Bonsignore Citizens Brigade: Detroit @ Edmonton

Sam it feels good to be a Gagner 

I don't know about you guys, but I woke up this morning with another GRB (Gagner-related-boner). Seriously, I'm still in shock and awe at what happened on Thursday. Like thousands of people have pointed out we Oiler fans haven't had much to cheer for over the last 5 or 6 years, let alone watched a game we'll probably remember for the rest of our lives. It was amazing and refreshing and I think it was a solid reminder of what we're working towards while we slog through all these other bullshit games and hard times. Soak it in kids. 

Speaking of Gagner I'd like to address one thing I do have an issue with. I was listening to the first 10-15 of Puck Daddy Radio yesterday (obviously because they were talking all things Gagner) and at one point he began talking about how crazy it is that people were insinuating that because of that one game Gagner had played his way onto the Oilers untouchables list. Now I'll agree, that is crazy, one game does not a star player make, but I think he's looking at it the wrong way. I'm sure people outside of Edmonton meant it literally; that he actually did play his way off the trading block with that one game. But those of us who have been fans of Gagner see it differently (well I do anyway, but I'll speak for everyone regardless): This was Sam Gagner's coming out party. It finally showed the world, and especially the naysayers, that yes, Sam Gagner still does have metric tons of potential and he does have the ability to play as a top 6 forward. Oiler fans have been screaming for years that this team needs a second line center. They already have him; his name is Sam Fucking Gagner.

He's been defended a million times from the "he can't even win a faceoff!" crowd, so I won't get into it here. But if you still see it that way, and still (somehow) think he's a bust and will never be an NHL'er go take a look at guys like Kesler, whichever Sedin is the centerman, Manny Malholtra (fuck sakes the Cancuks have a lot of good centers), Toews, Bergeron, Datsyuk, etc, etc, and see how long it took them to become not only some of the best faceoff men in the league, but also to become bona-fide offensive threats (the Sedins especially). Sam Gagner is twenty fucking one years old! He's still two years or so from entering his prime years for fucks sakes! A large majority of this fan base is so impatient and it drives me nuts. Yes, I understand a lot of the frustration, this team hasn't been good since 06, and that was just a blip on the radar since basically the late 90's, but people have been writing off Gagner since before he was able to legally drink in the US. Not only is that insane but it's fucking ridiculously dumb. I hope the lot of you mouth breathers were choking on your own angry farts Thursday night. Patience people. There's an incredibly bright light at the end of this shit coated tunnel. We'll get there, just not tonight or tomorrow or the next day. But we'll get there. 

The Red Wings bring their traveling Hall Of Fame with them into Edmonton tonight, and despite how well Edmonton has been playing over the last few games (who would have thought that having good, veteran players return to the lineup healthy would make this team better? SERIOUSLY, WHO KNEW???) this one is pretty much a lost cause. It's the Detroit Fucking Red Wings. They've literally been a top 5-10 team in the NHL pretty much my entire life. That's fucking nuts. 

One positive is that JIMMAH Howard is out with a broken finger, so tonight the Oilers get to shoot pucks at this homeless man:

Oh, sorry, that's just Ty Conklin. What's that? He's an ex-Oiler? You know what that means! Shutout and an empty net goal for ol' Conkblock! 

Either way it's Saturday and we can still get second hand high off Gagner's 8 Point Thursday®, because if I know CBC they'll probably mention it once or twice during the HNIC broadcast. 

GOILERS! GOGAGNER! 

-JS