Let The Rumours Begin!!!

With the start of the season quickly approaching and the Edmonton Oilers defence in shambles, the trade rumours are starting to make their rounds. The newest batch consist of centre Sam Gagner finding his way to Toronto, with the Oilers receiving one of the Maple Leafs defencemen in return.


I first heard the story to break on the TEAM 1260's Inside Hockey broadcast on Thursday afternoon. When host Dustin Nielson brought up the rumblings to Sportsnet analyst Doug Maclean, he confirmed he had people from the Leafs organization asking questions about the young Oilers centre. (Check out interview - here)

No doubt that Toronto would be sniffing around and that they would have interest in Gagner but I don't see them and Edmonton being trading partners. The only possible fit from the Oilers standpoint, would have to be a deal involving the recently acquired Cody Franson plus something else. With the Maple Leafs just getting the young defenceman from Nashville, going that route makes no sense. The names Carl Gunnarsson and Keith Aulie have also been thrown about...sorry Leafs Nation, that won't get it done.

Regardless of the rumours, don't look for the Oilers to be moving Gagner anytime soon. He will be given every opportunity to prove his worth this season and then they will decide what to do with him. If he produces as they are hoping, then they have their top two centres in Gagner and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or they have a bargaining chip that will be worth a lot more then it currently is. If he doesn't produce to the clubs expectations, then it's staus quo. His stock will not drop. Worst case scenario, he is a 50 point player and if Edmonton decides to move him, it will not be for a maybe...it will be for a sure thing.