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Sam Gagner signed a one-year, $650,000 contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, one month after the opening of the NHL’s free agency period.

Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch reported that Gagner had offers from at least four other teams, including the Canucks.

Gagner was asked about that report – specifically the Canucks portion of it – during an appearance on Vancouver’s TSN 1040 on Monday morning.

“There were discussions,” confirmed Gagner. “I think there was a possibility of a fit there. I think just with Columbus though, I had a chance to talk to their management and talk to Torts and I really liked everything they had to say, in terms of opportunity and fit and getting a chance to play. I just felt like it was the right decision to be made. I’m looking forward to the challenge there and it should be a lot of fun.”

Was there more money to be had elsewhere?

“Yeah, I mean to me it wasn’t even about that,” reflected Gagner. “I wasn’t even looking at that. It was just more about, like I said, fit and opportunity. When I talked to management, it wasn’t even a thought in my mind. Once I talked to their management, it was pretty clear that Columbus was the right fit. I didn’t even need to entertain any other offers.”

Is there any level of concern playing for an extremely demanding head coach like John Tortorella?

“No, I think you want that out of your coach,” said Gagner in a separate Monday radio hit on Columbus’s 97.1 The Fan. “You want a guy who is passionate and who will go to war for you. He demands the most out of his players, and I think you have to enjoy that. It’s something where he’s going to be honest with you, and he’s going to tell you what he wants. As long as your compete level is high and you’re continuing to give him everything you have, I think it’s to be a lot of fun.”

Looking forward to the next chapter! I'm excited to get to Columbus and get to work! ???????????? #CBJ https://t.co/RLsAUiLewH — Sam Gagner (@89SGagner) August 1, 2016

Gagner is arriving to the Blue Jackets at a time where results need to come for the team. The time for talking is done.

“I think that a 27th-place finish is not where this team should be,” agreed the soon-to-be 27-year-old, who will be celebrating a birthday next week. “Just from talking to a few of the guys on the team and talking to management, everyone seems really hungry. I think that fits right into kind of how I’m coming in. I’m really hungry to reestablish myself, and I think it’s a great group to do it with. I’m looking forward to getting to Columbus and getting started.”

Slow starts have been an Achilles Heel for this Blue Jackets squad, so is there anything Gagner himself can do to make sure he and the team begin the year well?

“With Torts, it’s kind of a mandate to show up in excellent shape,” said Gagner. “I feel really good right now for this point of the summer. I think that I’ve put in a lot of work so far, in the gym and on the ice. We’re about seven, eight weeks out and you just want to continue pushing forward here, so that you’re really ready come September.

“I think everyone is really hungry and looking forward to getting started. So I don’t think it’ll be an issue for us.”

Speaking of feeling good – Gagner did suffer a concussion last season, correct?

“Yeah. It was a minor one, but yeah,” said Gagner.

A minor concussion. Indeed.

The forward was asked to expand on his thoughts on concussions in hockey, with all of the attention being paid to them these days.

“I don’t think it’s something you can mess around with,” said Gagner. “Your brain is the most important thing you have. Concussions – they’re a tough thing to battle back from. I know from experience having one last year, and it was a shorter duration. But everyone kind of reacts to it differently.

“That’s one of the things we’re trying to change. Hockey players tend to want to come back from any injury they can as quickly as possible. But concussions are different. If you break a bone in your foot, you kind of know the timeline and you try and push the envelope and get back a week or two early. But when it comes to your brain, there’s no real timeline to it. You have to take it slow and make sure you’re fully healed before you get back to playing.”

Sam’s dad, Dave Gagner, was drafted into the NHL in 1983 and last played in 1999.

Do the two men ever talk about this particular concussion subject?

“It was a different era in that way,” noted Sam Gagner. “It was like, ‘If you’re conscious, you get out there and play.’

“But there’s so much more research into it now. It’s not worth it in the long term to try and play through that, and then you look back in 20 years and you have kids and you have constant headaches and you’re not able to play with your kids. It’s not something that you ever want to risk.

“I think there’s more awareness to it now. Are being a lot smarter about it, and there’s more research going into it and the doctors know so much more. So it’s definitely getting better and it’s going to continue to improve.”

Gagner was drafted by the Oilers in 2007 and spent the first seven seasons of his career in Edmonton.

Naturally, he still keeps an eye on his former team.

“Yeah, of course,” admitted Gagner. “I had a lot emotionally invested in Edmonton. I started my career there and I wanted to be part of the solution going forward. Obviously that didn’t work out. I still keep in touch with a lot of the guys there and keep tabs on everybody. I hope for them to do well, and it looks like they’re making some moves to help them. It’s a tough market there, but you obviously hope they do well.”

Gagner also paid a compliment to a past teammate while discussing his own versatility in playing center or the wing.

“Playing down the middle gives you an opportunity to play with some really good wingers,” said Gagner. “I played with some really good ones over my career. Getting a chance to play with Taylor Hall in Edmonton, when I’m playing in the middle – he’s one of the best players I’ve played with.”

Source: TSN 1040, 97.1 The Fan/ Transcript: Nichols