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Welcome home: Flyers acquire Gagne from Los Angeles

Simon Gagne

FILE - This May 14, 2010, file photo shows Philadelphia Flyers’ Simon Gagne celebrating his go-ahead goal in the third period of Game 7 of a second-round NHL playoff hockey series against the Boston Bruins, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

AP

The Philadelphia Flyers have brought a familiar face back into the fold, acquiring Simon Gagne from Los Angeles in exchange for a conditional fourth-round draft pick.

Gagne, 32, was taken 22nd overall by Philly at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and spent his first 10 seasons there.

During his time as a Flyer, he was named to two NHL All-Star teams and twice won the Bobby Clarke Trophy as team MVP.

Gagne was also named to the NHL’s All-Rookie team in 2000.

The Flyers traded Gagne to Tampa Bay in 2010, where he posted 40 points in 63 games and 12 in 15 playoff contests as the Lightning advanced to the Eastern Conference finals.

Following his stint with the Lightning, Gagne signed a two-year, $7 million deal with the Kings.

His first year in Los Angeles was marred by injury problems -- he missed 47 regular season and 14 playoff games with a concussion, but did draw into the Stanley Cup final, playing four games en route to the first championship of his career (and first in Kings franchise history.)

After undergoing offseason surgery to remove a ‘mass’ from his neck, he declared himself healthy and headache-free.

Gagne has been in and out of the Kings lineup this season, appearing in 11 games while recording no goals and five assists. He’s been a healthy scratch in Los Angeles’ last four games (all of which were wins, coincidentally.)

This isn’t the first time the Flyers have jumped into the way-back machine and brought a familiar face into the fold. In late January the team signed veteran forward Mike Knuble, who was teammates with Gagne in Philadelphia from 2005-09.

Of note, the pick headed to Los Angeles becomes a third-rounder should Philly make the playoffs.

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