Former New York Islanders forward Chris Wagner signed a two-year contract worth $2.5 million with the Boston Bruins back on July 1.
The signing came around the time when it appeared as if Bruins’ free agent Tim Schaller would be signing somewhere else. Schaller did, in fact, go on to sign with the Canucks.
Wagner saw his first season in the NHL split between the Anaheim Ducks and the Islanders when he was traded to New York for Jason Chimera at the trade deadline. The 27-year-old brought fourth line offense to both teams tallying seven goals and 16 points for the season. Wagner was third in the NHL in hits last season with 235.
While losing Schaller is an unfortunate loss for the Bruins, the signing of Wagner may not be a step in the right direction as for a replacement for Schaller, but it is not necessarily a step back.
It’s been said that Wagner plays a ‘big bad Bruins’ style, which means he will be perfect for the fourth line, and bring that grit and physicality that is needed to let the top scorers produce.
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