Gagne looks forward to his return to Philly
When the NHL released its schedule in the summer, the first thing Simon Gagne did was check to see when his new team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, would be playing in South Philadelphia.
He wanted to know when he was going home.
"Going back to Philly will be special," Gagne said the other day, referring to Thursday's game against his former teammates at the Wells Fargo Center.
In his 11 years with the Flyers, Gagne was a special player. He is among the franchise leaders in games (664, seventh), goals (259, ninth), and points (524, 10th).
And he was at his heroic best in last season's playoffs.
Gagne scored the game-winner in the historic seventh-game comeback against Boston - after needing crutches to walk earlier in the conference semifinals. It was one of nine goals he scored in an improbable playoff run that reached the Stanley Cup Finals.
So, yes, expect the popular and humble left winger to receive a hero's welcome when he returns Thursday in a No. 12 Lightning uniform. He was traded to Tampa Bay in July.
"Simon's a class act, well-liked by the fans and the organization," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said after Wednesday's practice in Voorhees. "I'm sure he'll get a warm reception - until he scores."
Flyers center Danny Briere compared the situation to Donovan McNabb's recent return to Philadelphia with the Washington Redskins.
Briere predicted Gagne would "get a great reaction when he's announced. Once the game starts, it's a different story. A little bit like McNabb," he said. "When he came back, he got a great reception. But once we're playing, it's another game and they're passionate and they want to win. Totally understandable. I'd expect the same kind of reaction."
Gagne, 30, whose Voorhees home is being rented by Laviolette for three years, said Thursday's return will be emotional.
"I spent 11 years there, and 11 years in one life is a lot," he said. "And it's not just the 11 years. I started my career there. I was a rookie there. When I left home for the first time, I went to Philly and it became my second home.
"Going back is going to be weird. . . . It's going to be tough to make sure I go to the left side and the locker room where we're supposed to be and not the Flyers' locker room," joked Gagne, who had another reunion of sorts Wednesday with several of his relatives at the game in Montreal, near his hometown. "At the same time, I'm looking forward to seeing all the people who work in the [Wells Fargo] Center and being able to say hello to them."
Gagne "had a lot of good years here, and what he did last year in the playoffs - coming back from his broken foot and scoring all those game-winning goals for us," goalie Brian Boucher said. "I'm sure the fans will be very appreciative of him."
Flyers winger Scott Hartnell expects Gagne to receive nothing but cheers.
"I think the fans know that he wanted to stay; it was more of a cap issue, and that's why he had to go," Hartnell said.
Gagne is playing on a line with Vinny Lecavalier and Ryan Malone. An unrestricted free agent after this season, he said he hoped to have a long tenure in Tampa.
His career with the Flyers will be showcased on the video board during the first period Thursday. Gagne was surprised to hear about the tribute.
"I'm glad they're going to do it early in the game, though," he said. "That way I can enjoy it for a moment and then focus on the game the rest of the way."
Breakaways. Defenseman Matt Walker, acquired in the Gagne trade, took part in Wednesday's practice but said he would not be in Thursday's lineup. Walker visited a hip/groin specialist Tuesday, and general manager Paul Holmgren said he would know more about his condition in a few days. "I got twisted up when I was flailing around in one of those ugly [preseason] bouts," said Walker, who doesn't think he will have to go on the long-term injured list. . . . Fourth-line center Blair Betts, one of the team's top penalty killers, missed practice for the second day in a row, but Holmgren said he could be available Thursday. If he doesn't play, Darroll Powe will move to center and Andreas Nodl figures to play right wing. . . . Laviolette would not commit to his goalie, but Boucher is expected to start against Tampa, with Sergei Bobrovsky likely getting the call Saturday against Pittsburgh. The Flyers changed Saturday's starting time from 7 to 6 p.m. to accommodate traffic to the Phillies' 7:57 p.m. playoff game at Citizens Bank Park and so fans could watch at least part of both games.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter/BroadStBull.
