Sam Gagner hoping his adaptability can result in enhanced function with Jets

WINNIPEG – Sam Gagner is aware of he wasn’t introduced in to be an offensive dynamo.

Nor was he signed by the Winnipeg Jets late within the low season to be a bodily drive.

But what the veteran ahead of 967 NHL common season video games (and counting) does carry is a excessive stage of professionalism and consistency that ought to permit him to maneuver comfortably into the Swiss Army knife function that teaching staffs – and teammates – worth an excellent deal.

“I came into the league as more of an offensive-minded player and played a lot on the power play and in offensive situations,” mentioned Gagner, who inked a one-year cope with the Jets on Sept. 2. “I don’t suppose I’ve misplaced that mentality, however I’ve developed within the sense that I performed quite a bit on the penalty kill final 12 months and I performed in additional defensive conditions.

“I’ve had to learn during the course of my career how to be effective in those situations and I think I’m a player that can play in any situation and find a way to have success.”

You don’t discover the longevity Gagner has loved with out having the ability to add a number of instruments to the toolbox and that’s an space the sixth-overall decide within the 2007 NHL Draft has taken an excessive amount of delight in through the years.

Given that aforementioned evolution in his recreation, it’s straightforward to neglect Gagner as soon as produced an eight-point recreation (4 objectives, 4 assists) in a recreation in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks as a member of the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 2, 2012 and completed third in crew scoring (with 50 factors) as an 18-year-old rookie throughout that 2007-08 season.

The 33-year-old is about to swimsuit up for his seventh NHL group (he performed for the Oilers on two completely different stints) and whereas some could use the time period well-travelled in a derogatory trend, it needs to be considered as a badge of honour.

This is a participant who clearly loves the sport and is keen to do no matter it takes to stave off the lengthy line of oldsters attempting to steal his job.

“I’ve learned over my time in the league to just be flexible with anything,” mentioned Gagner, who has recorded 184 objectives and 505 NHL factors. “There’s situations that go on through the season that you have to be ready for. I’ve played every forward position on every line throughout my career and sometimes all in the same year. I think you have to learn to be adaptable. You have to show up every day and do your job and let the chips fall where they may.”

That circuitous path for Gagner included a number of stints within the American Hockey League late in his profession, together with one in 2015-16 with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, one in 2018-19 with the Toronto Marlies and one other in 2019-20 with the Bakersfield Condors.

A demotion of that magnitude might sink the spirits of a person who had not spent a day within the minors earlier than that, however it merely supplied some extra gasoline and perspective for somebody who appears very snug in what he brings to the desk.

But even having a father (Dave) who performed almost 1,000 video games within the NHL and is his “No. 1 sounding board” didn’t put together Gagner for all of the ups-and-downs he’s endured up to now.

Reflecting on lots of the rocky moments helped Gagner admire the journey he’s been on.

“You start to understand it’s an everyday league. Nothing is given and there’s different circumstances that happen throughout a year. Different challenges that test you. That’s, to me, what makes it special,” mentioned Gagner. “Like you have mentioned, I’ve been on the excessive finish of issues, I’ve been on the low finish of issues, and while you take a step again to mirror, you get pleasure from all of it. You benefit from the course of. You get pleasure from coming to the rink and attempting to get higher. I’ve a blast doing it and I wish to do it so long as I can.

“With some of the struggles I’ve had – you get sent down to the minors. It happened to me in Philadelphia, it happened to me in Vancouver, and again in Edmonton – you start to look at the fact that it can be over at any time. I love to play the game. I love coming to the rink trying to get better. And you really don’t want to take any of that for granted. Being part of a team and being able to compete, it’s all so much fun. Regardless of when you go through those roadblocks and adversity, it’s challenging, but every time I’ve looked back on it, it’s made me a better person, a better player, and you have to enjoy those moments as well.”

Part of being a man with some tread on the tires implies that it may be a bit simpler to transition to a brand new crew and a brand new teaching employees.

You know what to anticipate and you’ve got a transparent concept on one of the best path to becoming in.

After the departure of veteran Paul Stastny to the Carolina Hurricanes as a free agent, there’s a gentle dose of each manufacturing and management that must be crammed.

But thanks partly to his huge array of expertise, Gagner wasn’t making any daring proclamations about the place he would possibly match into both a type of situations, although it’s already obvious he will likely be serving to to fill the void on each fronts.

“I think you just have to show up and compete every day. Bring that preparation and work ethic to the ice,” mentioned Gagner. “That’s how you build respect among your teammates and you start to have a voice in the room. I think that’s the main thing. I try to take care of myself, I try to be professional and work hard, and hopefully over time you build that trust and respect among your teammates and become a bigger part of things.”

Gagner has began camp on the Jets’ fourth line with centre David Gustafsson and Dominic Toninato (Morgan Barron might issue into the equation right here, however he’s but to take part with the primary group as he offers with an upper-body damage) and that’s to not say he received’t be utilized in an enhanced function in some unspecified time in the future.

Like the not too long ago retired Mathieu Perreault earlier than him, Gagner is the kind of man who can transfer simply up and down the lineup, relying on accidents or if a line would possibly want a spark.

“He’s a veteran guy, hangs on to the puck and makes plays,” mentioned Jets head coach Rick Bowness. “I talked to Sam after we bought him and mentioned ‘I remember you as an 18-year-old kid in Edmonton.’ You are available as an 18-year-old and also you suppose you’re going to play ceaselessly, you’re going to be a prime participant ceaselessly. It’s a troublesome league. The guys that don’t make an adjustment to their video games, don’t final very lengthy. They don’t play 1,000 video games like Sam goes to do.

“He’s adjusted. He’s accepted the role. So all of a sudden he’s not a top six on some teams, he never complained, he kept working on his game. They needed him to kill penalties last year in Detroit. He stepped in and did a great job. He couldn’t have done that 10 years ago. He’s smart enough to figure out how to survive in the league. You make adjustments to your game the older you get. Your role changes and you can accept it or fight it. If you fight it, you’re not going to keep playing. So give him credit for that.”