EDMONTON — When Sam Gagner was playing for Sheldon Keefe with the Marlies last season, the goal was to get back to the NHL.
Gagner has indeed returned, albeit with the Oilers after the Vancouver Canucks first loaned him to Toronto’s farm team to be closer to his young family. But Gagner just didn’t expect to see Keefe in The Show as well, promoted to the Leafs job three weeks ago when Mike Babcock was fired.
“He helped me a lot,” an appreciative Gagner said in the Edmonton room on Friday afternoon. “A lot has been said about (Toronto’s) development model and the amount that goes into it. I thought the coaching staff was really good with me in terms of treating me as one of their own. I feel like I’m a better player. I owe them a lot for that.”
Gagner had 37 points in 43 Marlies games and was a handy veteran forward to plug in the lineup before the Oilers re-acquired their former first round-pick from 2007. Gagner has eight points in the 16 games he’s dressed for this season and might play Saturday. If so, expect a nod towards the guy behind the Leafs bench.
“I’m really happy for Sheldon that he’s having success. He worked really hard to be prepared. You could see it last year, getting a chance to work with him, he had that mindset where you could tell he was going to be an NHL coach. He thinks the game really well.”
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
