INSIDE HOCKEY

With the season coming to an abrupt end earlier this week, the Flyers indeed have their share of work to do this summer. The biggest problem they need to address? Consistency. For the past few years, the Flyers have struggled greatly playing their game every night.

The second problem that I’ve noticed? Defensive players. The Flyers were one of the best teams offensively this season, having six players score at least 25 goals; the only team in the league to do so. Normally, that will equal an unbelievable season in which a team goes deep into the playoffs.

However, the Flyers struggled greatly on defense, were often susceptible to odd man rushes due to lack of back checking by capable forwards.

A defensive forward is one of the most underrated aspects of a hockey club. Just ask Detroit Red Wings’ forward Pavel Datsyuk, who has won the Selke Trophy as the league’s premier defensive forward multiple times, and is nominated for it again this season. He is usually known for his high points production, yet it is often his defensive play that leads to the scoring chances.

Now how does all this tie back to Simon Gagne, that fan favorite, comeback player of the year (in many opinions) who contributed greatly on the offensive side of the puck?

Well there is your answer right there. He contributed on the offensive side of the puck. That’s it.

Seeing Gagne play hard, tough, physical defense is like the spotting of a rare white whale; it does not happen often.

This was very noticeable in the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gagne was often seen gliding back to the defensive zone while players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and others who Gagne was often matched against raced towards Marty Biron, often scoring. This is not to say that Gagne was fully to blame, but how many times do you see someone like Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, or John Madden race back to their defensive zone to help their defenders in stopping an opposing team’s scoring chance?

Simon Gagne is also not a great team player. If you have ever been in the Flyers’ locker room after practices, you will see this immediately. Almost always the first one off the ice, the first one into the showers, and the first one into his hot-rod Lamborghini on his way home.

While players joke around, talking to the media, sharing some laughs with their closest teammates, Gagne seems to have no interest in speaking to anyone. While most players make it a game to play basketball using their equipment as the ball and the laundry basket in the center of the room as the net, Gagne balls his up, and dunks it angrily like Shaq (although not nearly as entertaining).

Almost symbolically, goaltender Marty Biron sits on one side of the locker room, half dressed and cracking jokes with the media, while directly across from him sits Gagne, getting undressed quickly, almost annoyed when someone comes to talk to him. He answers questions briefly, as quickly as possible, as opposed to others, who stop what they are doing and take the time to personalize their answer for you.

You want to make Gagne more of a team player?

Get rid of him.

He currently has a no trade clause, but it is rumored that he would be willing to waive that clause for a trade to the Montreal Canadiens. “I don’t think we’re at that point yet,” claimed GM Paul Holmgren today, regarding moving a player with a no trade clause. But since when has a general manager told you what he truly wants to do?

Along with his attitude and fair play, Gagne would also be taking with him his lucrative contract, that deal that averages $5.25 million per year. Seeing how the Flyers already have cap problems to begin with, and seeing that the Canadiens have some room (and were also making a move for a game-changing forward a few years ago when they attempted to sign Daniel Briere), it seems only fitting for Gagne to go back to his home province.

Possibilities?

The Flyers have two dire needs: a shutdown defenseman and a franchise goalie. The Canadiens have both of these. Mike Komisarek, an all-star defensive defenseman, is making less than $2 million per year, while Jaroslav Halak, the backup goalie who is only on the bench because of Carey Price, is making less than $1 million per year. Put that together, the Flyers save almost $3 million in cap space, and perhaps even get rid of the need to re-sign Martin Biron, who is making $3.5 million himself.

Trading Gagne for a shutdown defenseman and a bona fide starting goalie could only bring good things. The Flyers have great offensive talent in the wings in Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk, while Jared Ross proved he can be a consistent third or fourth liner in the NHL. By trading Gagne, the Flyers will be ridding themselves of a cancer on the team, they will be bringing in new talent that is much needed, and they will be clearing enough cap space to perhaps sign one more player.

It’s only a matter of time.