Hartnell: Hard to see Gagne go
Daily News Flyers blog
Hartnell: Hard to see Gagne go
Dealing with the recent trade of Simon Gagne to Tampa Bay will be an adjustment for all the Flyers.
Because Gagne was the longest tenured player on the team, none of his teammates know what life as a Flyer is like without him.
“It was hard to see him go," Scott Hartnell said today at a clinic for the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. "He’s been here for so long. He’s done a lot for the city. Gags put the puck in the net and everything else. But it is part of the business with the salary cap issues. I know if we could have squeezed him in, I’m sure Homer (Paul Holmgren) would have done it. It will be weird seeing him in a Tampa Bay uniform next year. It won’t be fun playing against him. Pucks will be in the corner and he and I will be going after it and hopefully I will be able to come up with it instead of him.”
The loss of Gagne is not the only change. The Flyers have actively collected defenseman this offseason.
"What our defense did for us last year in taking us to the [Stanley Cup] final, to add a couple more guys in that department is very good," Hartnell said. "There is nothing wrong with having too many defensemen. It will be interesting to see what happens and who is in the line-up. But it will make for a good training camp and will make it very competitive out there. It should be fun.”
Hartnell took part in on-ice demontrations and drills with children at the Skate Zone in Northeast Philadelphia.
"These kids love to play hockey," Hartnell said. "Twenty years ago this would have been me out there in these summer camps having fun. It is just a great feeling being able to give something back.”
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words of wisdom from a drunk.— TwinkleToes- Comment removed.
@ cduran Just how many games have you played in the National Hockey League ? I played . . i know it's so hard to make it that far . . . Show alittle respect . . Hartnell plays in the best league in the world . . for one of the better teams in the league and all you can do is Rip him . . luv to see how long you'd stay on your skates after a Big hit !— ingy9
CanNOT wait till October!...but yeah, it was hard to see Gags go. He's a true Flyer.- Where the heck can I get that orange hoody? I've been looking for it since the finals...they don't have it on the flyers website— pucky88
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- It was hard for me to see Holmgren take back Matt Walker's 1.7 mill cap hit in exchange for Gagne.— duffers
- cduran I won't ' shut up ' I never said he's the best player . . . but someone who makes it that far deserves some respect . And you should know how hard it is to play in the NHL !— ingy9
- Homer should have traded for Cliff Lee. He could have played center and both wings simultaneously and filled in as a clear-the-crease D-man. He also could have replaced Brian Westbrook, Sonny Jorgenson, Greg Luzinski and World B. Free, and rebuilt the Civic Center and JFK stadium with nothing but a spork from Taco Bell.— DiTurno
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- Hartnell was actually there to get skating lessons from Darrol Powe.— AreaMan
- Cduran . . . You wish you made 4.2 mil . for playing hockey . . a fun game . . So telling someone to ' shut up ' is all in jest ? Geez when ya said ' shut up ' i didn't know you were joking . . ok ha ha . . ha . . now i get it . . . your Hilarious !— ingy9
hartnell makes the 2011 all star team and competes in the fastest skater competition, wins it, then leads the league in scoring before winning the conn symthe trophy for being the best forward in the playoffs, ever. he finishes his career win san jose in 2019 before coaching the flyers to back to back stanley cups in 2027 - 28. two banners hangs from the rafters at the snyder arena for his achievements as a player and coach. he goes down in history as the most prolific flyer in history.- Comment removed.
