Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly.com, a longtime NHL newspaper beat writer, writes that the Philadelphia Flyers have asked Simon Gagne to waive his no-trade clause and that “it is believed” that the Kings would be interested in Gagne. I’ll add, rather firmly, that I have no confirmation of interest in Gagne on the Kings’ part, but I figured many people would be interested in the report, which adds that Gagne wouldn’t decide about the no-trade clause until after the weekend. For what it’s worth, Gagne, 30, is a former two-time 40-goal scorer with a recent history of injuries who has missed 84 games over the past three seasons. He is due $5.25 million next season, the last year of his contract.
Dean Lombardi has been silent again today. I have put in a message to him, and it remains to be seen whether or not I will hear from him tonight. If I do, you’ll certainly know about it.
At least you will get a one word answer from Dean tonight.
[Reply]
for the record…
i had a convo w/MATT GEORGE about this a few hours ago…
hmmmmm….(???)
[Reply]
No thanks, we have our own Justin Williams.
[Reply]
lv is the way Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 7:08 am
@Nyck, You hit it on the button.. Why Gagne…? Play 3-4 games get hurt and is done for the season, i say no thanks.
[Reply]
All kings fans we are all suckers,this organization knows how to spin our heads when it comes to signing big time free agents.
[Reply]
Gagne is an upgraded version of Williams. I hope this isn’t plan B
[Reply]
Jamer Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:11 pm
@JimmyShine,
No..Its Plan double Z. Everyone turns down the Kings unless no one else wants them. It’s retirement or the LA Kings…You choose!
[Reply]
Rjb Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:50 pm
@Jamer,
You are correct even Kovy with two choices The Kings or Russia would rather play in Syberia than Cali. Nice huh?
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:27 pm
@Rjb,
Not likely, he’s just using KHL for leverage to try and get DL to bid against himself. If Kovy wanted the KHL there is nothing stopping him.
flex Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 1:53 pm
@JimmyShine, ..not even upgraded.they are much the same.Hey, how about Belanger. our old body is a perfect 3d liner!!!
[Reply]
Gagné is injury prone, I don’t know if I want to give up assets for an injury prone, 30 year old who’s on an expiring contract.. I’d much rather have Kovalchuk lol
[Reply]
It is kind of funny that we’re going back to the Philly well again. Isn’t Eric Lindros available?
[Reply]
EternalOptimist Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:35 pm
@Choralone,
Maybe we should merge the 2 teams and get it over with
… Los Angeles Kingers, Flings, FlyKings?
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:12 pm
@EternalOptimist,
Hey Kings, your Flyers open…or it hoagies and gas-ex in the throne room…
[Reply]
yeah am from Montreal and i ear it to.Gagné it’s maybe the guy LA Kings need to complet Kopitar…but the Flyers maybe target a young goalie and maybe the guy is Bernier.
[Reply]
Mike L Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
@solutionchris,
In report it also says Kings aren’t trading either goalie
[Reply]
variable Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
@solutionchris,
neither jb or jq will be traded…
i believe dl is not even considering any deals involving either…
[Reply]
EternalOptimist Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
@solutionchris,
If the Flyers are asking for Bernier, then Carter has to be coming back our way.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:14 pm
@EternalOptimist,
The Flyers have a lot of talent, but I can’t think of even One player they have that I’d trade even up for JB, with the possible exception of Mike Richards, and given that he wears the C and is their franchise, I find that highly unlikely.
[Reply]
number 6 Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:15 pm
@EternalOptimist,
Oh, and yeah, they’re gonna trade a possible franchise goalie for an injury prone 30 yr old winger with one yr left on his contract?
[Reply]
Big Rob in Dallas Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:27 pm
@EternalOptimist, I’ll admit I haven’t seen a lot of Carter but what I did notice that he was a total bust in the SC Finals.
[Reply]
Is it just me or does it seem like this organization is turning in to the Flyers west…
[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:39 pm
@TVA333,
We went from Bruins West with Taylor to Flyers West DL.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:18 pm
@5thLine,
Not that Taylor is with the “Kings Midwest” (St. Louis) the Bruins can continue their relationship.
Whoever misses Stumple and Murray please raise your reply!
[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 9:09 am
@USHA#17,
Send Taylor to St. Louis to establish a new trading beachhead. Genius!!!!
WOW….Ground Earth Shattering. I wonder if I can get a tattoo removed of the Kings logo off my back.
[Reply]
Let’s see some F/A ACTION already!!! I love DL but don’t think he was given a 2yr extension to sit and watch more and more players pass us by.
[Reply]
5thLine Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:45 pm
@Dr.Gonzo,
Can you name a year that we didn’t suffer through this “sidelines syndrome”?
[Reply]
Ha. I say we should tweet Jay Grossman something that he can show Kovalchuk… like massive amounts of Kings fans tweeting him.. I’m done with this.
[Reply]
I don’t think Lombardi is dumb enough to trade our only true hope in net, for a guy that’s hurt every year. If Philly’s asking for that, hang up the phone, and get back to who we should really be talking to, Kovalchuk’s agent. Let this be the year we don’t have to settle for some banged up consolation prize. Please.
[Reply]
Not interested.
And for those that forgot already…Williams was a freaking beast early in the season before he broke his leg which wasn’t his fault.
He came back from that weeks ahead of time too so give the guy a break…not literally.
[Reply]
brandyn Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:38 pm
@Dan H.,
Agree, Williams was doing good things for the 1st line.
No joke though… we don’t need two injury prone players on one line. That’s asking for trouble.
[Reply]
RoyalPain Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:55 pm
@Dan H.,
That leg broke awfully easily. Maybe it was that soy-based milk substitute his mom fed him as a child.
[Reply]
Slapshot Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:27 pm
@Dan H., Agreed, when you you watch Williams on TV you say meh, that guy is so so. But every game I went to last year and watch him in person, he was indeed a beast and I think a lot of the fans sell him short.
[Reply]
Slapshot Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:34 pm
@Slapshot, I dont know who you are, but you are not me and you need a new name.
[Reply]
Typical Kings. Do nothing in free agency, make a 2nd tier deal or 2 and tell everyone that we are now going to win the Stanley Cup. Does anyone remember Ladislav Nagy and Tom Preissing?? Even Phx in Bankruptcy is doing more than the Kings. Come on Dean!!!
[Reply]
Slapshot Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:30 pm
@Slapshot, I dont know who you are cause you are not me, but you need a new name.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:22 pm
@Slapshot,I think this is the first time I’ve actually seen the same name used by 2 people.I’m sure it’s happened before,but that’s pretty funny.
[Reply]
What if the trade involved sending Williams and a defensive prospect in exchange for Gagne and possibly one of their defenseman (they seem to have about 9 of them with their RFAs)? Not sure about the dmen from Philly but to use an example:
Williams + prospect (Hickey? Teubert?)
for
Gagne + Carle/Coburn
Gives Philly about $5 mil in cap space and a prospect. Gives us a 1 year deal for Gagne and a 2 year deal for a dman.
Looks like the Flyers need the cap space more than we need Gagne.
Or we could just try to sign Kariya. I’m sure people here would love that move.
[Reply]
The sad thing is, we have to give up something to get him. Horrible. The body is a kinetic chain. Once injuries start creeping in…it is not a good sign considering how overcompensation comes into play, scar tissue, etc…I don’t know about Lombardi’s Plan B’s…the success rate hasn’t been too good! Isn’t Plan B suppossed to have like an 86% success rate? Or did I read that somewhere else???
[Reply]
The article says that Gagne has agreed to waive his no trade caluse, but that the deal might take the weekend to complete.
[Reply]
Williams was a beast? When was that? He was a beast at turning the puck over in the neutral zone repeatedly, but I think that’s pretty much it.
[Reply]
hipcheck34 Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 6:54 am
@Nyck, really, he was money til he broke his leg last season…..He was doing his job and doing it well…..
[Reply]
Godzilla Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 4:02 pm
@hipcheck34, Second the “beast” comment re: Williams. Skating hard, making plays in tight places – - was awesome on puck pursuit while adding creativity and flow to the #1…until the leg broke.
[Reply]
Remember with any trade you would only own Gagne for a year, then he can walk. Not worth giving up a lot for him…
[Reply]
Gagne? Are you kidding me?? Why dont they just resign Frolov? The Kings are looking for scoring but Frolov score as much if not more than Gagne, Fro is T years younger, wants less money-not by much-than Gagne makes now and Gagne is a UFA next year. Pass.
[Reply]
flex Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@Scott P, Very good point!!! Fro cost less and got more value!!!
[Reply]
gagne is a premier two way forward, I pray he is a king
[Reply]
I was discussing this with Philly posters on another board since last night. THe consensus is Gagne for Williams or Stoll (I believe Williams) + Prospect (Martin Jones). Philly needs to shed salary and we need an upgrade in scoring. I think this could be done in tandem with a Kovy signing. The net gain for us is 2.25 million I believe, and it’s only for one year. Less injury prone than Williams and more upside (Which we would be paying for.) We could afford to lose Martin Jones with the glut of netminders we have. Philly needs goalies.
Seems like a reasonable fit to me for one year. Imagine Kovy AND Gagne:
Kovy – Kopi – Simmonds/Williams
Smyth – Stoll/Richie/Schenn – Brown
Gagne – Zeus – Richardson/Simmonds
Parse/Clifford/Clune/Holloway – Schenn/Lotki/Azevedo/Cliche/Lewis/Moller/Elkins – Westgarth/Kozun
You could interchange a bunch of parts here, move young guys up to fill holes or whatever. That Left side looks pretty damn strong! Pretty amazing to look at the list of options coming up. That’s a lot of potential!
[Reply]
Great point Steve,plus Gagne’s 5 mil.. Is that what Fro wanted?Come Kings,lets make a blockbuster trade.. Go for Carter and Hartnell aswell …. FLY KINGS FLY!
[Reply]
well, if Kovi is using the KHL to keep his asking price high, maybe DL is showing his plan B in the hopes Kovi brings his price down.
[Reply]
I’m not usually one to say “I told you so”, but I suggested back before the trade deadline that the Kings might have interest in Gagne. Back then I suggested a Frolov for Gagne straight up swap. Obviously the terms would have to change now. I think he’s as good as Frolov if not better, provided he can stay healthy. But of course that’s the big “IF”. Plus of course there’s all the old Kings/Flyers connections with the coaching staff et. al. Wouldn’t shock me in the least to see Gagne in purple and black next year.
[Reply]
I just read a blog from the Delaware Daily Times and here it is:
Kinda interesting.
Daily Times beat writer Anthony J. SanFilippo takes you inside the locker rooms of the Philadelphia Flyers and the rest of the NHL.
Friday, July 2, 2010
SIMON SAYS YES TO POSSIBLE TRADE
I spoke with several NHL sources today, all of whom confirmed that the Flyers have in fact asked Simon Gagne to waive his no trade clause.
One source close to both Gagne and the Flyers confirmed that Gagne has in fact agreed to waive it.
However, no trade is imminent this weekend.
The Flyers have discussed a possible deal involving Gagne with another team – believed to be the Los Angeles Kings – and both sides have agreed to take the July 4th weekend to sleep on it and think about it.
The rationalization behind the deal appears to be so the Flyers can clear enough salary cap space to sign restricted free agents Darroll Powe and Dan Carcillo and to sign another, higher-priced goalie.
I spoke with someone who knows former Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco really well and was I was told “Turco really wants to go to Philly.”
The Flyers are looking for a veteran goalie for just 1-2 years before possibly turning the reins over to one of their young prospects.
Rumors are flying about several names from Los Angeles who could be coming back to the Flyers, but it’s likely to be a package of a player and draft picks.
I tried contacting Gagne by phone both last night and today, but was unable to reach him.
The name of James van Riemsdyk has also been mentioned in these rumors, but I have not been able to get anyone to confirm for me that he is part of any trade discussion.
[Reply]
Bryan Agee says:
July 2, 2010 at 6:41 PM
The sad thing is, we have to give up something to get him. Horrible. The body is a kinetic chain. Once injuries start creeping in…it is not a good sign considering how overcompensation comes into play, scar tissue, etc
Now I’m gonna add something here…. I may well be thought of as a bit strange in posting this, but I’m of the belief that being injury prone is not just as simple as ‘playing hockey and accidents can happen as it’s a contact game’. Of course it is, and of course accidents can happen but I for one tend to believe that certain players for certain mysterious reasons are simply more injury prone than others. When JW went down with the broken leg I felt badly for him, but I’d be lying if I said I was surprised.
[Reply]
Please, NO!
[Reply]
can we please trade for someone who isn’t a “buy low, but getting even cheaper” value? when was the last relevant season for gagne?
we’ll get teased by names like carter or van riemsdyk but in the end, we’ll end up shipping off someone like simmonds for gagne. yeah, that’s going to look great in two years when gagne has retired and simmonds is a consistent 20 goal, 150 pim guy who can play on any line.
[Reply]
SIGN KOVY ALREADY!
SIGN /TRADE if must for top 4 dmen.
They have enough youngsters that need and will get a chance to step up.
[Reply]
Great article from Philly site explaining why the Flyers would trade Gagne:
http://www.broadstreethockey.com/2010/7/1/1548416/why-the-flyers-might-trade-simon
[Reply]
Where’s Bako when we need a full injury history of Gagne. This is a bad move, and for those thinking they will take Williams, think again why would that make sense for Philly. Well maybe they think only 3.5 mil on I.R. instead of 5.25 mil, or half to buyout 3.5 mil is better than a 5.25 mil buyout? It only makes sense for us if we move Smith, Stoll, Handzus, or Williams, or multiples of the above. I like Smith and Handzus, but Smith is too big of a cap hit, and Handzus has only 1 yr left and we likely will not be able to sign him unless we move others.
Bottom line though why make trades that don’t make you stronger. Because of the 1 yr left it does help for resigning DD, JJ, WS, etc, depending on who we trade.
[Reply]
Remember Handzus’ first year? This would be Part II.
[Reply]
Gagne has missed alot of games these last few years.. He is not a uograde from Frolov, is older, one year left on contract so what is the net gain if you trade Stoll or Williams and a prospect for him? You have lost at least 20 goals in Frolov, 12-20 goals in one of the other two and throw in the prospect? He has not played a full year in over two years… He had a pretty good playoffs but does that make it worth paying 5 million for salary? Rob Scuderi has been a good pick up who had a outstanding playoff run for the Pens but we overpaid for him because we missed out on other FA D-men…Gauthier was DL taking salary to help the Flyers and got a second rd choice for that. Modry was traded to the Flyers to help there playoff run in 08 for a 3rd Rd pick(Geordie Wudrick), Randy Jones another salary dump and help for the Flyers… Give me a young player with good years ahead of him, not behind him! We have gone way beyond in helping the Flyers dump salary it’s time for them to pay up! DL has yet to trade for a player in his prime of Allstar quality … He has traded away two… Cammelleri and Visnovsky and I wonder if he every will? Get me Carter if this takes Martin Jones… The Flyers need him more than we do and by god we have given them enough help the last few years! The Isles are now rumored to be in the hunt for Kovy… Sounds like last year all over… We make our “Fair and Responsible” Offer and someone else swoops in…..Looking shakey I’d say..
[Reply]
Old Time Hockey Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:42 pm
@Mark1967, the difference in age is 2 years but a great difference in DESIRE
[Reply]
Oh no, an injury-prone player on another team being offered to the Kings? Can Lombardi help himself? God, I hope so.
[Reply]
eek. i never even though about this….as much as he is injury prone…when he does play…he produces…unlike JW. I have always loved SG, he’s a great player for sure. The thought of him in a Kings uniform makes me giddy, or maybe that’s just the 15 beer I’ve had. who knows.
[Reply]
Here are Gagnes stats
SEASON GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S%
REGULAR SEASON 58 17 23 40 -1 47 5 0 4 183 9.3
LEAGUE RANK 463RD 137TH 181ST 162ND 423RD 241ST 116TH 134TH 51ST 99TH 318TH
PLAYOFF STATS 19 9 3 12 -2 0 5 0 2 52 17.3
LEAGUE RANK 26TH 7TH 96TH 30TH 245TH 273RD 1ST 13TH 7TH 15TH 43RD
1999-2000 FLYERS 80 20 28 48 11 22 8 1 4 159 12.6
2000-2001 FLYERS 69 27 32 59 24 18 6 0 7 191 14.1
2001-2002 FLYERS 79 33 33 66 31 32 4 1 7 199 16.6
2001-2002 CANADA-OLYMPICS 6 1 3 4 0
2002-2003 FLYERS 46 9 18 27 20 16 1 1 3 115 7.8
2003-2004 FLYERS 80 24 21 45 12 29 6 0 6 211 11.4
2004-2005 CANADA-W-CUP 6 1 1 2 2 0
2004-2005 CANADA-WC-A 9 3 7 10 0
2005-2006 FLYERS 72 47 32 79 31 38 12 2 7 334 14.1
2005-2006 CANADA-OLYMPICS 6 1 2 3 6
2006-2007 FLYERS 76 41 27 68 2 30 13 2 4 291 14.1
2007-2008 FLYERS 25 7 11 18 -8 4 5 0 2 76 9.2
2008-2009 FLYERS 79 34 40 74 21 42 12 4 3 221 15.4
2009-2010 FLYERS 58 17 23 40 -1 47 5 0 4 183 9.3
GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW Shots
NHL TOTALS 664 259 265 524 143 278 72 11 47 1,980
SKATERS: GP G A +/- Pts
M. Richards 82 31 31 -2 62
J. Carter 74 33 28 2 61
C. Pronger 82 10 45 22 55
D. Briere 75 26 27 -2 53
C. Giroux 82 16 31 -9 47
S. Hartnell 81 14 30 -6 44
S. Gagne 58 17 23 -1 40
K. Timonen 82 6 33 -2 39
J. van Riemsdyk 78 15 20 -1 35
M. Carle 80 6 29 19 35
Here’s Fro’s stats
Russia-WJC-A 7 6 2 8 4
2002-2003 Kings 79 14 17 31 12 34 1 0 3 141
9.9
2002-2003 Russia-WC-A 7 3 2 5 6
2003-2004 Kings 77 24 24 48 8 24 5 2 3 168
14.3
2003-2004 Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod-Russia 1 0 0 0 0
2004-2005 Russia-W-Cup 4 0 2 2 0 2
2004-2005 CSKA Moscow-Russia 42 20 17 37 10
2004-2005 Dynamo Moscow-Russia 6 2 1 3 2
2005-2006 Kings 69 21 33 54 17 40 4 3 4 174
12.1
2005-2006 Russia-Olympics 3 0 1 1 0
2006-2007 Kings 82 35 36 71 -8 34 10 1 6 195
17.9
2006-2007 Russia-WC-A 9 5 6 11 0
2007-2008 Kings 71 23 44 67 1 22 5 0 7 160
14.4
2008-2009 Kings 77 32 27 59 -6 30 12 1 1 176
18.2
2008-2009 Russia-WC-A 7 3 1 4 2
2009-2010 Kings 81 19 32 51 -1 26 5 0 1 182
10.4
GP G A P +/-PIM PP SH GW Shots
NHL TOTALS 536 168 213 381 23 210 42 7 25 1,196
I’m not saying DL should rush out and get him BUT I think he’d fill the bill better then Fro and I liked Fro. BTW they already have his name off of the Kings roster yet they haven’t removed Jones, Halpern or Modin. Now that is very interesting.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:39 pm
@Old Time Hockey,
Gagne is not worth 5 mil period. He hasn’t done squat since 2006. This would be a terrible deal.
[Reply]
Old Time Hockey Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 9:53 am
@KC23, Well they paid Smyth 6Mil, I think Gagne is an upgrade from Fro and I think that DL could get him for less, but also look who the goto guy was for Philly during the playoffs besides Richards. He would really help us.
[Reply]
I have no problem with Gagne, did nobody see how he played on both ends of the ice in the finals. He was great for the Flyers. The Flyers need to dump salary and if Van Remsdyke (pretty sure I destroyed that name) is added in even better. He is only 20 or so and has a ton of upside. We can swing this deal and still sign Kovi. If you look at all the free agents New Jersey signed plus they have Parise as a RFA and he isnt going to be cheap you would realize that honestly the Kings are they only real contender. The Islanders are intrested in Kovi and if they offer him over 100 million he might go there but then we would see his true colors and know for a fact that he isnt intrested in winning he is only looking for the big bucks and do we really want somebody who is just out for the money and has no intrest in contending for the Cup. It has only been two day people, relax about not getting anything done right away, DL cant force him to sign a contract and he sure as hell isnt going to break the bank and ruin all the years of rebuilding for one guy.
[Reply]
Old Time Hockey Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 9:55 am
@Corey, thank you, at least someone else sees the same player I saw.
[Reply]
This is interesting! It looks like a spanish telenovela!
I wonder if the timing of the leaks re Gagne’s NTC & Isles offer to Kov were coincidental or if certain parties are trying to gain leverage? via dtolensky
Greetings from Slovenia
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:50 am
@Klemen,
Kovy didn’t take the same deal from Atlanta so why would he for the Islanders … an even worse franchise.
I dar him to take that deal. He would get rich, but never win squat in the NHL if he went to the Islanders.
[Reply]
Here we go again picking up someone elses trash (and a Flyer to boot). Forget this guy and get somebody decent please! I’m tired of this broken record. We pay for damaged junk just to say we got a few players, trade away legitimate players for said junk, and then pass up on a full-fleged legitimate scorer in the prime of his life??? Last person out of this vicious nightmare please turn on the lights.
[Reply]
According to Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly.com, the 30-year old forward has agreed to waive his no trade clause. There is reportedly no deal imminent.
Hee is link:http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=326408
[Reply]
Hey Rich Hoffman,
The rumors are getting more ridiculous while we wait for Kovi to sign.
[Reply]
how cool will this be ? KOBE, KOPI, KOVI = )
[Reply]
I want to compete for the cup this year, but if it is not there lets not roll the dice unless we are dumping something we don’t want in the exchange. I would also not mind if it is a clear salary dump like JR where we get a 2nd round draft pick as I believe Gagne has way more heart than JR.
[Reply]
The Flyers would never give up their 2nd overall pick VanRiemsdyk in trade unless it was Bernier coming back.
Also, Philly doesn’t want the Kings garbage any more than the Kings fans want ours. I’d love to get rid of Briere’s contract after he had a big playoff, thus at highest value, but nobody will take it.
Gagne is injury prone but still a top notch two way forward and a clutch goal scorer. Given he is UFA the cost to obtain him goes down. A lot of Flyers fans would prefer to keep him but to dump salary he is the natural choice to move.
[Reply]