Adieu Simon

Incredibly, it is (was) Simon Gagne who was the common denominator for the Philadelphia Flyers over the past decade. Not Lindros, not LeClair, not Primeau, nor Forsberg though -  incredibly -  Gagne played with them all.

I still remember when Gagne broke in with the Flyers back in '99. He was all of 19 at the time and heralded as a "different" kind of player, a "river skater," I think they called it then  - one who could skate and had speed and finesse - and was supposed to signal a change in the philosophy of then-Flyers GM Bob Clarke away from the physical grind it out play to a more free wheeling offense.

Gagne acquitted himself quite well. Lord knows he saw and experienced a full career with the Flyers and now at 30 he's off to Tampa.

Adieu, Simon.