Sure, Buffalo. Why not.

I wouldn't trade CJ Smith alone straight-up for Gagner.

Career AHLer for someone who played with Kreuger. Totally understandable...

I've seen you make this trade (and a variant of it) a few times, and never have I been able to justify it from the Oilers perspective.

CJ Smith is a huge wildcard, and I'm admittedly not impressed with his numbers at any level. Like many, many NCAA free agents before and after him, his ceiling appears to be a bottom-9 skilled NHL forward. Edmonton has players like these in spades.

Sheary has potential to click really well alongside any of Edmonton's skilled centers, but paying for a maybe has bit this team in the ass repeatedly since the 2015 draft, and he hasn't had a great year since his breakout season in Pittsburgh. I put a lot of weight in how much of a PDO heater he was on that season, and that his shooting percentage has only decreased since the 16/17 season. At 26, Sheary's likely going to continue similar production, and at this point, Edmonton's dumping a less effective Gagner for a rental and giving up a high 2nd in the process. The value going out - and it's worth noting that Edmonton's prospect pool isn't substantial beyond the players expected to graduate next season - doesn't justify the return.

In a 4th-line role with PP minutes, Gagner can be effective. Columbus proved that a few seasons ago, and Edmonton should look at replicating it. There's nothing here that should have the Oilers interested, and it's likely they're better off keeping their high 2nd Round Pick.

Sheary for Gagner is probably pretty much a wash and Smith isn't worth anywhere near a 2nd. If Edmonton will go for it, I'll take it all day long.

I think Sheary has way more value than Gagner. His value is 4th pp guy, why not just have another player in your too 6 that would also be on the PP. Great centers help PDO, something Buffalo doesnt have and Edmonton does. If sheary is not getting quality chances then if course his shooting% will be down

But that's the maybe Edmonton has been buying high on for years now. Sheary right now is a 3rd-line winger, and if Edmonton is interested in acquiring him then they should pay the price of a 3rd-line winger. Same goes for guys like Connor Brown. There definitely is potential alongside McDavid, Draisaitl, or RNH to become a 50-point player, but there's very little for receipts that suggest that player is a 50-point player now.

PDO is influenced by on-ice save percentage and shooting percentage. Sure a playmaking center can get pucks to a winger, but after that it's strictly on the player and the opposing goaltender. Sheary's also used a lot more in the offensive zone than defensive zone; is he a liability in his own zone and will he result in a greater workload for his center and opposing winger?

Nah he was 2 line winger with a rookie center, and the Sabres were filled with defensive specialists. But thats what i mean with PDO. Sheary was often not given a decent chance to score. Mittelstadt was still developing and Okposo's wheels fell off, part of why the Sabres stumbled. Could make it a conditonal pick