Longtime Flyer Gagne Traded to Tampa Bay

Philly gets defenseman, pick for winger

The Flyers traded longtime Fly Guy Simon Gagne to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team confirmed Monday afternoon.

The Flyers got 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman Matt Walker and a 4th Round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft from the Lightning.

Gagne was the longest-tenured player in Orange and Black. The Flyers drafted him in the first round in 1998. By the 1999-2000 season the Quebec native was a regular on the Flyers' wing.

He would go on to represent the Flyers in two All-Star games. His best season came in 2005-2006 when he scored 47 points and added 32 assists.

TSN cites Gagne's $5M-plus salary in the last year of his current deal as a huge factor in the trade. Walker made just under $1.3 million last season.

But general manager Paul Holmgren claimed it was a defensive move.

"This was a move to solidify our defense," said Holmgren. "Walker is a right shot defenseman that we like. He brings size, grit and toughness to our backend."

"Gagne played 10 seasons for the Flyers and was not only a good player for us, but also handled himself in a first class manner on and off the ice," added Holmgren.

Simon was a star in Philly -- he is ninth on the Orange and Black's scoring list with 524 points (259 goals, 265 assists) in 664 games.

He also was tough. He returned from a broken toe quicker than expected in time to bail out the Flyers in Game 5 of the Boston series comeback in the 2010 playoffs.

"I'm very excited right now," Gagne said. "I'm looking at this opportunity as a new challenge and a new start. Tampa Bay was a team I was more than willing to waive my no-move clause."

Walker, who posted just five points in 66 games last season, was happy to be headed to Philly.

"My initial reaction was pure excitement," said Walker. "To find out that I was coming to Philly, I don’t know if I would say it was a life-long dream, but I’ve always wanted to play in Philly and I thought I would be a good fit there."

Gagne's departure leaves Jeff Carter and Mike Richards as the longest-tenured Fly Guys.


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