Sam Gagner’s journey to 1,000 NHL video games amongst most outstanding in league historical past
WINNIPEG — When Sam Gagner was drafted sixth in 2006 and made the Edmonton Oilers out of coaching camp as an 18-year-old that fall, it was the opening chapter of an NHL journey that would have continued: “… And he by no means appeared again.”
Gagner had the draft pedigree, the NHL bloodlines via his father Dave and the offensive firepower to make an instantaneous influence, scoring 49 factors in his first season.
However Gagner’s journey to 1,000 video games, achieved in Winnipeg on Dec. 29, is just not practically as simple as its opening verse.
When Jets coach Rick Bowness walked into the dressing room after the sport, congratulating Gagner on his achievement as Gagner’s three youngsters performed and climbed throughout their dad, it wasn’t to rejoice an uninterrupted run of excellence. The high-scoring Gagner had not been capable of change the struggling Oilers’ fortunes, placing up robust offensive numbers for a workforce that didn’t make the playoffs in any of his first seven seasons and which completed final within the league twice throughout that very same time-frame. Gagner would go on to play NHL stints in Arizona, Philadelphia, Columbus, Vancouver, an encore in Edmonton after which Detroit earlier than Winnipeg signed him as a 33-year-old, and now a flexible depth participant, in the summertime of 2022.
Gagner additionally performed for 3 minor league groups throughout that point — the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Toronto Marlies and Bakersfield Condors, as Philadelphia, Toronto and Edmonton all noticed match to ship Gagner to their AHL associates. Gagner has referred to these occasions as among the lowest lows of his profession, however he persevered.
Gagner’s dedication to his personal growth, his constructive perspective and his willingness to reinvent himself as a extra all-around utility participant after producing hype for his early offence are what most hockey individuals gravitate to when discussing his journey to 1,000 video games. This isn’t as a result of it’s enjoyable to level on the depressing occasions however as a result of NHL veterans perceive simply how tough these occasions could be.
So when Gagner turned the 357th participant in NHL historical past to succeed in the 1,000-game milestone, Gagner’s resilience was on the coronary heart of his coach’s ideas.
“What number of guys have performed 1,000 video games? 300 and one thing,” Bowness stated when requested what he advised Gagner within the room. “What number of of these guys have gone to the minors and are available again? Not very lots of them. Quite a lot of guys have give up or retired or moved on. So that you give him a variety of credit score for going again to the minors for a pair stints and nonetheless persevering. It’s a serious tribute to his character and his love of the sport. You’ve received to like that.”
Because of some assist from the great people on the NHL, we are able to reply Bowness’ query.
Of the 357 gamers to play 1,000 NHL video games, 162 performed at the least some quantity of AHL time between their NHL debut and their 1,000th sport.
Gagner’s mid-career AHL stints, nevertheless, are distinctive. Solely 10 gamers — Gagner, together with Matt Stajan, Jay Bouwmeester, Dan Hamhuis, Jason Spezza, Antoine Vermette, Wade Redden, Jean Ratelle, Stephane Quintal and Marc Bergevin have performed at the least 50 AHL video games after their NHL debut however earlier than reaching 1,000.
However Stajan had solely performed one NHL season earlier than his AHL yr at age 21. Bouwmeester had performed two NHL seasons earlier than hitting the AHL for many of 1 season, additionally at age 21. Hamhuis performed one NHL season earlier than returning to Milwaukee for an AHL season at age 22. Spezza break up his 19-year-old season between Ottawa and Binghamton, performed his 20-year-old season within the NHL, went again to the AHL at 22 after which continued his lengthy NHL profession. Ratelle performed 57 AHL video games at age 23. Quintal performed 60 AHL video games at age 19 and 20 after having performed 64 video games for the Bruins as an adolescent. Bergevin will get nearer, having performed 58 AHL video games at age 25, however that was only for one season and nonetheless a bit younger to be a Gagner comparable.
Redden comes nearer. He performed 994 NHL video games ranging from his 19-year-old season in Ottawa earlier than New York despatched him right down to Connecticut for 2 seasons, partly as a result of Redden’s cumbersome $6.5 million cap hit. Redden caught it out for 2 years, incomes an NHL alternative with St. Louis in 2012-13 the place he crossed 1,000 video games. He finally retired in Boston at 1,023 video games performed.
However nobody has achieved what Gagner has finished in fairly the identical means he did it.
Gagner went from his 49-point rookie season and 295 factors in seven seasons with Edmonton to Arizona after which Philadelphia. The Flyers waived Gagner in 2015-16, sending him to the AHL Phantoms at 26 years outdated. Gagner signed in Columbus the next season for $650,000 — the bottom wage of his profession — the place he discovered his offensive sport, scoring 50 factors for the Blue Jackets. That whole stays his profession excessive. It led to a three-year contract with Vancouver… And his second journey to the AHL. Gagner performed 43 video games he performed for the Toronto Marlies at 29 in 2018-19, ending that season again in Edmonton the place all of it started. One way or the other even the Oilers noticed match to ship Gagner to the AHL for 4 extra video games the next yr. In 2019-20, a 30-year-old Gagner performed 4 video games for Bakersfield, scoring two targets and two assists.
All in all, Gagner performed 56 video games within the AHL over three separate assignments in the course of the prime years of his profession.
“I’ve had my ups and downs, for positive,” Gagner stated this week. “Getting despatched down by Vancouver after which the next yr by Edmonton once more, you query how your profession goes to finish up. However you retain pushing alongside, maintain making an attempt to regulate to the trendy sport. It definitely feels good to get (to 1,000 video games).”
Gagner cited longtime Edmonton Oiler Shawn Horcoff as considered one of his position fashions, saying that Horcoff’s professionalism and dedication to enhancing himself taught him rather a lot about what it takes to be an NHL professional. Horcoff now works in participant growth for the Detroit Crimson Wings, for whom Gagner performed for simply over two seasons previous to signing in Winnipeg.
Horcoff remembers being intrigued when the Oilers drafted Gagner at No. 6 in 2007. Though Horcoff wasn’t an OHL skilled and didn’t know precisely what Edmonton was getting in Gagner, he was excited by the addition of a gifted, probably high-end draft choose. It wasn’t till coaching camp when the 2 received to know one another that Gagner’s love of the sport gained Horcoff and his teammates over.
“When he first got here in, you may see his talent and his ardour for the sport,” Horcoff advised The Athletic throughout a Friday cellphone name. “He cherished to be on the rink. He was a pleasure to have round since you may see how a lot he cherished hockey and the way he needed to work to get higher.”
Gagner shocked everybody along with his talent and made the workforce out of camp at 18. Horcoff says Gagner’s love of hockey stands out, even in a league filled with gamers who love the game. The 2 have stayed in shut contact over time, reconnecting in Detroit when Gagner performed there. He was struck by Gagner’s growth as an individual and as a participant between their time as teammates in Edmonton and Gagner’s veteran arrival in Detroit.
“Sam all the time believed in himself. He all the time believed that he may discover a option to contribute in a constructive means,” Horcoff says. “I can’t communicate for everybody however I believe, for almost all of fellows who attain 1,000 video games, you need to reinvent your self in some unspecified time in the future. It’s a must to develop into a dependable defensive participant, be taught to kill penalties, be on the ice to shut out video games and play the vital minutes. There’s additionally rather a lot that goes into being within the locker room and doing the proper issues off the ice, being affect to youthful guys. For Gags, to have the ability to see him initially of his profession when he was 18 after which to see him in direction of the top of his profession in Detroit, simply to see his transformation. His maturity and his total sport, it’s simply so good to see. He’s actually earned this.”
Gagner’s affect on his teammates is exactly why Winnipeg sought him out this summer season.
Bowness remembers Winnipeg’s seek for a depth ahead who may not be assured an enormous position however who would have to be dependable if he received a possibility. The Jets reached out to contacts all through the NHL to ask about Gagner, discovering that each former teammate and each former coach had nothing however constructive issues to say about Gagner’s character.
“We did our homework: not a detrimental phrase concerning the man,” Bowness stated. “Should you’re going to play this lengthy for the few groups he performed on and never have one detrimental phrase, it simply speaks rather a lot about your character.”
Bowness was additionally requested concerning the particular impacts that Gagner has amongst his Jets teammates.
“He’s been via all of it and has a chilled voice. He’s good on the bench with the fellows, he’s good within the room. Guys can take a look at and know he’s been round a very long time and he’s not panicking. And (he’s) doing the proper issues on the proper time. It’s additionally the tone of when a participant speaks — the tone of what he says is essential. When Sam’s speaking he’s very calm, very constructive.”
Pierre-Luc Dubois spoke to reporters after Gagner’s 1,000th sport was within the books, taking the chance to talk to Gagner’s influence within the Jets room.
“He’s been unbelievable on this dressing room. Quite a lot of guys have been studying from him, attending to know him an increasing number of. He’s simply actually enjoyable to be round,” Dubois stated. “He’s very calm and composed. We are able to chuckle rather a lot with him however he is aware of when to show that change and to be critical … He’s only a nice man and we’re actually fortunate to have him on this dressing room.”
Josh Morrissey, talking earlier within the week, introduced issues again to Gagner’s love of the sport.
“I don’t suppose you get to 1,000 video games in any kind of profession with out actually loving the sport,” Morrissey stated. “Actually while you undergo adversity, and I’ve talked to Gags about his time getting despatched down and stuff like that, to return again from that and kind of, as he says re-invent his sport a bit of bit and proceed to have that zeal to get higher and work on his sport and discover methods to be within the NHL, that’s a ardour and love for the sport. And for younger guys and everybody else within the locker room, he loves coming to the rink on daily basis, loves practising and speaking about sticks and tape jobs and little expertise and stuff like that. That form of vitality and pleasure concerning the sport is an enormous motive I believe he’s going to attain this milestone.”
Probably the most touching messages of affection had been expressed by Gagner’s spouse, Dr. Rachel Linke, and their youngsters Cooper, Beckham and Cali.
“Congratulations on 1,000 video games. You may have made so many sacrifices, personally, to succeed in this milestone however you’ve gotten all the time prioritized being a tremendous father and husband,” Linke stated. “We’re so happy with you. We’re your greatest followers.”
Watch the video in full however be sure you respect “My identify is Beckham and I really like my daddy. He’s my favorite hawkey participant and congwats.” It’s as heartwarming as hockey will get and preview of the postgame vitality within the Jets dressing room Thursday after a 4-2 win over the Canucks.
Gagner put his household on the forefront of his accomplishment.
“I work onerous at making an attempt to reinvent myself, but in addition simply placing within the work on daily basis. You be taught that from teammates,” Gagner stated. “I discovered a variety of that from my outdated man, his work ethic, what he went via in his profession. I owe rather a lot to that. My mother, my spouse, what my spouse will get put via, she’s form of my psychologist. The quantity of sacrifice she’s had (to make), to maneuver round with a younger household, surrender components of her profession. It’s not doable with out her.”
As Dubois spoke to reporters in entrance of the digital camera, Gagner performed along with his children, laughing, joking, choosing them up and pretending to wrestle. The enjoyment was so palpable that John Lu of TSN requested Dubois what it was like from his perspective.
“Attending to know (Gagner), his household,” he stated. “His children, they’re all the time within the dressing room after wins. You’ll be stretching and also you’ll get a kick within the again and it is going to be considered one of his sons eager to play soccer with you or one thing. It was nice. The video was nice, the fan response was nice to see. Seeing his children, his spouse, the speeches on the JumboTron, I’m positive it was a particular second for him as a result of it felt particular for us.”
Two weeks in the past, Gagner was on the Jets’ workforce flight to Vancouver — considered one of maybe hundreds of flights he had already been on in his NHL profession — when he did a easy however characterizing factor.
The aircraft was crossing the Rocky Mountains, flying above snow-capped peaks which protruded via cloud cowl under. The sky was shiny and blue above the mountains and, within the midst of this idyllic, alpine scene, Gagner did what a variety of us may do: He held his cellphone to the airplane window, did his greatest to seize the scene and took an image.
At 33 and at that time at practically 1,000 video games, taking part in on his seventh NHL workforce whereas taking no matter position accessible, Gagner additionally took the time to understand a stupendous second amidst the chaos of one more NHL season.
Those that know Gagner effectively say appreciation is considered one of his key values — one which he’s grown into by persevering via the ups and downs of his profession.
“He discovered that,” Horcoff says. “That’s one thing that’s actually developed in him. When he was 18 years outdated, he would have had no thought what it was going to take to play this lengthy on this league. He was a pure offensive participant. However by way of what it took to win on the NHL stage, he discovered that. He simply needed it that a lot. It’s not straightforward. It’s onerous. It’s onerous to stay round. It’s a must to do a variety of issues proper and Sam has figured these issues out as he’s developed. It’s spectacular and I’m so comfortable for him.”
The final phrases go to Gagner.
“It’s not all the time straightforward. There are occasions coming to the rink when it’s onerous. You’re going via dropping streaks, you’re not feeling nice bodily. It’s vital to seek out these moments all through a yr that maintain you and will let you maintain pushing via. There are such a lot of nice issues about taking part in on this league and so many issues I’m grateful for. Even this yr, my children are beginning to perceive what I do and having them be round via all this, in a Canadian metropolis the place hockey is primary they usually’re obsessed with it, it’s one thing I’ll cherish eternally.”
(Photograph: Jonathan Kozub / NHLI by way of Getty Pictures)
Source link