Simon Gagné

Simon Gagné (French pronunciation: ​[simɔ̃ ɡaɲe]; born February 29, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent the first ten seasons of his NHL career with the Flyers (1999–2010), followed by one season with Tampa Bay (2010–11) and two with Los Angeles (2011–13), winning the Stanley Cup in 2012, before returning to Philadelphia via trade for the end of the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season. After not playing in 2013–14, Gagné signed with Boston, briefly playing for them before retiring in 2015.

Simon Gagné
Gagné with the Philadelphia Flyers
Born (1980-02-29) February 29, 1980
Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 193 lb (88 kg; 13 st 11 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Los Angeles Kings
Boston Bruins
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 22nd overall, 1998
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 1999–2015

Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) 22nd overall in 1998, Gagné played major junior with the Beauport Harfangs and Quebec Remparts for three seasons. He began his NHL career with the Flyers in 1999 and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. He has appeared in two NHL All-Star Games and has won two Bobby Clarke Trophies with the Flyers as team MVP.

Internationally, Gagné has represented Canada on five occasions. He has won silver medals at the 1999 World Junior Championships and 2005 World Championships, while winning gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics and a World Cup championship in 2004.

Playing career

As a youth, Gagné played in the 1993 and 1994 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Sainte-Foy, Quebec City.[1]

QMJHL

Gagné was 16 when he broke into the QMJHL as a member of the Beauport Harfangs during the 1996–97 season. Playing mostly on the third and fourth lines, Gagné finished with 31 points (9 goals and 22 assists) in 51 games. The following two seasons, he would play with the Quebec Remparts, totalling 189 points (80 goals and 109 assists) in 114 games, including a 120-point season in 1998–99. That year, he finished sixth in league scoring, was named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team and was awarded the Paul Dumont Trophy as the "personality of the year". Gagné also recorded 20 goals and 13 assists for 33 points in 25 career playoff matches with the Remparts. After the 1998–99 season, Gagné graduated to the pro ranks, and the Remparts retired Gagné's #12 jersey during a ceremony early on in the 1999–2000 season. Gagné joined Hockey Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur as the only two players that have had their jerseys retired by the Quebec Remparts (Alexander Radulov's number has also since been retired by the Remparts).[2]

Philadelphia Flyers

Gagné was drafted 22nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and made the Flyers out of training camp prior to the 1999–2000 season. His rookie season saw him play primarily at centre and score 20 goals and 28 assists in 80 games, good enough to be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. He contributed 5 goals and 5 assists in 17 games during the playoffs before the Flyers lost in seven games to the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The following season, Gagné was converted from centre to wing. Playing on a line with Mark Recchi and Keith Primeau in the 2000–01 season, Gagné scored 27 goals and 32 assists in 69 games and took part in his first NHL All-Star Game. During the All-Star Game, he scored two goals including the game-winning goal for the North American team. 2001–02 saw him score 33 goals and tally a career high 33 assists in 79 games. A nagging groin injury limited Gagné to 46 games and career lows in goals, assists and points in 2002–03. The next season, Gagné recorded 24 goals and 21 assists in 80 games. He also scored an important overtime goal in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[3] However, the Flyers were eliminated in Game 7.

Once the 2004–05 NHL lockout came to an end, Gagné assumed a greater role on the Flyers and played most of the year as the left winger on the top line with Peter Forsberg and Mike Knuble. The line became known as the "Deuces Wild" line due to their numbers (12 [Gagné], 21 [Forsberg] and 22 [Knuble]) and Gagné responded with his best season as a pro with 47 goals and 79 points in 72 games. He was awarded the Bobby Clarke Trophy, which is awarded to the Flyers Team MVP. In the off-season, Gagné signed a five-year contract extension worth over $25 million. Despite not having Forsberg as his centre for much of the 2006–07 season due to injury and Forsberg's eventual trade to the Nashville Predators, Gagné scored 41 goals and 27 assists in 76 games and won his second consecutive Bobby Clarke Trophy. He also played in his second NHL All-Star Game.

In the 2007–08 season, Gagné recorded 18 points in 25 games before being shut down for the year on February 20 after being told to sit out by doctors. Although it was believed Gagné had suffered three concussions in five months, he was told by doctors that he only had one and further injuries re-aggravated the symptoms. He suffered the initial concussion on October 25, 2007, when he was hit in the jaw with a check from Florida Panthers defenceman Jay Bouwmeester. Gagné sat out four games and returned only to be hurt again on November 7. After missing the next 26 games, he was re-injured on his first shift back on February 10, 2008, against the Pittsburgh Penguins.[4] Gagné follows after several previous Flyers player who have suffered serious concussions. Former captain Keith Primeau had his career ended prematurely due to concussions suffered while playing in Philadelphia, while Jeremy Roenick nearly retired after suffering one himself.[5]

Gagné with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010.

Gagné had a strong return in the 2008–09 season, scoring 34 goals, 74 points and posting a +21 in 79 games. However, injury troubles persisted in 2009–10. Less than a month into the season, he was placed on the injured reserve after being diagnosed with a double hernia in his groin in late-October 2009. Although the Flyers' orthopedic surgeon recommended surgery, Gagné opted for a second opinion with his personal doctor in Montreal.[6] Soon after, Gagné opted for surgery, which was performed on November 3. The surgery repaired the two small hernias in his right groin laparoscopically through his belly button, while reinforcing his rectus abdominis on both sides. Gagné returned to action on December 19 against the New York Rangers after missing 24 games.[7] He scored his third career hat trick and first career natural hat-trick just 11 days after returning from injury against the Rangers, December 30, 2009.[8] He finished the season with 40 points in 58 games. After defeating the second-seeded New Jersey Devils in the opening round of the 2010 playoffs, in which Gagné was injured, the Flyers met the Boston Bruins in the second round. After going down three games to none in the series without Gagné, Gagné returned for Game 4, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime, then scoring two goals in Game 5. After the Flyers became just the sixth team to force a Game 7 after being down three games to none, Gagné scored the series-winning goal in the third period of Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Flyers became the third team in NHL history to come back from a three games to none deficit in a series and win.[9]

Tampa Bay Lightning

On July 19, 2010, Gagné was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Matt Walker and a fourth-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.[10] He recorded 17 goals with 23 assists for the Lightning that year, to go with another five goals in the 2011 playoffs.

Los Angeles Kings

After just one season in Tampa Bay, Gagné became an unrestricted free agent. On July 2, 2011, he signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings.[11] He scored his first goal as a Kings player on October 13, 2011, against Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils. During the regular season, he appeared in 34 games and scored 10 goals with 17 points overall. On June 11, 2012, he won the Stanley Cup over the Devils, along with former Flyers teammates Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. During the Kings' playoff run, he appeared in four games but did not record a point. During the off-season, he underwent surgery to remove a 5 cm mass from his neck which had been causing him chronic pain.[12]

Return to Philadelphia
Gagné with the Boston Bruins in 2014.

In the following 2012–13 lockout-shortened season, Gagné sparingly appeared in 11 games with the Kings before on February 26, 2013, he was traded back to Philadelphia in exchange for a conditional fourth-round draft pick.[13] He appeared in his return to Philadelphia the following night at the Wells Fargo Center, February 27, 2013, against the Washington Capitals. In his first game back, Gagné registered his first goal of the season on a power play, assisted by Brayden Schenn and Daniel Brière, ending a 32-game goalless streak, the longest of his professional career.[14]

Boston Bruins

After a year hiatus from professional hockey, Gagné signed a professional try-out contract with the Boston Bruins.[15] After a successful training camp, Gagné was signed to a one-year contract with them on October 14, 2014.[16] After scoring 3 goals in 23 games, it was announced on January 12, 2015, that Gagné would not return to the Bruins in the 2014–15 season after his father's death in December 2014.[17] In a possible signal of the end of his professional career, Gagné's contract was terminated by the Bruins on January 29, 2015.[18] On September 15, 2015, Gagné announced his retirement from professional hockey.[19]

Personal life

Gagné represented Canada internationally on five different occasions.
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
2005 Austria
World Cup
2004 Canada
Winter Olympics
2002 Salt Lake City
World Junior Championships
1999 Canada

Simon is married to Karine and has a son, Matthew, born June 2, 2009,[20] and a daughter, Lily Rose, born February 14, 2011.[21]

International play

Gagné debuted internationally with Team Canada at the 1999 World Junior Championships in Manitoba. Playing as the host country, Canada made it to the gold medal game against Russia, but lost in overtime to earn the silver medal. Gagné scored seven goals and an assist in seven games to finish second in team scoring behind Daniel Tkaczuk's 10 points.

Three years later, Gagné made his senior debut with Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, scoring four points in six games to help Canada to their first Olympic ice hockey gold medal in 50 years over the host country United States.

Prior to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Gagné competed in the 2004 World Cup, where he captured his second consecutive international championship with Team Canada, contributing two points in six games. Due to the Philadelphia Flyers' consistent playoff runs in the NHL, Gagné did not appear in a World Championships until 2005, with the NHL lockout still in effect. He finished the tournament with an international career-high ten points in nine games, third in team scoring behind Rick Nash and Joe Thornton as the three Canadians finished 1–2–3 in tournament scoring. However, as Canada made it to the gold medal game, they were shut-out by the Czech Republic 3–0.

The following year, Gagné was named to his second national Olympic team to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Attempting to defend their gold medal from 2002, Canada was defeated in the quarter-finals by Russia and finished in seventh place. Gagné scored three points in five games.

Named to the 2009 summer camp roster for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, on August 25, 2009, Gagné injured his groin and was forced to leave camp.[22]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1995–96 Sainte-Foy Gouverneurs QMAAA 27 13 9 22 18 15 7 8 15 8
1996–97 Beauport Harfangs QMJHL 51 9 22 31 39 — — — — —
1997–98 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 53 30 39 69 26 12 11 5 16 23
1998–99 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 61 50 70 120 42 13 9 8 17 4
1999–2000 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 80 20 28 48 22 17 5 5 10 2
2000–01 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 69 27 32 59 18 6 3 0 3 0
2001–02 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 79 33 33 66 32 5 0 0 0 2
2002–03 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 46 9 18 27 16 13 4 1 5 6
2003–04 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 80 24 21 45 29 18 5 4 9 12
2005–06 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 72 47 32 79 46 6 3 1 4 2
2006–07 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 76 41 27 68 30 — — — — —
2007–08 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 25 7 11 18 4 — — — — —
2008–09 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 79 34 40 74 42 6 3 1 4 2
2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 58 17 23 40 47 19 9 3 12 0
2010–11 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 63 17 23 40 20 15 5 7 12 4
2011–12 Los Angeles Kings NHL 34 7 10 17 18 4 0 0 0 2
2012–13 Los Angeles Kings NHL 11 0 5 5 2 — — — — —
2012–13 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 27 5 6 11 6 — — — — —
2014–15 Boston Bruins NHL 23 3 1 4 4 — — — — —
NHL totals 822 291 310 601 328 109 37 22 59 32

International
Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1999 Canada WJC 7 7 1 8 2
2002 Canada OG 6 1 3 4 0
2004 Canada WCH 6 1 1 2 0
2005 Canada WC 9 3 7 10 0
2006 Canada OG 5 1 2 3 4
Junior totals 7 7 1 8 2
Senior totals 26 6 13 19 4

All-Star Games
Year Location   G A P
2001 Colorado 2 0 2
2007 Dallas 0 0 0
All-Star totals 2 0 2

Awards
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References
  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
  2. "Transfer-deal détente tested by Russian team's poaching of Preds star". National Post. 2008-07-11. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  3. "Flyers send series to Game 7". ESPN.com. 2004. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  4. "Concussed Flyers F Simon Gagne already planning for next season". International Herald Tribune. 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  5. Gelston, Dan (2008-02-29). "Gagne joins Lindros, Primeau, Roenick as Flyers hit with brutal concussions". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  6. "Flyers Notes: Flyers' Gagne seeks 2d opinion on hernias". Philadelphia Inquirer. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  7. "Flyers' Gagne to have surgery; out 6-8 weeks". The Sports Network. 2009-11-02. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  8. "Individual Player Stats: Simon Gagne". flyershistory.com. 2010-01-22.
  9. "Flyers complete remarkable comeback to eliminate Bruins". The Sports Network. 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  10. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/frequentflyers/Flyers_trade_Gagne_to_Tampa_Bay.html
  11. "Veteran Gagne agrees to two-year, $7M deal with Kings". The Sports Network. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  12. http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/13/report-simon-gagne-underwent-surgery-to-remove-mass-from-his-neck/
  13. "Flyers acquire veteran forward Gagne from Kings for pick". The Sports Network. 2013-02-26. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  14. James O'Brien (2013-02-27). "Watch Simon Gagne score in his Return to Philly". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  15. Kalman, Matt. "Kalman: Simon Gagne An Interesting, Possibly Insignificant Addition To Bruins Mix". CBS Boston. CBS Boston. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  16. "B's Sign Gagne to a One-Year Contract; Assign Robins & Caron to Providence – Boston Bruins – News". Boston Bruins. October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  17. "Gagne will not return to Bruins". Boston Herald. 2015-01-14. Retrieved 2015-01-14.
  18. "Bruins place Simon Gagne on unconditional waivers". The Score. 2015-01-29. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
  19. "Simon Gagne announces retirement from the NHL". Philadelphia Flyers. September 15, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  20. "Philadelphia Flyer Simon Gagne welcomes son Matthew". People Magazine. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  21. "Simon Gagne player profile". NBC Sports. 2012-01-02. Archived from the original on 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  22. "Gagne leaves camp with groin injury". CTV Television Network. 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  23. "Simon Gagne wins 2012-13 Flyers Play of the Year". Philadelphia Flyers. Accessed September 22, 2016.
Preceded by
Dainius Zubrus		 Philadelphia Flyers' first round draft pick
1998		 Succeeded by
Maxime Ouellet
Preceded by
Mark Recchi		 Winner of the Bobby Clarke Trophy
2006, 2007		 Succeeded by
Mike Richards
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