Sam Gagner was signed this past offseason, almost as an afterthought. The Columbus Blue Jackets took a chance on the journeyman forward, signing him to a one year contract worth $650,000 this year. Gagner, prior to playing in Columbus, had played for 3 different teams since being drafted 6th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He had never lived up to that draft status, with a career high of 18 goals in a season, and a career high 49 points in his rookie season.
Gagner was seen as a player who was generally on his last chance to stick in the league.