Simon Gagne returns to Flyers

SIMON GAGNE was unhappy. As a consistent healthy scratch, really for the first time in his NHL career, Gagne called his agent to discuss his options.

Gagne decided to sit on it, rather than approach Kings general manager Dean Lombardi to request a trade. Maybe things would turn around, he hoped.

So, when Lombardi and former Flyer, now Kings assistant GM Ron Hextall summoned him from the locker room for a chat on Tuesday afternoon in California, Gagne was not surprised.

"When they told me the place," Gagne said, "that's when I was really excited."

That's because Gagne is coming home. The Flyers reacquired Gagne in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick, which bumps up to a third-rounder in June's draft if Philadelphia qualifies for the playoffs.

Gagne, who turns 33 on Friday, had been a healthy scratch for Los Angeles' last four games - and six times overall this season. He is expected to be in the Flyers' lineup on Wednesday night against Washington after arriving in town on a cross-country, red-eye flight.

Forward Harry Zolnierczyk, who likely will be sticking around now that Tye McGinn is out with an injury, said he would gladly vacate his No. 12 jersey in deference to Gagne.

Outsiders view Gagne as just another member of the old boys club; he's the fourth former Flyer to return this year alone, joining Ruslan Fedotenko, Mike Knuble and Brian Boucher. Hockey insiders view Gagne as healthy for the first time in a while, but simply someone who didn't fit Kings coach Darryl Sutter's plan.

The Flyers may be getting back a player with more miles on his tread than most would believe. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said Gagne can play "higher up" in the Flyers' lineup. He is the team's fourth all-time scoring left winger with 524 points in 664 games - and few can forget his playoff heroics in 2010.

"He improves our depth up front automatically," Holmgren said. "Obviously with the injury bug . . . we have some holes. We think he will add to us a lot. Simon is a guy who has a lot of experience and played in a lot of positions, penalty kill, power play and regular shifts."

Gagne said he has felt dramatically better since undergoing surgery on June 18, days after winning his first Stanley Cup with the Kings, to remove a 2-inch mass in his neck. The lump reportedly appeared years ago, possibly due to head trauma, and may have contributed to his persistent concussion-like symptoms and headaches.

Gagne said no doctor in Philadelphia or Tampa Bay was willing to operate on such a sensitive area.

"It was a tricky place to do the surgery, around the neck and close to nerves," Gagne said. "After that, I felt a difference right away. Just like normal stuff, like playing with the kids, sleeping at night. I was looking forward to starting the season and playing pretty much every game, but it was not the case. I can't wait to try it on a regular basis."

When Tye McGinn skated off the ice late in the first period Monday for repairs - his jersey was torn and his face bleeding - after chucking knuckles with Toronto's Mike Brown, no one batted an eye.

McGinn, 22, returned for the second and third periods and skated four more shifts in a tight game. When Holmgren revealed McGinn will miss "at least the next 2 weeks" with a fractured orbital bone, he raised some eyebrows.

Holmgren said McGinn's injury will "need to get fixed," implying surgery may be the next course of action. Gagne will slide into McGinn's spot on the roster.

Holmgren said the Flyers needed to move Jody Shelley to the long-term injury list on Tuesday to make room on the salary cap for Gagne's $3.5 million hit. Shelley will undergo hip surgery Wednesday in New York . . . Coach Peter Laviolette held the Flyers off the ice on Tuesday, even though they haven't practiced since Feb. 14. The team participated in a video session and meetings, where players said they discussed the razor-thin line between winning and losing.