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| Sam GAGNER (GAH-n’yay, SAM) |
Edmonton Oilers |
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GAGNER HAD HIS OWN RINK OF DREAMS
Shawn P. Roarke writes on NHL.com, "The roots of Sam Gagner's extensive success in the most-famous rinks North America – and, to a certain extent, the world – can be found, in part, on a small, outdoor rink that graced the Gagner backyard throughout his childhood. Sure, Sam Gagner has enviable offensive talent. And, yes, he does have impeccable bloodlines. His dad, Dave, was a first-round pick of the New York Rangers in 1983. But more than anything, it was the countless hours spent on that home rink – built by his dad's outdoor rink-building company – that honed the skills that delivered Sam Gagner to the Edmonton Oilers as a first-round pick this past June and assured he would be among the crown jewels of the 2007-08 rookie class." |
GAGNER HAPPY TO BE OILERS' NEW WINGMAN
Jim Matheson writes in the Edmonton Journal, "Sam Gagner wore two sweaters on Boxing Day, maybe a third if he got one under the Christmas tree from his folks. "Ask him about the Team Canada jersey he had on," said housemate and fellow Edmonton Oilers forward Andrew Cogliano. "Yeah, OK, I wore the sweater while I was watching the first period of the world junior game against the Czechs," said a sheepish Gagner. Gagner played with most of Canada's current junior team members in the Russia-Canada Summit Series in August, where he earned the tournament's most valuable player award. He is not at the world tournament in Pardubice, Czech Republic, now because the NHL rookie is too valuable for the Oilers to release. In fact, Gagner replaced injured winger Ales Hemsky on the Oilers' No. 1 line last night against the Anaheim Ducks. He was to skate with centre Shawn Horcoff and left-winger Dustin Penner." |
ROOKIE REUNION
Derek van Diest writes for Sun Media, "A year ago, Gagner and Kane were teammates with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. This year they're both having strong rookie seasons in the National Hockey League. Kane – the first overall pick in last summer's NHL Entry Draft – is leading the Blackhawks in scoring. Heading into last night's game against the Ottawa Senators, the Buffalo, N.Y., native had eight goals and 24 assists in 33 games. Gagner, meanwhile, is having a pretty good rookie season of his own with three goals and 13 assists in 35 games. "I'm feeling fine, I enjoy playing a lot of games, so it's a lot of fun for me," Gagner said. "Obviously the NHL is a completely different level and it's something that I have to stay focused throughout the entire year, try to get better every day and produce." " |
OILERS SHOOTOUT SPECIALISTS
Joanne Ireland writes in the Edmonton Journal, "So proficient are the Edmonton Oilers marksmen that their head coach doesn't even have to mull over his choices for his lineup sheet. Another shootout? Another round for Sam Gagner, Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff. The trio, backed by the stingy goaltending duo of Mathieu Garon and Dwayne Roloson, are this season's undisputed specialists. No NHL team has pushed more overtime games into a shootout. And, no team is even close to matching the Oilers' sensational shootout record of 9-1." |
IT'S OFFICIAL – GAGNER'S AN NHLER
Jim Matheson writes in the Edmonton Journal, "As the NHL's youngest player, Sam Gagner still has that kid in a candy store look when he walks into rinks he's never seen before, like the Staples Center. But Gagner, who only turned 18 two and a half months ago, officially became an NHLer on Saturday when he played his 10th game with the Edmonton Oilers. "This probably eases things for Sam ... it's a good obstacle for him to overcome," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said about Gagner reaching the 10-game target. "Once you get the exposure to the NHL game, you don't want to go back to junior." |
GAGNER NOT A WIDE-EYED ROOKIE
Dan Rosen writes for NHL.com, "Sam Gagner didn't need any lessons on how to handle the accoutrements that come with being a professional hockey player. Despite his age, the 18-year-old rookie brought to Edmonton the moxie of an off-the-ice veteran thanks to years of tutelage from his father. But there was no way dad, Dave Gagner – yes, the same Dave Gagner who played 15 seasons in the NHL with stops in seven cities until retiring in 1999 – could give his son the on-the-ice tutorial he's receiving these days." |
GAGNER TAKES A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Joanne Ireland writes in the Edmonton Journal, "As Sam Gagner made his way into the Florida Panthers' practice rink in Coral Springs, a burg located about 20 kilometres northwest of Fort Lauderdale, the memories came flooding back. There were banners from his days as a Mite with the Coral Springs Coyotes, a forgotten familiarity about the dressing room. 'Going back was a pretty cool experience for me. That's where I got my start,' he said before the Edmonton Oilers made the drive out to the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise for Thursday's game against the Panthers. It was when Dave Gagner was with the Panthers that his son found the kind of attachment to the game that would see him make the leap from the Ontario Hockey League to the National Hockey League." |
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