Leafs: If Brian Boyle doesn’t re-sign, Sam Gagner is the ideal centre
By James Reeve
Brian Boyle is a UFA this summer and, if he doesn’t re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, then Sam Gagner could be the ideal replacement.
With questions surrounding Brian Boyle’s future with the Toronto Maple Leafs, they will need to at least consider a replacement. In that respect, Sam Gagner might be the ideal solution.
Gagner is having a resurgent season playing for John Tortorella’s Columbus Blue Jackets, putting up 18 goals and 32 assists in 81 regular season games. The 27-year-old Ontario native is an Unrestricted Free Agent this summer, having only signed a one-year deal with Columbus.
His career-high 50 points this season will no doubt be enticing for a number of teams this summer. If Vegas are unable to agree to a deal with Gagner, then the Toronto Maple Leafs should certainly consider him as an option.
Boyle currently costs $2 million in cap space and could command at least the same amount in any new deal. In addition, there’s no guarantee Boyle would be willing to relocate to Toronto permanently.
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For Gagner, however, he currently has a cap space of just $600,000. His strong season will likely boost this number, but $2 million a year could be a conceivable amount for a guy that has effectively been a fourth-liner all season.
He has averaged 16:33 minutes of ice time across his career, but has only achieved 13:43 with the Blue Jackets. During that time, he has a 47.5 percent success rate on face-offs, having taken part of 425 this past year.
The Leafs need a guy that can take face-offs. While his success rate is not spectacular, it is higher than star rookie Auston Matthews‘ 46.8 percent.
Gagner’s HERO Chart, which can be found at Own The Puck, also paints a positive picture of the former Edmonton Oilers centre. For the majority of five-on-five performance areas, besides goals per hour, Gagner has performed at the level of a mid-six forward and could easily play as a third-line centre for many teams in the NHL.
Gagner, who turns 28 this summer, also has plenty of experience that could aid the young Leafs team’s push for the playoffs next season. The former Oilers draft pick has played in 696 regular season games, putting up 142 goals and 402 total points across his career.
If Boyle is not retained by the Leafs, Gagner does present a potential opportunity to buy low and receive stability through the middle of the ice.
Ben Smith recently signed a new deal with the team. However, his offensive stats do not compare to Gagner’s this season.
Bringing in a player of a better quality than Smith is a must for the team. With plenty more years ahead of him and a lot of positive stats behind him, Gagner could very well be that guy if the Leafs aren’t able to bring Boyle back.
Next: Leafs' Possible New Signings
What do you think? Should the Leafs target Gagner if Boyle leaves? Who else do you think could be a good fourth-line centre if not?