Flyers Deal Simon Gagne to Tampa Bay for Matt Walker, Draft Pick

[Philly Reign]

The season hasn't begun yet, people. Tampa is stacking up their front lines pretty friggin well. Maybe by the tail end of the off season they grab an enforcer or two. So all this "Tampa's all talent and no grit" talk doesn't mean a damn thing until Week 1.

[Philly Fan 27]

sucks to see gagne go. he's always been a hard working player at both ends of the ice for the orange and black, he'll most certainly be missed. obvious salary dump, and w/ free agency next year moving gagne made the most sense.

homer really likes the scrappy guys, huh? when i heard he was sent to the bolts i assumed the flyers got smith back. i wonder how the d pairings will look next year.

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

Good lord, Stevie Y robs Philly blind.

Just a salary dump. If anyone beleived they were getting something worth huge value was dreaming. He is a 30 year old injury prone winger with 1 year remaining on his contract.

I hope he plays well for Tampa but there was no room for him here.

Simon Gagne will be missed... until June when we win the Cup.

Zheredev, Giroux, and JVR will pick up the goal void left by Gagne.

It's a good trade for the Flyers because they had to get rid of him and be grateful they didn't get a pu#sy Ruskie in return, rather a badass mother****er.

[Cat Smasher]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

I hope he plays well for Atlanta but there was no room for him here.

I hope he plays great for Tampa.

[DaleHunter32]

OMG

the flyers get their 42nd defensemen this off season and a 4th.....


philly must have really wanted this guy gone, win tb, the guy is only 30

[dp]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

Good lord, Stevie Y robs Philly blind.

And I don't think it would take much to sign McGratton to enforce.

Sign Andy Sutton for some more grit and they might be ok.

[full force five]

Originally Posted by Shockadelica

Simon Gagne will be missed... until June when we win the Cup.

Zheredev, Giroux, and JVR will pick up the goal void left by Gagne.

It's a good trade for the Flyers because they had to get rid of him and be grateful they didn't get a pu#sy Ruskie in return, rather a badass mother****er.

What about Lenno as well. He was awesome in the playoffs. Philly is crazy deep at forward!

[Active Stick]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Does this leave Nate Thompson as the only resident tough anything in Tampa?

There's Mitch Fritz but who knows if he'll see any time with the big club or not. Plus, if they were going to go that route they might as well just sign McGratton because he can skate better and is a proven top tier heavy.

[bupz91]

Sad to see him go, good to see us get Walker back. I find it hard to believe they couldn't have gotten anyone better for him, but I guess they just needed cap relief. I'll miss you Simon!

[RetardedChimp]

Walker was someone that Flyers were rumored to try and pick up last season, but was a little too costly.

Flyers had to move Gagne, and other teams knew that, so this return is probably one of the only ones they could have got for him. The Flyers now have two legit heavyweights that are likely to suit up for most if not all games. Combined with the rest of the team, they are tough as sh*t this season.

[TwentyOneKords]

Originally Posted by flyersrule

2x for that matter. im not sure what is worse, the meszaros deal or this deal.

If you look at things objectively it all makes sense. From what I heard there was a very real chance of having to put Gags on waivers. Getting Walker and a pick is fine by me. It was a needed salary dump and Homer still managed to get something back.

Gagne was the longest tenured Flyer and he will never have to pay for a meal or drink in this town again. We love him. That said, as far as I know he never managed a full season without injury, and truth be told if he gets hit the wrong way he will have to deal with the concussion thing all over again. You'd never know it by the way he finished out last year with a ton of heart, but the facts are the facts.

The Meszaros deal is a risk worth taking. It's not like no one has a clue what he's capable of, he has put up numbers. If he plays to his potential he is well worth the money. He was on a ****ty team and this is a fresh start with leadership that won't let him dog it.

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

Good lord, Stevie Y robs Philly blind.

Yeah. Stevie Y went to a hospital and kidnapped the most athletic paraplegic.

[canuckfan]

You know, I really like this trade for Tampa - Gagne is going to be a solid pickup for them. He'll either be an excellent fit beside Stamkos or may help rejeuvenate Lecavalier. If he can stay healthy, he could have a real positive impact on this team.

I can understand the concern regarding the lack of toughness for Bolts fans - but there are still plenty of options that are available out there and you have to believe thats an issue Yzerman will be looking to address as the summer goes on. But the way I see it, Tampa's top 6 forward core is looking pretty good, and the Flyers have quietly put together a physical and tough looking lineup while freeing up some cap space. Interesting deal....

[T800m101]

Volchenkov must be happy , that's two less times a year he has to worry about Gagne.