One of the best signings from the Blue Jackets offseason now is getting recognition league wide. Sam Gagner has been named the NHL’s third star of the week for his three goals and three assists in three games this past week. The Jackets were 3-0 during that time and are currently one of the top teams in the Metropolitan division. Can Gagner keep this up?
He is currently on pace to have career highs in goals, assists and points. The numbers are well outside what the Jackets could have expected from the former Edmonton Oiler. While he is skating well and is being put in a nice position, a fair amount of his points have come on the power play. It wasn’t an opportunity that was given to him in his last few stops and suffered because of it. His skills are evident and as a weapon on the man advantage, no one may be better this year.
Gagner currently has a 16.9 sh%, a very high number that could regress during the year or it could continue for a little while longer, just don’t expect it to last in the long term. It is well above his career average as well which makes his performance thus far look like an outlier. Seven of his points have been on the power play, not nearly as high as one would expect given the 19 point outburst he has had this year. If he can continue a good even strength scoring rate it would do wonders for the team and their sustainability.
Gagner’s stock won’t ever be higher this year than it is right now. He is playing in a bottom six role at even strength and flourishing. How the team utilizes and manages Gagner throughout the rest of the year will be a compelling storyline. Will they re-sign him? Could they trade him? Where exactly do they go from here, it is a peculiar spot and not one the team could’ve expected this past summer.
For now, let’s enjoy the ride.
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