SCORES TWICE AFTER A PUCK TO THE FACE
Say goodbye to Simon Gagne for a while.
And maybe, just maybe, say hello again to Randy Jones.
Gagne was placed on the injured-reserve list and will miss at least 10 games and 24 days with two hernias.
Jones was placed on re-entry waivers, and if no one claims him by noon Thursday, he will rejoin the Flyers. He had been sent to the AHL Adirondack Phantoms in a cap move last month.
As for Gagne, the Flyers’ orthopedic surgeon, Peter DeLuca, says the left winger needs surgery. Gagne, however, will get a second opinion from his doctor in Montreal Thursday.
"Once he sees what’s concluded, we’ll move forward,” GM Paul Holmgren said.
In the last four years, Gagne has had three surgeries in the groin/hip area.
“I don’t think it is going to hurt to make sure that we get a second opinion and make sure we all see the same thing in Montreal that we do here in Philly,” Gagne said. “We just want to do this to make sure it isn’t something else.”
Gagne will be examined Thursday by Dr. Rey Brown, who has performed groin surgery on the winger in the past.
Asked about Gagne’s recovery time if the surgery is performed, Holmgren said, “I don’t know and neither does the doctor until he actually gets in there.”
Holmgren reiterated that he has no interest in signing free-agent left winger Brendan Shanahan and that, for now, no one will be recalled from the Phantoms.
Center Blair Betts is expected to return from a shoulder injury Saturday. That would give the Flyers a forward who, in effect, would replace Gagne.
Jones makes $3 million a year. Teams can claim him for half his $2.75 million cap hit.
If no one claims him, his cap hit will be absorbed by the Flyers.
Gagne’s $5.25 million salary doesn’t count against the cap while he’s on the long-term injured list, opening room for Jones’ salary.
If Jones rejoins the team, a spot held by Danny Syvret or Ole-Kristian Tollefsen will be in jeopardy.
_ Sam Carchidi
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