Solving Sam Gagner's Contract Issues

Can we expect this from Gagner in the future?

The Edmonton Oilers and 22 year old centreman Sam Gagner are currently at odds in a contract dispute that seems headed for arbitration. Obviously the Oilers brass don’t want to pay Gagner what he is asking for and Gagner doesn’t want to be low balled by the organization that drafted him. However Gagner searching out a big money, long term deal seems a bit unjustified considering the numbers he has put up for the Oilers. Gagner’s production levels and value to his team simply pales in comparison to other members of his 2007 draft class.

Gagner is coming off of a contract that saw him earn 4.55 million over 2 years. In 2010-11 Gagner produced 15 goals and 27 assists in 65 games, and in ’11-’12 he netted 18 goals and helped on 29 others in 78 games, upping his point production slightly. Keep in mind that 8 of these points in 2011-2012 came in one record setting game against Chicago. Regardless, are back to back seasons of 42 and 47 points really enough to justify the type of contract Gagner is seemingly holding out for? Gagner averages .60 PPG in 366 career NHL games. And as I alluded to earlier, his production levels and value to the Oilers are at odds with what he’s demanding. He is looking for Patrick Kane type money when he hasn’t proven he deserves it.

Patrick Kane was drafted first overall in 2007, 5 spots ahead of Gagner, and since then has become a household name for hockey fans for both his on and off-ice activity. Kane has played in 399 games since he entered the NHL and has 369 points to show for it as well as a Stanley Cup ring with Chicago, the Calder Trophy, an Olympic silver medal and multiple All Star appearances. Kane is currently in the middle of a 5 year, 31.5 million-dollar contract that expires in 2015 with an average cap hit of 6.3 million a year. Obviously Kane is worth this type of money because of his knack for coming up when it matters, and while Kane is at the top end of the contract range (there aren’t many contracts for 22 year olds that pay much more than this), it’s proof that certain types of money are reserved for certain types of performers, and Gagner doesn’t necessarily look like he deserves that type of money right now.

David Perron of the St. Louis Blues is another product of the 2007 draft class, being taken 14^th overall by the Blues and having appeared in 292 career contests for the Blues. Perron has 173 points in those games, and while his PPG production sits at .59 is very much like Gagner’s, Perron’s value to the Blues is heightened because of his ability to play the grinder role and fit into various situations well – an attribute that was a huge part in the Blues extremely successful year. These factors made it easy for St. Louis to sign him to a 4 year, 15.25 million dollar contract – one that is easily justifiable. Gagner hasn’t quite yet displayed the consistency of point production, nor has he demonstrated the ability to fit into a role other than what he played in major junior (a role he has severely struggled to emulate in the professional ranks).

If Gagner wants to sign a contract that is fair to him, he should look towards the contract that San Jose forward Logan Couture is currently under. Couture is about to start making 5.75 million over two years. Over the course of his 3-year entry-level contract, Couture amassed 130 points in 184 games (more PPG production than Gagner at .70 to .60) and has become an NHL All-Star. While Couture has had a more successful career thus far than Gagner has, he is only making 2.875 million a year, on a 2 year contract – significantly lower numbers than what Gagner is searching for.

As an Oilers fan, my interest in this matter is heightened mainly due to the fact that I want to see my team succeed. And while I like Gagner, I see him being a hindrance to that success, especially if he’s searching out money that he is clearly not worth. We as fans can’t really blame him though. Oilers General Manager Steve Tambellini made it obvious he is perfectly fine with handing out ridiculous contracts (Ales Hemsky, 2 years, 10 million dollars), and has lead Gagner to believe he is worth a big money, long term deal. This is Tambellini’s fault, but I feel as if the solution to this stand off is fairly easy, and quite favourable to both sides. No one can blame Gagner for wanting to maximize his earnings, and no one can blame Tambellini for wanting to put money in the proper places. I believe that Gagner should be looking at a 1 or 2 year contract, worth anywhere between 2.5 and 3.5 million dollars per year. This affords Gagner the chance to prove his worth to the Oilers organization and show that he is deserving of a long term, big money contract. It also protects Edmonton from getting locked in to a contract that hurts them in the long run, which is ultimately a quest for Stanley Cup championships. But what do I know. I’m just an opinionated blogger.