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

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by old-fart

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.

yikes, typo on my part. "top line" should have read "top nine". (clearly a "day before holiday" typo again, i accidently IM'd by vp "high sean" rather than "hi sean" about 2 mins ago...brutal).

Gagner had little to no value, especially given his contract. they got a guy with some size who is a decent option in their top9, without holding onto any of the gagner salary.

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by 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.

4" in height, but I read somewhere he was 5 lbs lighter, and had basically no hits (on purpose) last year... although he may have accidentally run into a few people by mistake.

[Enoch Root]

What the Gagner situation leaves me with (yet again) is the ongoing pattern of the Oilers taking young players and, instead of developing them properly and putting them into positions to succeed, they throw them to the wolves, hoping things will magically get better.

When things don't get better, fans and the organization slowly but inevitably turn on them, and thus their confidence continues to wain. Inevitably, they are run out of town as garbage.

The organization never realizes that it is the environment that is the problem, not the players. So it happens over and over again.

Oiler fans will justify this trade by saying that Gagner was garbage.

What they should be saying is that the Oilers' system of (non) development, and their propensity to rush kids, is the problem and is what needs to change.

And of course, this situation perfectly tees up the next example as Draisaitl steps into vortex.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by 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.

66 CAREER Pims average of avg of 11/ season. Not a power forward, not tough to play against, not much of an upgrade, if any.

[AC]

Originally Posted by 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.

13 hits during his whole 81 game season!
For reference, Corban Knight had 9 hits in his 7 games alone.

Hell, even Hudler had 35 hits!

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Rebuild 3.0?

They're already on 3.0. Heck oou could argue that drafting Draisatl is the start of rebuild 4.0.

[GettinIggyWithIt]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

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.

They might be ok though. They have some prospects on the farm like Pacquette and Connoly that could make the jump. If they sign a UFA dman or top 6 forward they really just need to plug some holes on the 4th line and with a 5-6 dman. They could also sign a cheap veteran back-up until Gudlevskis is deemed ready. He looked good in the limited time he saw and at the Olympics. It's tight but not impossible.

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

yikes, typo on my part. "top line" should have read "top nine". (clearly a "day before holiday" typo again, i accidently IM'd by vp "high sean" rather than "hi sean" about 2 mins ago...brutal).

Gagner had little to no value, especially given his contract. they got a guy with some size who is a decent option in their top9, without holding onto any of the gagner salary.

Ah, ya... that makes more sense. I'm not a huge Eberle fan, but he is clearly a better "top line" forward that Purcell.

Still think this is a "crap for poo" trade though. Purcell will not solve any problems for the Coilers, and it is mildly amusing to me that what some Coiler fans perceived as a major trade chip is now gone, and it is clear to anyone with eyes and/or a brain that he had negative value thanks to a horrendous contract from MacT (his first contract I believe).

[Enoch Root]

Oilers RW:

Eberle
Yakupov
Purcell

what's the over/under on total hits? Do they post 100 between them?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Rebuild 3.0?

I think this might be 4.0?

[SuperMatt18]

No this is 3.0

1.0: Cogliano, Gagner, Nillson
2.0: Eberle, Hall, Yakupov, RNH
3.0: Draisaitl, ?

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

What the Gagner situation leaves me with (yet again) is the ongoing pattern of the Oilers taking young players and, instead of developing them properly and putting them into positions to succeed, they throw them to the wolves, hoping things will magically get better.

When things don't get better, fans and the organization slowly but inevitably turn on them, and thus their confidence continues to wain. Inevitably, they are run out of town as garbage.

The organization never realizes that it is the environment that is the problem, not the players. So it happens over and over again.

Oiler fans will justify this trade by saying that Gagner was garbage.

What they should be saying is that the Oilers' system of (non) development, and their propensity to rush kids, is the problem and is what needs to change.

And of course, this situation perfectly tees up the next example as Draisaitl steps into vortex.

they won't be saying that. their GM told them they have the best development in the entire league.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by 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.

[CaptainCrunch]

Purcell is going to basically vanish in Edmonton. He's about the softest player in the NHL right now, and not only does he not hit, but he runs from physical play. He's going to get punished in this conference.

He's not going to out produce Gagner mainly because Gagner is a streak scorer that puts up really good numbers in spurts. Purcell hasn't been that guy in a while and his game is sliding south.

Basically the trade of Gagner and Purcell does nothing for the Oilers in terms of being tougher to play against, The production at best is going to be equal if not worse, and The defensive ability of the team isn't going to produce. This is treading water at best and at worst a decline by the Oilers.

An Eberle, Yak, Purcell Right wing is terrible, its an easy right wing to play against.

If LD is ready at center they're going to have a RNH, LD Gordon Arcobello center group, that's really an undersized group, even with LD there, he's not the most physical guy with his size at all.

Hall and Perron is a very good top 6 left side, but when your that bad throughout your top 6 and that small, its like an avalanche, Hall and Perron will have to carry the mail.

I would expect that Edmonton has to be desparate come tomorrow, but they have the issue that no good players are going to sign in Edmonton because the future of that franchise is so bleak.

IF LD isn't ready for the NHL, that team is completely screwed, and of course will be drafting McDavid which the league shouldn't really be allowing.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

IF LD isn't ready for the NHL, that team is completely screwed, and of course will be drafting McDavid

if they happen to win the draft lottery, which was unlikely to begin with (25% chance), is less likely now that the league is smoothing out the odds for all 14 lottery teams, and even less likely with Buffalo being a great big hot steaming diseased manure heap of suck.

[Erick Estrada]

Just so visiting Oilers fan's don't get the idea that it's just us that thinks they do things the wrong way this is Scott Burnside's (ESPN) opinion on how the Oilers operate;

The moves come two days after the Oilers made talented young center Leon Draisaitl the third overall pick in the 2014 draft. Does Gagner’s departure open the door for Draisaitl to join the Oilers next fall when the 2014-15 season begins? Perhaps.

The Oilers certainly haven’t been shy about rushing top picks into the NHL life. The results speak for themselves as the Oilers haven’t made the playoffs since going to the 2006 finals.

[19Yzerman19]

Purcell was great in the lockout year but spent PP time with Marty and Stamkos. Last year he wasn't playing with those guys and couldn't do much. Still, hate on the Oil all you like but if you put the guy with skill he can actually produce. If they were to sign Stastny to some dumb contract or put him with RNH he might be able to put up at least respectable numbers.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

Purcell was great in the lockout year but spent PP time with Marty and Stamkos. Last year he wasn't playing with those guys and couldn't do much. Still, hate on the Oil all you like but if you put the guy with skill he can actually produce. If they were to sign Stastny to some dumb contract or put him with RNH he might be able to put up at least respectable numbers.

Quite possibly.

However, in a conference of bruising teams, the Oilers are butter-soft. The Flames, Nucks and Ducks have been in an all-out arms race in the last few days.

The softest team in the west? They go out and acquire the softest player they can find.

What could go wrong?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

Purcell was great in the lockout year but spent PP time with Marty and Stamkos. Last year he wasn't playing with those guys and couldn't do much. Still, hate on the Oil all you like but if you put the guy with skill he can actually produce. If they were to sign Stastny to some dumb contract or put him with RNH he might be able to put up at least respectable numbers.

Disagree, if you and follow my math with apples here.

Take a buttery soft we don't give a crap about the game without the puck group of forwards. Subtract a buttery soft defensive disaster and replace him with a buttery soft defensive disaster who doesn't produce as well = terrible.

The Oilers finished 25th in the league in scoring last year and dead last in goals against, and this deal probably makes them worse in the exchange. The Oilers better hope that LD comes in and lights it the hell up while winning the Selke Award.

Plus backchecks for his line since nobody else will.

I look at the lineup for that team, and for a team moving into a decade of rebuilding, its expansion team bad.

Its just . . . just . . . . just . . . no good.

I look at their lines and try to figure it out

Hall - RNH - Eberle

From a skills perspective great, from a defensive perspective terrible, from a physical perpective below average

Perron - LD - Yak

Perron is ok, but a rookie in that position is going to fail. Yak is a disaster and in my mind heavily over rated. A lot of fishing pucks out of the net

Landers - Gordon - Purcell

ugh. Landers is terrible, Gordon wins face offs and . . . . Purcell is buttery soft and declining

Joensuu - Arcobello - Gazdic

That's a awful fourth line. Looking at the lines above shows how badly the rebuild has been handled They have a good fourth line, a second line with way more questions then answers, a confusing 3rd line and a ECHL quality fourth line.

It makes you wonder what happened to all the kids that they tried to develop because their forward prospect depth isn't good

On defense

Nikitin Petry

I'm not a fan of either of them. Nikitin was a bottom pairing guy in Columbus and in and out of the lineup. Petry is a brain fart in a bottle.

Marincin Schultz

Schultz is a disaster in his own end. Marincin did a nice job last year, but will be in tough this year.

Klefbom Ference

Ference is past his best before date and was horrible last year. Klefbom is very rough.

Nurse

Please rush him into the NHL so you can wreck his career with this terrible team Oilers.

Fasth Scrivens

The only decent part of this team right, problem solved in goal right. You could put Jacque Plante behind that horrible lineup and he'd get lit up like a Christmas Tree on the 4th of July. Scrivens had some really good game but just as many games with a sub .900 svpct because of the quality and quantity of shots that he saw.

I don't understand what the hell the Oilers are doing when I look at that lineup. The "Bold Moves" that MacT has done have been nothing but keeping equal to last year at best.

That lineup is close to the worst thing I've seen yet out of the Oilers. Behind one of the worst coaches in the NHL.

I wonder how long it will be until RNH, Eberle and Hall start making trade demands.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Disagree, if you and follow my math with apples here. Take a buttery soft we don't give a crap about the game without the puck group of forwards. Subtract a buttery soft defensive disaster and replace him with a buttery soft defensive disaster who doesn't produce as well = terrible.

This isn't math so much as vague hockey flavoured words with no foundation or evidence. Still, maybe you're right, it's the oilers we're talking about.

Landers - Gordon - Purcell

It's Lander, not Landers, but yeah if they do this then why bother acquiring him. Rather put Perron on this line since he can drive things on his own.

You know who they need? Antoine Vermette. I'm actually not kidding.