Gagner looking to rise again in Phoenix
Sam Gagner knows he didn’t reach his full potential during his seven-year career with the Edmonton Oilers.
Now as a member of the Arizona Coyotes, the 25-yearold London, Ont., native knows the slate is clean for him to turn into that elite centreman he once was projected to become.
“Individually, for myself, I want to take another step,” Gagner was saying, making his first business trip to Alberta as a member of a different National Hockey League club. “I didn’t get to the level I wanted to in Edmonton and take a lot of responsibility for that.
“It’s been fun getting to know everyone and learn everything and I’m looking forward to the season starting.”
Having played almost 500 NHL games in his time with the Oilers, Gagner has not seen a playoff game — not a fact lost on him over the summer. Post-season hockey, he said on Wednesday, is still in the game plan.
Fiercely loyal to the Oilers until the end, he believed he wasn’t consistent enough.
“Yeah, that’s definitely part of it,” said Gagner who had 101 goals and 194 assists in 481 games in Edmonton. “If you want to be successful in this league it has to be every night. Not a player that only brings it some of the time. I feel like the way I prepare and approach things has come a long ways.
“I’m hoping this year’s going to be a good one for me.”
Following a season of answering questions over trade rumours, Gagner was final dealt on June 29 to Tampa Bay for Teddy Purcell then flipped to the Coyotes that same day along with B.J. Crombeen.
Arizona vice-president and general manager Don Maloney and head coach Dave Tippett called him in the off season, welcoming the new addition and letting him know expectations.
“Watching Sam up in Edmonton for as many years as I have, he’s obviously a really talented player,” Tippett said. “Sometimes a player like that, once they get by their first team, a change of scenery is good for them. He’s a high skill player.
“We lost a couple of skilled guys and we think he can fill that role.”
Initially, Tippett plans to use him mostly at centre, but toyed with the idea of using him as a winger.
He developed some chemistry with Coyotes captain Shane Doan in the team’s first pre-season game at home, a 5-4 shootout win over the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings (with a goal in the victory).
Gagner was also on the ice for Kraft Hockeyville, a preseason game against his former Alberta rivals.
“I’ve always been a guy, the more I play the better my game gets,” he said. “I feel like I have a lot of feel to my game. You need to play hockey games to get that back.
“I’m good with that. I’m excited to continue to develop and get ready for the season.”
Tippett added that it’s important for them to keep an open mind with the rejuvenated Gagner and be patient for chemistry to develop.
“It’s a new opportunity,” Tippett said. “There’s a clean slate for everyone. I told him we’re going to play him probably in more games than he normally would in exhibition.
“We want to get to know him and see the traits of his game. As camp goes on here, we’ll see where he best fits ... Sam will be a big part of it.”