It's official - Lowe's keeping Gagner in the big leagues

[Rayminator]

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...7-90d547192cfa

Lowe officially made this public in today's Journal. Seems he's not alone as Toews is staying in Chicago and Staal is staying in Pittsburgh. Not much of a surprise, IMO.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: It's official - Lowe's keeping Gagner in the big leagues

I think t's a good move. Now if only he'd fire that bonehead coach.

[earl2]

Re: It's official - Lowe's keeping Gagner in the big leagues

I originally came out in favour of keeping Gagner with the Oilers, but I'm starting to think that letting him play in the WJC and then back to the O might help him out.
He's a talented kid, he thinks the game well, and he's trying to play physical, but he's just not strong enough (yet) to compete day in and day out against NHL'ers.
Realistically, the Oilers have an outside chance of making the playoffs but I don't see that as probable. If everything goes there way this season they could do it. Realistically, the kids like Gagner, Cogliano, Grebashkov, and even Gilbert and Smid are likely to get the mid-season let down, and they're playing too big of a role on this team to not have it affect the team. I think it makes the most sense to let Gagner dominate for half a season, get stronger, and give a guy like Thoreson some quality NHL minutes. And it's likely to help the Oilers not only next season when Gagner should be more physically prepared to compete but when he's 26 and a #1 center and still wearing the copper and midnight blue.

But hey, I've been wrong before...

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: It's official - Lowe's keeping Gagner in the big leagues

Earl, you're both right and wrong. No doubt the Oilers have too many rookies and sophmores to make the playoffs. But Gagner may develop just as well up here as down there. The guy makes amazing passes and he sees the ice really well. He needs to work on his shot, though, as he misses the net a lot. But then again, he's only 18. He he went back down I wouldn't be mad, nad the fact that he's staying doesn't make me mad either.