Oilers veteran ‘Black Ace’ Gagner contributes any way he can

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This article was published 21/06/2024 (467 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — It’s the morning of the biggest game day of the year and ex-Winnipeg Jets forward Sam Gagner is alone with his thoughts in a mostly empty Edmonton Oilers dressing room.

His 20 teammates who will suit up a few hours later with their season on the line have long since showered, changed and made their exit following a brief skate.

Gagner’s fate is squarely in their hands and out of his immediate control. Such is life as a 34-year-old ‘Black Ace’ in the NHL, a veteran of 1,043 regular-season games but just 11 playoff games — and none this season — over a 17-year career.

“You just have to lean into what ever role you’re in. Obviously everyone wants to play,” Gagner told the Free Press in a wide-ranging one-on-one chat prior to Friday’s pivotal Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final inside Rogers Place.

“I still feel really confident in my ability. If I were to go in I’d be ready for it. In the meantime I think you just focus on keeping yourself ready and then trying to help out your teammates wherever you can. I’ve been really focused on that.”

In that sense, Gagner is more cheerleader than competitor these days as the club that drafted him sixth-overall in 2007 battles without him on hockey’s biggest stage. With the Oilers playing well and relatively healthy, there’s simply been no room for him to draw into a crowded lineup.

Gagner, who puts in extra skating work on a daily basis with the other healthy scratches to stay ready just in case he might be needed for the first time since the regular-season finale on April 18, is perfectly fine with that at this stage of his life.

“For the guys that have kind of come in and out of the lineup and we’re skating together, it’s an opportunity for me to help them in whatever they’re going through,” he said.

“That’s kind of how I’ve tried to look at it. I think there’s opportunity for contributions to be made wherever you are in the lineup, or even if you’re out of the lineup, and that’s kind of been my focus. I’m just trying to help to the best of my ability.”

That means talking to players such as Connor Brown, Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, who have also been on the outside looking in only to have their numbers get called, and being an open ear for anyone who might need it.

“When you go on a run like this, you’re going to hit some adversity,” said Gagner.

“It’s a stressful time even though it’s the best time of the year, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with it. If I can be a guy that other players can lean on, that’s what I’ll do. I’ve got plenty of experience in the ups and downs at this level, so just trying to help wherever I can.”

One player who doesn’t need any help is Connor McDavid, who entered play Friday night with an incredible 42 points in 23 playoff games including back-to-back four point outings in Game 4 and Game 5. Gagner has been around a lot of star power in his career, but hasn’t experienced anything quite like this.

“Everyone sees what’s going on the ice, which is historical and incredible, really. But what he does in the room for us, the steps he’s taken as a leader, I’ve just been so impressed,” he said.

“He’s the heartbeat of this team. He does so many things for us. He’s really taken everything to another level. When you see the determination, he wills it for us a lot of nights.”

Gagner spent his first seven pro seasons with the Oilers and still holds a piece of a prestigious franchise record — along with a guy named Wayne Gretzky — after putting up eight points in a February 2012 game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

He then had cups of coffee with the Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks before returning to the Oilers for parts of two years starting in 2018-19. Two full years with the Detroit Red Wings followed, then a brief stint with the Jets last season in which he hit the 1,000 game milestone

Gagner’s campaign ended after just 48 games (eight goals, six assists) due to serious injuries to both hips which required a pair of surgeries and appeared to be career-threatening. He signed a one-year league-minimum deal with the Oilers last summer as forward depth insurance while working his way back to playing shape.

His third stint in Edmonton began in style when he scored two goals against the Dallas Stars last November, when the Oilers were in the throes of a horrific 2-9-1 start that had them sitting dead last in the NHL. He ultimately played 28 games with the big club this year (five goals, five assists) while also appearing in 15 games in the AHL (three goals, six assists).

Considering where he was a year ago, not knowing if he’d ever play again following his time in Winnipeg, Gagner is just thankful for an extended lease on his hockey life regardless of what it looks like.

“This is what every player dreams of, to be in this situation and playing for the Stanley Cup. I think for me especially, having started my career here and Edmonton meaning so much to be, it’s been a lot of fun,” he said.

“The number one thing is the fans deserve it. I was here through some pretty tough years for the franchise, and they kept coming and kept supporting. It’s an incredible market. I’ve loved my time here, all three stints. The people are so friendly and so supportive. I’m thrilled they get an opportunity to see something like this. Hopefully we can pull it out for them.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg