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y Axeman33
Disclaimer : I have never really attempted or professed to be a writer but I am certainly passionate about
my fantasy hockey. When I saw the Oilers were available, I quickly jumped on the opportunity.
Top three surprises:
Sam Gagner
Sammy was a RFA at the end of last season, and after going back
and forth on a longer-term big money deal, both sides agreed on a
one-year $3.2m contract. This will be his third contract with the
Oilers, grabbing a 40% raise but probably not the term Gagner was
looking for. Basically with a one year contract, the Oilers are
telling him they want to see more before paying out big money on
a long term deal and I think this is the contract that Sammy does
just that. He will be centring the second line and surrounded with
more weapons then he has ever had since joining the Oilers. Sammy has averaged 44 points per season
with the Oilers and if he can stay healthy, I believe he will finally surpass the 50 point marker and quite
possibly hit 60+. I expect big things for Gagner this year and will surprise most GMs with his point
output and putting a smile on those GMs who have been patiently waiting for this type of output.
Devan Dubnyk
The Oilers actually did the smart thing with Dubnyk, their
former first round pick from 2004. They let him play a few
years in the AHL before slowly progressing his career in the
NHL. The past three years, they have increased his workload
incrementally from 19 games three years ago, and then up to
35 games the following year then getting him into 47 games
last year. In each of those years he has managed to lower his
GA incrementally as well (his first year he held a 3.57GAA, last
year it was lowered to a very respectable 2.67GAA). In the offseason,
they rewarded Dubnyk with a new two-year, $7.0m
contract, all but guaranteeing him the starter position,
backstopping an ever-improving Oilers team. Needless to say, with an increase in pay comes an increase
in expectations. I have no doubts that “Doobie” will once again improve over last year’s numbers. I can
see him getting into 50+ games this year and coming close to the 30-win total, if not exceeding it.
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