Vancouver Canucks: 3 Forwards to Target in Trade

Sam Gagner, Columbus Blue Jackets

We’ll start with a solution that would clearly be a sign of desperation. Sam Gagner was available as an unrestricted free agent last summer, so the Canucks had every chance to talk to him and sign him. Sending pieces to the Columbus Blue Jackets to acquire someone you could have had for free a few months ago seems dumb.

But, Gagner’s status in the summer changes nothing about the fact that he could really help the Canucks’ goal scoring.

Gagner has had a few ups and downs throughout his career. For some reason, the name Sam Gagner started to trigger negative reactions. The reasons for that include a Corsi-against per 60 minutes of 62.81 in the 2013-14 season, which saw him ranked 21st on a terrible possession team, the Edmonton Oilers.

Still, there is one thing Gagner was always good at: creating offence.

In his final junior season with the OHL London Knights, Gagner recorded 35 goals and 118 points in 53 games. He followed that up with 13 goals and 49 points in 79 NHL games as a rookie. From that point on, Gagner consistently scored over 40 points per season.

That was until he joined the Philadelphia Flyers for the 2015-16 campaign. There, Gagner had just eight goals and 16 points in 53 games and actually ended up being sent to the American Hockey League for nine contests. Now with the Blue Jackets, however, Gagner sits at eight goals and 13 points in 22 games, on pace for a career-high 49 points. Even if he doesn’t reach 49, it is one of his usual 40-point seasons.

If the Canucks want a strong two-way player or a gritty bottom-six addition, Gagner might not be the right choice. If they simply want to add a strong offensive player, though, the 27-year-old could be a great option. Gagner is a natural centre who has also played many games on the wing — perfect for Vancouver’s current situation.