The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed free agent forward Sam Gagner to a one-year contract, according to the team. The deal will pay Gagner $650,000 in 2016-17, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.
Say hello to @89SGagner, #CBJ fans! ??
He’s joined us on a one-year deal: https://t.co/2RBB8NZ3GOpic.twitter.com/rzI6C0dNn8
— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 1, 2016
Told Sam Gagner’s deal with #CBJ – likely to be made official today – is one-year, $650,000.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) August 1, 2016
Gagner, 26, skated in 53 games with the Philadelphia Flyers last season, netting eight goals and 16 points. In nine AHL games, he had six points.
The 2007 sixth overall draft pick has appeared in 615 NHL games since turning pro in 2007, tallying 352 points with a minus-101 rating. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Edmonton Oilers prior to spending one year with the Arizona Coyotes and the Flyers, respectively.
Sam Gagner hasn’t been able to reach the 49-point mark that he met as a rookie in 2007-08, seeing his offensive production plummet with Philadelphia in 2015-16.
http://gty.im/494576874
Prior to joining the Flyers, Gagner had established himself as a consistent 40-point scorer. If he can bounce back with a new club this year, he could wind up being a huge steal for the Blue Jackets.
With less pressure on him, he may be able to flourish on a young Blue Jackets team. Recent first round draft picks Zach Werenski and Pierre-Luc Dubois both have shots at making the NHL roster out of training camp.