With the 22nd pick of the 1998 NHL entry draft, the Philadelphia Flyers selected Simon Gagne. From there on, Gagne was a fan favorite, an All-Star, a clutch playoff performer and a leader.
He spent parts of 11 seasons in the Orange and Black and after 14 years in the NHL decided to retire. The Flyers will honor Gagne tonight prior to their game with the Los Angeles Kings.
Join us as we take a look back at his remarkable career.
Gagne made the team out of training camp prior to the 1999-2000 season. As a rookie, he scored 20 goals and registered 28 assists in 80 regular season games en route to being named to the All-Rookie team. He would chip in five goals and five assists during Philadelphia's run to the Eastern Conference Finals that season.
Over the next three years, Gagne would make his first All-Star team, where he scored two goals including the game-winner, be hampered by a groin injury and score one of the most memorable goals of his career in Game 6 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals.
Following the lockout season of 2004-05, the Flyers had a makeover of sorts. Gagne became counted on as point producer and was teamed up with Peter Forsberg and Mike Knuble. The trio became known as the "Deuces Wild" line.
That first season with Forsberg proved to be his best statistical season as a pro. He scored a career high 47 goals and 79 points on his way to winning the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the Flyers team MVP. He backed that up with a 41-goal, 68-point effort the following year to earn his second All-Star nod and second consecutive Clarke Trophy.
He played just 25 games in 2007-08 before being shut down for the year due to injury.
The 2008-09 season was another solid one. He scored 34 goals and 74 points in 79 games. The next season was again marred by injuries but he managed to score 40 points in 58 games. It was in the playoffs that he cemented his legacy forever.
Gagne was injured in the first-round series with New Jersey and did not play in the first three games of the conference semifinals as the Flyers fell into a 3-0 hole to the Boston Bruins. He returned for Game 4 and scored the overtime winner to give Philadelphia life.
He backed that up with two goals in Game 5, an assist in Game 6 and the series-clinching goal in Game 7 as the Flyers came all the way back to win the series, 4-3, on their way to the Stanley Cup Final.
The following year, Gagne was traded to Tampa where he spent one season before moving to Los Angeles. Reunited with former Flyers teammates Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, he helped lead the Kings to the Stanley Cup.
Midway through the lockout shortened 2012-13 season, he was traded back to Philadelphia. Never one to disappoint, he scored in his first game back on home ice. He posted 11 points in 27 games that year.
Gagne took a year off and was then given a tryout contract with the Boston Bruins at the start of last season. He scored just four points in 23 games before leaving the team to tend to his sick father. Gagne would never return.
In all, he scored 291 goals and 601 points during his 14 year career. He added 59 points in 109 post season games.
For the Flyers, Gagne ranks 10th in games played, ninth in goals, 10th in points, ninth in even strength goals, tied for 10th in both power play and shorthanded goals, sixth in game winning goals and seventh in shots.
He will forever be remembered as one of the greats in Flyers history. One day his name will be in the rafters at Wells Fargo Center as a member of the Flyers Hall of Fame. He played hurt, he played big in big situations and played hard.
For me, there was no better name ever said by Lou Nolan. Thankfully we will get hear it again at least one more time tonight.
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074.
