Dave Gagner

David Rene Gagner (born December 11, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current Director of Player Development for the Orr Hockey Group player agency.

Dave Gagner
Born	(1964-12-11) December 11, 1964 (age 60) Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	188 lb (85 kg; 13 st 6 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	New York Rangers Minnesota North Stars Dallas Stars Toronto Maple Leafs Calgary Flames Florida Panthers Vancouver Canucks
National team	Canada
NHL draft	12th overall, 1983 New York Rangers
Playing career	1984–1999

Playing career

Dave Gagner spent two full seasons with the OHL's Brantford Alexanders. In 1982–83 he registered 55 goals and 121 points in 70 games, catching the attention of NHL scouts. The same season he was named to the OHL Second All-Star Team.

He was selected in the first round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft (12th overall) by the New York Rangers and bounced back and forth between New York and their American Hockey League farm team, the New Haven Nighthawks over the next several seasons. He remained with the Rangers' organization until 1987 but was never able to completely get over the hump and earn a full-time roster spot, largely due to his being considered too small for an NHL forward.

His career took off when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1987. Though initially spending time with Minnesota's farm team in Kalamazoo, Gagner broke out in 1989–90 with 40 goals and was in the NHL to stay. In his best season (1990–91), Gagner recorded 82 points in 73 games. He remained with the Stars when they moved to Dallas, until he was traded to Toronto on January 29, 1996. His stay in Toronto would last only 28 games before he was again traded, this time to Calgary, where he would spend the entire 1996–97 season, scoring a very respectable 27 goals and 60 points in 82 games.

In the summer of 1997 Gagner was on the move again, signing a free agent contract with the Florida Panthers. Gagner would spend a season and a half in Florida before being involved in a blockbuster trade on January 17, 1999. Gagner, along with Ed Jovanovski, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes and Florida's 1st round choice (Nathan Smith) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft were dealt to Vancouver in exchange for superstar Pavel Bure, Bret Hedican, Brad Ference and Vancouver's 3rd round choice (Robert Fried) 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Gagner would finish the 1998–99 season with the Canucks before officially announcing his retirement on September 29, 1999, after 15 years in the NHL.^[1] He finished with 719 points in 946 NHL regular season games.

Post-playing career

In March, 2000, Gagner founded Custom Ice Inc., a company that manufactures permanent and portable ice skating rinks.

In 2001, Brad Grant sold the Milton Icehawks to an Oakville trio that consisted of ex-NHLer Gagner, Mario Forgione who owned the Mississauga IceDogs at the time and was an automotive parts manufacturing president, and wine distillery consultant Ken Chase.^[2][3]

In August, 2006, it was announced that Gagner would serve as assistant coach of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League; his son, Sam, also played for the team. His daughter, Jessica Gagner plays hockey for the Dartmouth Big Green women's ice hockey program.^[4] Dave spent the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons with the Knights, and also opened a training centre in London to work with young prospects.

In June, 2008, Gagner's former agent Mike Gillis, who had recently been named General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks, hired Gagner as the team's Director of Player Development. Gagner replaced Canucks' legend Stan Smyl, who had been named the team's new Director of Collegiate Scouting. On September 3, 2013, Gagner left the Canucks to work with the Orr Hockey Group player agency in the same capacity.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1979–80	Chatham Maroons	WOHL		6	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Newmarket Flyers	OPJHL		41	33	55	88	42		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Brantford Alexanders	OHL		68	30	46	76	31		11	3	6	9	6
1982–83	Brantford Alexanders	OHL		70	55	66	121	57		8	5	5	10	4
1983–84	Canada	Intl		43	15	22	37	34		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Brantford Alexanders	OHL		12	7	13	20	4		6	0	4	4	6
1984–85	New York Rangers	NHL		38	6	6	12	16		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		38	13	20	33	23		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	New York Rangers	NHL		32	4	6	10	19		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		16	10	11	21	11		4	1	2	3	2
1986–87	New York Rangers	NHL		10	1	4	5	12		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		56	22	41	63	50		7	1	5	6	18
1987–88	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		51	8	11	19	55		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Kalamazoo Wings	IHL		14	16	10	26	26		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		75	35	43	78	104		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Kalamazoo Wings	IHL		1	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		79	40	38	78	54		7	2	3	5	16
1990–91	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		73	40	42	82	114		23	12	15	27	28
1991–92	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		78	31	40	71	107		7	2	4	6	8
1992–93	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		84	33	43	76	141		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Dallas Stars	NHL		76	32	29	61	83		9	5	1	6	2
1994–95	HC Courmaosta	ITA		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Dallas Stars	NHL		48	14	28	42	42		5	1	1	2	4
1995–96	Dallas Stars	NHL		45	14	13	27	44		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		28	7	15	22	59		6	0	2	2	6
1996–97	Calgary Flames	NHL		82	27	33	60	48		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Florida Panthers	NHL		78	20	28	48	55		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Florida Panthers	NHL		36	4	10	14	39		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		33	2	12	14	24		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				946	318	401	719	1,016		57	22	26	48	64

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1984	Canada	WJC		7	4	2	6	4
1984	Canada	OG		7	5	2	7	6
1993	Canada	WC		8	3	1	4	6
Senior totals				15	8	4	12	12