[Trade] Oilers trade Gagner to Tampa for Purcell. Tampa flips Gagner to Coyotes for a 6th

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

There's no way LD starts as the #2 C for the Oilers next season. I mean, I guess it's not impossible, but unless they want to wreck his development and their season they shouldn't do it.

Really? Nothing about how Edmonton has treated every high level prospect they've acquired in the last decade makes you think they'll throw Draisaitl in the lineup immediatly?

"They shouldn't do it" has been the Oiler creed now for years

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by AlbertaOiler72

because the Oilers get a winger with size for Gagner...who clearly has negative value based on the fact TB is retaining 1/3 salary and only fetching a 6th rounder..and trade Gagner before his NMC kicks in

trading Gagner for a 6th AND retaining salary (which they can't do anyways) to Arizona would be disastrous...we'd still need a winger to replace him and overpay in the UFA market

not sure how this doesn't benefit the Oilers

This post is worth taking a closer look at...

First, in order for the logic to even make sense, you have to admit that Gagner has negative value - something I strongly doubt you would have agreed to prior to this evening playing out the way it did.

But ignoring that, your argument is that they got something for Gagner, despite his negative value.

The fact that what they got is another player who was going to be bought out (i.e. negative value) doesn't seem to negate that in your eyes.

But the best part is that you justify the value of the trade in the fact that they would have had to sign Purcell as a free agent, and now they don't have to - got him for negative value! It's a win!

Umm, here's the thing...

Now they have to go out and get a C in the free agent market (or trade for him) and a 2nd line C is going to cost a lot more than Purcell would have.

But at least the Oilers traded from a position of strength (C) to get a winger - oh wait!

[Enoch Root]

I am going to miss all the Oiler fan proposals of what they were going to get for Gagner.

I think my personal favorite was Gagner + 1st for Weber!

In all seriousness though, I wish Gagner the best - I hope he can Cogliano his career.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Lots of players nix trades (Sundin, Heatley, Spezza, even Kipper).

True. But none of those guys were moving from Edmonton.

[Resolute 14]

Incidentally, since Gagner was traded prior to his NMC kicking in, it is no longer in effect - unless Gagner and Phoenix specifically agree to retain it. If they don't, he can be moved at any time.

As far as the deals go,

Tampa dumps a soft winger in exchange for a 6th round pick and cap flexibility.

Edmonton gets marginally better at wing while the odds are that a replacement level centre won't be much worse than Gagner.

Arizona ends up paying a little less salary to downgrade from Ribiero to Gagner.

These trades are reasonably good news from a Flames perspective. Of the two teams closest to us in the standings, the one ahead is a little worse off today, and the one behind made yet another "bold move".

[Burke Salad]

Maybe the Oilers strategy is to have RNH as the #2 behind McDavid?

[PeteMoss]

Rebuild 3.0?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

To put things into perspective what does that mean when your 2nd line center has negative value? Backlund was drafted 18 spots below Gagner and I can guarantee if the Flames put him on the market there would be considerable interest and the offers would be better than mediocre players with bad contracts. Kind of puts that draft into perspective now and how bad the Oilers botch things when they aren't picking first overall. They could have had Couture, Sutter, McDonagh, Pacioretty, Backlund, etc. Heck they could have drafted Perron and wouldn't have had to give up a 2nd round pick and another of their 1st round busts (Paavari) for him. Man the Oilers really are no good.

I need to say this. Backlund was NOT a sure thing for a long time and needed quite a bit of developing and coaching to turn into a bonafide NHL regular. I can guarantee that if the Oilers drafted him, Where R U Chris O'Sullivan would have been proven right.

Gagner was a legitimately good prospect when he was drafted and they didn't develop him at all in Edmonton. You could almost guarantee that if the Oilers got their hands on any of those prospects they would be worse than Gagner right now…because…no good.

[CaptainCrunch]

Wow, that's a really interesting trade, the Oilers are now in no choice, but LD makes this team, and I'm not 100% sure that he's going to be ready, nobody is.

On top of that they trade Gagner who at least produced but didn't do anything else well for a winger with size in Purcell who really doesn't use his side and was on the buyout menu in Tampa because his play has slid.

Are the Oiler's worse today, maybe not? maybe sure? they shuffled a soft defensively poor center for a soft defensively poor winger, they've lost some production for sure.

Will this be classified as a bold move by the Oiler faithful? For sure, this is a huge move getting rid of a whipping boy. Probably bought in a whipping boy to.

But the bottom line is that a RNH, LD, Gordon 1-2-3 punch down the middle is weaker then a RNH LD Gagner Gordon punch down the middle.

But then again they have superstar Acobello or whatever his name is to fly to the rescue.

So now they need to go out and find another center, they need to address their pudding soft defensively horrid bottom 6, address their blue line and pray that Scriven's and VF can last a season in goal without getting rubber sickness.

That team needs to be federally declared as a disaster zone. Think of the PR as Stephen Harper flys over in a helicopter surveying Edmonton and shaking his head sadly while mournful music plays in the background before turning to a general and saying "It can't be saved, General, burn it to the ground and salt the ashes"

[automaton 3]

The Oiler's ineptitude continues to amaze.

They managed to both IMO get worse in the trade, and are also poised to hang one of their rookies out to dry yet again. They appear determined to ruin all their young players.

They better hope RNH stays healthy, or it could get really ugly.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Wow, that's a really interesting trade, the Oilers are now in no choice, but LD makes this team, and I'm not 100% sure that he's going to be ready, nobody is.

On top of that they trade Gagner who at least produced but didn't do anything else well for a winger with size in Purcell who really doesn't use his side and was on the buyout menu in Tampa because his play has slid.

Are the Oiler's worse today, maybe not? maybe sure? they shuffled a soft defensively poor center for a soft defensively poor winger, they've lost some production for sure.

Will this be classified as a bold move by the Oiler faithful? For sure, this is a huge move getting rid of a whipping boy. Probably bought in a whipping boy to.

But the bottom line is that a RNH, LD, Gordon 1-2-3 punch down the middle is weaker then a RNH LD Gagner Gordon punch down the middle.

But then again they have superstar Acobello or whatever his name is to fly to the rescue.

So now they need to go out and find another center, they need to address their pudding soft defensively horrid bottom 6, address their blue line and pray that Scriven's and VF can last a season in goal without getting rubber sickness.

That team needs to be federally declared as a disaster zone. Think of the PR as Stephen Harper flys over in a helicopter surveying Edmonton and shaking his head sadly while mournful music plays in the background before turning to a general and saying "It can't be saved, General, burn it to the ground and salt the ashes"

I thought they finally woke up and decided to convert Gagner to being to a winger this season? So this trade doesn't really open up a giant hole at 2C...they were heading into free agency with it whether he was on the team or not. Too bad we don't get to watch the "Gagner at wing" experiment first-hand though!

I was hoping Gagner would be traded to the Pens for picks so he could play on the wing with Crosby and light it up. That'd make them sick when he's putting up "Kunitz-inflated" points.

[bubbsy]

Wasn't one of the reasons the oilers picked draisatl over bennet, other than size, the fact that he'd likely be better positioned to move into the NHL soon?

REGARDLESS of where draisatl plays, gagner shouldn't have been their #2 Center this season. That much is clear, and good on Mactavish for finally being a guy in oiler mgmt to have the stones to do the inevitable.

they get a big winger who can play on the top 9and be effective. I really thought they'd use gagner and another asset to try to get some help on D, but they did address a need.

Curious what tampa feels they have locked in for Jul1 to need the capspace. I wonder if it is niskanen, boyle, other D, or maybe a surprise and they go out and grab someone like stastny or a trade for someone out of left field like marleau, etc.

Lot's of options on how this could play out.

Also, pretty decent for the yotes. If they're smart they'll move him to the wing. All we can hope for is for gagner to just rip it up in the desert so we can continue to laugh at the oilers.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Wasn't one of the reasons the oilers picked draisatl over bennet, other than size, the fact that he'd likely be better positioned to move into the NHL soon?

REGARDLESS of where draisatl plays, gagner shouldn't have been their #2 Center this season. That much is clear, and good on Mactavish for finally being a guy in oiler mgmt to have the stones to do the inevitable.

they get a big winger who can play on the top line and be effective. I really thought they'd use gagner and another asset to try to get some help on D, but they did address a need.

The stones to do what? He signed Gagner to that ridiculous contract and handcuffed himself. The player that they got (Purcell) by all accounts was going to be bought out by TB, and is a big, soft player. This is more of a desperation move than anything else. Maybe Purcell pans out but I have my doubts that he has a significant impact for the Oil and they need players who can make a significant impact.

[Derek Sutton]

Yzerman still has some work to do if he plans on landing a big UFA. He cleared out a little cap space, but they are still up against it and need to add some depth players up front. Is Ohlund going to LTIR? that will only save them just enough to replace him.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Yzerman still has some work to do if he plans on landing a big UFA. He cleared out a little cap space, but they are still up against it and need to add some depth players up front. Is Ohlund going to LTIR? that will only save them just enough to replace him.

He's got a ton of space. I think like $13M.

[devo22]

yeah, they have about 13m in cap ... minus 2-3 minor leaguers to fill out the roster. Probably 10-11m for 2 free agents.

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Wasn't one of the reasons the oilers picked draisatl over bennet, other than size, the fact that he'd likely be better positioned to move into the NHL soon?

REGARDLESS of where draisatl plays, gagner shouldn't have been their #2 Center this season. That much is clear, and good on Mactavish for finally being a guy in oiler mgmt to have the stones to do the inevitable.

they get a big winger who can play on the top line and be effective. I really thought they'd use gagner and another asset to try to get some help on D, but they did address a need.

Curious what tampa feels they have locked in for Jul1 to need the capspace. I wonder if it is niskanen, boyle, other D, or maybe a surprise and they go out and grab someone like stastny or a trade for someone out of left field like marleau, etc.

Lot's of options on how this could play out.

Also, pretty decent for the yotes. If they're smart they'll move him to the wing. All we can hope for is for gagner to just rip it up in the desert so we can continue to laugh at the oilers.

I thought they traded for Teddy Purcell? While this guy is slightly taller than Gagner, he is actually lighter and had all of 13 hits last year (or something pathetic like that). Hardly a "big winger". As for being effective on the top line, he was so bad in TB that they had demoted him to the 4th line and were prepared to buy him out in a couple days.

This appears to be a "crap for poo" trade of two players that were drastically overpaid for what they provided. Credit to Yzerman who managed to completely unload the dead weight, get a 6th round pick, and save the cap space. Edmonton just traded one whipping boy for another. Now instead of a soft, short non-physical center who has no clue how to play defence they have a soft, taller non-physical winger who has no clue how to play defence. But I guess they did save $300k on the salary cap so there is that...

Interestingly that roughly last year at this time the entire hockey world was laughing at the contract MacT doled out to Gagner as more evidence that he had no idea what he was doing. Now, about a year later, we learn that the value of Gagner is half of a 6th round pick, if you retain some salary. There was even rumours last year that MacT had given Gagner his word that he wouldn't be traded before the NTC kicked in July 1st this year... so much for that.

With this trade, Edmonton probably becomes even more no good than they were before it.

[19Yzerman19]

I actually don't mind this for Phoenix as they have essentially plugged a Mike Ribeiro shaped hole quickly and painlessly.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

He's got a ton of space. I think like $13M.

Only 9 forwards under contract though. Take 6 of that 13 for one UFA and that leaves 7 for 3 forwards and a top 6 D. I could also see them wanting to upgrade their backup goalie. No one wants to be at 69 million to start the season.

[JJ1532]

If you believe the stats, Purcell is 6'3 whilst Gagner is 5'11. Big size increase, but still pointless as clearly last year, Purcell didn't use that size at all.