Sam Gagner joined a club so rare that it's got only eleven members. Eight points in one game has been accomplished just sixteen times in NHL history and the club is a mostly illustrious group: Maurice Richard, Bert Olmstead, Darryl Sittler (he scored 10), Tom Bladon, Bryan Trottier, Anton Stastny, Peter Stastny, Wayne Gretzky (twice within 40 days), Paul Coffey, Bernie Nicholls, Patrik Sundstrom (I said mostly illustrious), Mario Lemieux (three times, including twice within 75 days) and now Sam Gagner.
Gagner's perfect evening was the like manna for a team that's wandered in the wilderness for over five years, and though Gagner has been passed over by fans and included in trade rumors as recently as this weekend, few Oilers were more deserving of something like this. Gagner's never wavered in his loyalty, passion, energy or attitude since coming to Edmonton as an 18-year-old. He's played every role asked of him by three different coaches and has changed positions and linemates wherever and whenever necessary.
Sam Gagner goes down in history with some of the all-time greats and he's just 22 years old. The best is yet to come.