NHL Headlines

Front Line: Gagner's value on the rise

"It's easy to get overly excited by Sam Gagner's eight-point explosion on Thursday night. He didn't calm those feelings with a follow-up three-point night Saturday. There is reason to be excited, but don't break your fantasy piggy bank to get in on the Gagner action.

Yes, he does have the pedigree for this. Literally. The son of former NHLer Dave Gagner, Sam quickly made his name as a star for the OHL's London Knights. Playing on a line with Patrick Kane and Sergei Kostitsyn, he managed 35 goals and 83 assists and became a first-round pick in the 2007 draft.

But Gagner hasn't busted out like Kane did, even though the two were believed to be a pair of comparable superstars. While it is not fair to compare Gagner's supporting cast to Kane's, Gagner's best season was his rookie campaign in 2007-08 when he scored 49 points. That is until now. The Oilers have a solid supporting cast, and Gagner -- thanks in large part to his 12 points in the past three games -- is on pace for 60 points."


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