According to Bob McKenzie, unrestricted free agent Center Sam Gagner will sign with the Vancouver Canucks today. The contract is worth $3.15 million for three years. Gagner spent last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Sam Gagner's three-year deal with the Canucks worth $3.15 M per year
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2017
Sam Gagner to Sign with the Vancouver Canucks
Sam Gagner is coming off a season where he revived his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Gagner set a career high in points this season with 50 in 81 games in Columbus. Gagner also tied his career high in goals scored with 18 on his way to rejuvenating his career. His career high in points and high number of assists, 32, was enough for Gagner to finish third on the team in both categories.
When Gagner signed with Columbus, he was a journeyman center whose career path was looking to just hang around on the team’s fourth line. Gagner ended up making the opening day roster and becoming a big part of the Blue Jackets offense. With his performance this season, many believe that the Blue Jackets signing Gagner was the steal of last year’s free agency.
Gagner’s most recent contract was a one-year $650,000 deal. $650,000 was the base price of Gagner’s contract and did not include incentives. The fact that Gagner posted career highs seems to show he has turned it around. Gagner has also shown that he can be a good third or fourth line center and provide some much-needed offense. This signing is a worthy gamble for Vancouver.
Main Photo:
PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 14: Sam Gagner #89 of the Columbus Blue Jackets tries to get around Matt Cullen #7 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on April 14, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
