Sam Gagner enjoying renaissance with Blue Jackets

EDMONTON --Despite scoring an NHL career-low eight goals in 53 games with the Philadelphia Flyers last season, forward Sam Gagner felt he still had plenty to offer this season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets gave Gagner, 27, an opportunity and he has made the most of it, helping to rejuvenate the Blue Jackets as well as himself. His 12 goals lead the Blue Jackets to go with nine assists and 21 points in 26 games. He has been instrumental in the resurgent Blue Jackets' seven-game winning streak with eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past four games, including a goal and assist in a 3-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Tuesday.

"Sam's a guy that this is his last kick at the can, he knew that going in," Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. "He's had some struggles. He's just a tremendous guy, he loves the game and wants to be part of it and I think has shown us he's willing to do anything. To me, it's a great story. He's not the big-name player in the League, but I think it's a great story, coming to the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets and trying to find his way back into the National Hockey League."
Gagner signed a one-year, $650,000 contract with Columbus on Aug. 1 and is playing in his 10th NHL season. He was the No. 6 pick by the Oilers in the 2007 NHL Draft and spent seven seasons in Edmonton before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who immediately traded him to the Arizona Coyotes, on June 29, 2014.

"We had a conference call with him and his agent," Tortorella said. "We were looking for a center-ice man, because we needed someone that could make a play in the middle of the ice.
"I was anxious to see how Sam was going to handle it after that conversation. Was he going to be a businessman and grind away and try to get as much money in a contract as he can and just keep on pushing for this or that? Then the next day he signs. To me, that was the biggest plus in my mind how he was approaching coming to camp."
Gagner is on pace to eclipse his NHL-best 49 points (13 goals, 36 assists) set in his rookie season with the Oilers in 2007-08.
"I didn't feel like last year the numbers I had were indicative of the player I was," Gagner said. "I felt like I had some really good stretches last year and gained a lot of confidence in the playoffs (two assists in six games). I felt like I played some really good hockey. I felt like this was another opportunity for me to prove myself. It's still really early, there is still a lot of season left and I just have to keep it going."
Gagner was moved to right wing early this season and played on a line with left wing Matt Calvert and center Lukas Sedlak against Edmonton.

"Sam's a good power-play guy and is just fantastic with his stick," Tortorella said. "He's kind of a utility guy for us, the way we're using him right now. I'm happy for him, coming back here. I'm just happy for him because of the situation he was in during the summer, where he was pretty much out of the game, to where he is now, it's just a terrific story."
The Blue Jackets (18-5-4) play at the Calgary Flames on Friday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, FS-F, NHL.TV), when they will attempt to extend their winning streak to eight. The franchise record is nine straight victories set between March 18 and April 4, 2015.
"It's a lot of fun," Gagner said. "Some of those years in Edmonton, it's obviously tough to be out of it early and feel like there is not as much to play for down the stretch.
"I think when you get a chance to be on a team like this, you have to enjoy every moment and keep pushing forward. You learn a lot being on a team like this. I feel like I've learned a lot in my years in Edmonton as well, about what it takes to push through and battle through adversity, and I think that adversity ultimately helps you going forward. It's a good thing and I'm enjoying this year, and hopefully, can keep it going."