Vancouver Canucks trade Sam Gagner in exchange for Ryan Spooner

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning has swung yet another trade, landing Ryan Spooner from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Sam Gagner. Here’s what the deal means.

The Vancouver Canucks have made yet another trade, shipping off Sam Gagner to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ryan Spooner.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie broke the news.

Gagner is in the second of a three-year deal worth $9.45 million, and he was on loan to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. He had three points in seven games for the Canucks during the regular season. Now, Gagner gets a fresh start on a team where he spent his first seven NHL seasons.

For general manager Jim Benning, he swaps out a struggling Gagner for Spooner — who is three years younger and perhaps a better fit for head coach Travis Green. Spooner has two goals and one assist in 25 games for the Oilers this season.

It’s a low-risk, high-reward trade for Benning. Per CapFriendly,com, Spooner’s cap hit is $4 million for each of the next two seasons. But as Sportsnet’s John Shannon notes, the New York Rangers — who traded Spooner to Edmonton earlier this season — are paying out a big portion of his contract.

The best season of Spooner’s career thus far was 2015-16, when he tallied 13 goals and 49 points. Last season, he scored 41 points — split with the Rangers and Boston Bruins. Perhaps a fresh start will help Spooner produce like a quality third liner again.

This is the third move made by Benning in the new year thus far. Last month, he dealt Michael Del Zotto to the Anaheim Ducks for Luke Schenn and a seventh round pick. Before that, he acquired Mike McKenna, Tom Pyatt and a sixth round pick from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Anders Nilsson and Darren Archibald.

The Canucks have been hit with a plethora of injuries over the last two weeks, so Spooner should receive plenty of opportunities until the roster gets healthy again.