Oilers' Rookies Creating Buzz, Wins

Filed under: Oilers, Sharks, Western

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Sam Gagner, all of 21, is the old man on a line with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, and while he knows that Edmonton's youth makes the team primed for better things in the next few years, Gagner wants to make sure that the real focus is this year.

Sure, the Oilers were in shambles last year and then had to go through major changes at the start of this season, with a new coach, Tom Renney, a new system and, as of right now, a total of six rookies on the team. But Gagner points out that the team is only 10 points out of a playoff spot, and right now, Edmonton is playing well, 6-2-1 in their past nine games.

"We're definitely optimistic, but the thing we don't want is that we're a team of the future," Gagner told FanHouse after the Oilers' morning skate on Tuesday. "Everyone wants to be a team of right now. We have that mindset. We're pushing ourselves, we have the attitude that we want to go to the playoffs this season. And we're moving in that direction."

 

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