The New York Rangers have a great opportunity to pick up UFA Sam Gagner. Currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he has a lot to offer that the team needs. Here are some reasons the Rangers would be wise to acquire him:
Gagner, who is only 27 year old, has already played with four NHL teams. Coming in at only 5′ 11” and 200lbs, he doesn’t boast size, but he does have the speed the New York Rangers need. And they would certainly be willing to accept a young developing player of his level.
The only downside to him is that he doesn’t have that much playoff experience. Playing with Edmonton, Arizona, and Philadelphia, he didn’t gain much exposure to postseason action. This past season, he played in five games in the first round series against the Penguins.
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Why He’s Worth It:
However, the amount of upsides to picking up a player like Gagner far outweigh that one negative. He is a centerman, and with the possibility of Oscar Lindberg being taken in the expansion draft, he would be able to fill Lindberg’s shoes nicely.
Also, he possesses a right-handed shot, which is something the Rangers are in dire need of. As of now, they only have about four players that shoot right-handed, and it would be a great advantage to acquire another player with that quality.
For the majority of his time with Columbus, he played on the third line. This means that he didn’t see that much ice time (13:43 on average). However, the Rangers love their young players, and he would most likely receive more ice time than he’s used to if he came to New York.
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He started his career with the Edmonton Oilers at age 18, and he immediately received a big role, playing in 79 games. He had 49 points and 16 power-play points in that first season.
Since then, he has only gotten better. In 81 games played, he recorded 18 goals and 32 assists for a season-high 50 points. In addition, he recorded also a season-high 18 power-play points and 8 power-play goals.
His strength on the power play will definitely help the Rangers. Especially since it’s an area they struggle in, it would be good to have a player that came from one of the best power-play teams in the league.
The Cost
On top of all of that, Gagner barely poses a threat to the cap room space. He is rather inexpensive, costing only $650K last season. It is likely that he will demand an increase, but it shouldn’t be anything the Rangers can’t handle.
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If the Rangers are able to pick him up, it would be a major improvement for their power-play unit. Also, they are gaining a somewhat experienced young and speedy player. Be on the lookout for where he ends up.