Playing With Sam Gagner

by Jonathan Willis on Aug 25, 2009 8:00 AM MDT in Analysis

Eight players spent more than 90 minutes playing with Sam Gagner at even-strength last season. Robert Nilsson was his most common linemate, with more than 500 minutes spent together. Other frequent linemates include Erik Cole, Andrew Cogliano, Ales Hemsky, Patrick O'Sullivan, Marc Pouliot, Dustin Penner and Ethan Moreau.

Name	ES TOI	GFON/60	GAON/60	GDON/60	Corsi	SV%	SH%
Robert Nilsson	543:25	2.54	2.43	+0.20	-10	.919	9.5
Erik Cole	303:59	3.16	1.97	+1.19	+38	.934	10.8
Andrew Cogliano	230:51	1.82	2.60	-0.78	+17	.915	6.9
Ales Hemsky	152:09	1.97	2.76	-0.79	-23	.916	9.0
Patrick O'Sullivan	126:56	1.89	2.84	-0.95	-8	.942	4.3
Marc Pouliot	120:05	4.00	1.50	+2.50	+15	.953	11.1
Dustin Penner	111:52	3.22	2.15	+1.07	-25	.950	10.9
Ethan Moreau	105:02	1.71	2.86	-1.15	-16	.914	8.1

The chart above shows the majority of the relevant even-strength statistics, taken from hockeyanalysis.com and timeonice.com. Two players had both a positive Corsi and a positive goal differential while playing with Sam Gagner: the departed Erik Cole, and the underrated Marc Pouliot. Playing with him this season will be an impossibility for one, and quite unlikely for the other.

Gagner's "Kid Line" linemates both had rather decent underlying numbers playing with him - at least, compared to their numbers from a year ago. Cogliano managed a positive Corsi playing with Sam Gagner, and Robert Nilsson was just barely in the red.

Surprisingly, Gagner was less effective with Hemsky and Penner; at a guess he was facing top opposition while with Hemsky and suffered because of it.

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Comments

MAP

Given his relative (to the Oilers, at least) success on the power play and penalty kill, admittedly in a very small sample size, and his ability to win faceoffs, maybe he deserves a shot at RW3 with Gagner.

Penner-Horcoff-Hemsky
Moreau-O’Sullivan-Pisani
Cogliano-Gagner-Pouliot
Jacques-Brule-Stortini

…

Contributor to The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Aug 25, 2009 8:12 AM MDT reply actions

MAP

Interesting to see Pouliot had such good chemistry with Gagner. Maybe having a more balanced offense would do the trick for the Oil. Assuming Nilsson is the next best linemate available for Gagner and Penner based on the Amicus Parts 1-3 articles is on the top line the team would look like:

Penner-Horcoff-Hemsky
Nilsson-Gagner-Pouliot
Cogliano-O’Sullivan-Pisani
Moreau-Brule-Stortini/Jacques

Of course it has been said that Pouliot has been stunted in his development by not playing his natural centre. Looking at line 3, each guy played only about 35 mins with the others. It looked positive though with Pisani bringing a nice defensive balance to the young guys.

by Oi on Aug 25, 2009 8:56 AM MDT reply actions

didn’t pou play wing for crosby?

by OilW30 on Aug 25, 2009 10:24 AM MDT reply actions

After his draft year, yes. I believe he may also have played some wing in Hamilton.

A posse ad esse.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and OilersNation.

by Jonathan Willis on Aug 25, 2009 12:21 PM MDT up reply actions

Another option is Gagner on the wing. Gagner doesn’t impress me as a center yet; whereas Poo does. Even though I think he is destined for the third line, if it came to the two on the same line I’d try Gagner on the wing. I think it could provide a little more defensive awareness on that line.

Also,
Gagner ES FO: 239-311 = 43.5%
Pouliot ES FO: 94-93 = 50.3%

Besides the point, but our wingers need to learn to win a draw, especially on the PP. Cogs and Gagner going 37% with the man advantage means someone needs to learn to tie a stick.

by till_horcoff_is_coach on Aug 25, 2009 11:50 AM MDT reply actions

I’d like to see Pouliot on a scoring line, honestly. That said, I think he’s a logical candidate for 3C, and as before it makes sense to put the Kid Line back together if Quinn’s willing to shelter them.

A posse ad esse.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and OilersNation.

by Jonathan Willis on Aug 25, 2009 12:22 PM MDT reply actions

Gimme Shelter

He’s not, though.

Contributor to The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Aug 25, 2009 2:41 PM MDT up reply actions

I dunno. Quinn may not be enamored with line matching but he’s no fool. And he did bring along some kids in Toronto (Stajan, for one) and elsewhere.

A posse ad esse.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and OilersNation.

by Jonathan Willis on Aug 25, 2009 3:19 PM MDT up reply actions

Pouliot on Gagner's Wing

I think it would be good for the Oilers to have a more balanced attack. Nilsson is good trade bait still, and frankly we should capitalize on that. At least O’Sullivan is versatile enough to play all forward positions from lines 1-3, and is worth keeping around.

RT40 writes with An Oilers Refinery and is an avid hockey fan.

by raventalon40 on Aug 25, 2009 7:37 PM MDT up reply actions

The bottom line in winning games is goals. I would advocate Penner playing with Gagner over most other wingers because I really do think he opens up ice for him. The pair had a nice GDON/60, and that’s really what matters most, if you ask me.

Those guys won’t make a top line pairing, however throw either Cogliano, O’Sullivan, or even Pouliot (as the stats show) on that line and you have a pretty dangerous second line.

by Racki on Aug 25, 2009 10:07 PM MDT reply actions

Penner & Gagner

Given the production that Penner gets out of the first line, moving him to Gagner’s wing makes no sense.

Contributor to The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Aug 26, 2009 1:45 PM MDT up reply actions

Btw, that’s pretty interesting about Cole’s numbers with Gagner. I think I was one of few people that really liked Cole here. He brought a lot of intangibles as well as a solid hitting game, was great defensively, and was quite quick. He had his struggles though, like many here. But hey, he landed us O’Sullivan, so I can’t say I’m disappointed at all about that trade.

Visit www.puttingonthefoil.com

by Racki on Aug 25, 2009 10:12 PM MDT reply actions

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