find your man and stay on him. Don’t go chasing the puck, stay on your man and play the system. This is fundamentals, they teach you this kind of stuff in youth hockey.

For Gagner, if he can fix this problem, he has a long term spot in Edmonton. If not however, well all bets are off. This isn’t just a gift, it’s a lifeline Sam. Take it, and use it. You’re going to need it. It’s simple really, no one is asking you to be Mike Peca, people are just asking you to play NHL level defense. You should be able to do that.

Slow the game down and don’t over think it, find your man and stay on him Sam. That’s your gift. Now use it!