So when Bo was out injured, would you rather have had Gaunce or Granlund playing with Boeser?
Gagner isn't a good hockey player, and he's not someone a contender has on their roster. But for a team bouncing off the rock bottom that isn't going to be an attractive destination for any veteran with actual skill, at least Gagner brought some offensive ability. It's a bad contract and he's a bad player, but considering the situation we are in, at least he has some vision and can complete a pass.
I'm not a fan of Gagner and won't miss him when he's gone, but I really have no issue with Benning overspending to attract any skill he can get until our youngsters can make Vancouver an attractive place to play again for UFAs. Or just let Boeser play with Gaunce, at least he's cheap.
Yes, finally a sane person! I agree he is no superstar but he is a warm body who is expected to pop about 40 points a year who is (this is the important part folks) HAPPY TO PLAY IN VANCOUVER. The legions of idiots who seem to think that all Benning has to do is pick up the phone and sign elite players for cheap don't seem to understand this. Yes, of course he is somewhat overpaid JUST ABOUT EVERY FA VANCOUVER HAS SIGNED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES HAVE BEEN OVERPAID. Why? Because it is an incentive to come to one of the least preferred teams in the NHL that's why. Folks thinking that all we have to do is beckon "come hither" to the likes of Tavares are truly deluded and when Benning fails to sign guys like him because he won't sign here for ANYTHING (with all things being equal) then suddenly Benning is a useless bum. This isn't Boston where everybody likes to play for lots of excellent reasons, it's the salt mines. Evander Kane MIGHT sign here if we overpay him massively because he's from here and he's a problem child (just what we need; he'll be in rehab by Christmas says I) but anybody else of quality? Forget it. Hence we have players like Gagner on our roster.