I would guess Rutta for Gagner at half price. The timing of Murphy being back and this comes out is no coincidence
I'd do that from a Canucks perspective. Not really sure where Rutta fits if guys are healthy, with Tanev, Gudbranson, Stecher as RHD. But injuries and opportunities are sure to crop up, and it's not like Gagner is doing anything for the Canucks. Eating half his salary for another year seems doable. Canucks could afford to give a D like Rutta a chance to do something.
It'd obviously have to be some sort of retention and/or salary coming back like that though. Obviously not
Seabrook bad, but something like Kruger would fit the bill and get the Canucks out from Gagner's contract a year early...though i don't think there'd be much (if any) retention in that scenario.
Seems like the Hawks are probably just eyeing up whether Gagner might be able to help them out as a "PP Specialist". If you can find a way to use him like Columbus a couple years back, playing a minimal 4th line role and prominent PP niche part...maybe you get some production out of him, don't notice the liability aspects so much, and give your PP a little jolt. He does still have skill and vision, when he has the room to actually use it...like on the PP.