Karly Redpath- Sam Gagner
This past summer, Sam Gagner signed a one-year $650,000 deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets and shined posting career-high goals, assists and points in 2016-17.
Gagner is a free agent that the New York Rangers should consider as an option to be picked up in effort to aid their struggling power play. He was one of the Blue Jacket’s most vital pieces to their power play unit, which was one of the best in the league for a portion of the regular season.
The key was Columbus’s head coach John Tortorella being able to effectively utilize the 27-year-old to best showcase his abilities.
This season, Gagner made an impact as a fourth liner who played on the Blue Jacket’s top power play unit with Nick Foligno and Cam Atkinson.
Gagner hit the 50-point mark for the first time in his career this season. Eight of his 18 goals and 10 of his 32 assists came on the power play.
Gagner averaged 2:35 on the power play this season, and his impact on the power play can be seen in his goals for and shots for in man down situations.
His goals for per 60 on the power play was 1.85 and shots for total was 14.48.
Assuming the Rangers could get him at a reasonable price (seeing he made $650,000 it will be interesting to see what he’s asking) and so long as he fits and can be used effectively he could be a huge asset for the Rangers both in 5-on-5 and on the power play.