‘Connor does things no one’s ever seen before’: Former NHLer Sam Gagner talks about McDavid, Draisaitl

According to Sam Gagner, Connor McDavid is pretty good at hockey.

OK, that may be an understatement, but Gagner shared high praise for both the Edmonton Oilers’ captain and fellow NHL superstar Leon Draisaitl in an interview with Daily Faceoff’s Jeff Marek for DFO’s newest series, “On The Road with Jeff Marek.”

Gagner, who recently retired from the NHL and was hired by the Ottawa Senators as the director of player development for their AHL affiliate in Belleville, discussed a number of topics with Marek, including his love of the game, Muskoka’s hockey culture and the toll playing in the NHL takes on a player’s body and mind.

Marek asked Gagner to name a few players in the league whose talent he admires, and right away he brought up the two Oilers forwards.

“I mean, Connor and Leon,” he said. “Having played with them, I think Connor does things that I don’t think anyone has ever seen before. It’s hard for me to look at him and think, ‘How does he do that?’ because I don’t think anybody knows. He’s at such a different level.

“Leon is probably the best in the game at picking a puck off the wall and finding a lane that you didn’t think was there,” Gagner continued. “I love watching him because those are areas that I think can be taught a little bit more. He does them at such a level that you can’t teach to his level, but I think I can study his game a little bit better.”

Gagner, taken No. 6 overall by Edmonton in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, spent 17 seasons in the NHL, scoring 197 goals and recording 332 assists for 529 points in 1,043 career regular-season games with the Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets.

You can watch the full interview here…