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Bruins to try out Gagne at training camp

Simon Gagne, Tuukka Rask

Philadelphia Flyers’ Simon Gagne, right, scores a goal past Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, of Finland, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 5-2. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

AP

Under some serious salary cap limitations, the Boston Bruins could take out a flyer on an old rival to round out their forward corps. The team extended a training camp tryout invitation to Simon Gagne, according to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie and the Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin.

Some might be a little surprised that Gagne is only 34, as he’s dealt with the sort of concussion issues that seem to age a player.

Gagne also sat out the 2013-14 season thanks to a lack of interest after splitting the 2012-13 campaign between the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers. He managed 16 points in 38 games that season and was similarly limited in 2011-12 with Los Angeles (17 points in 34 contests), but he’s not that far removed from being one of the league’s most prolific snipers.

At least, he’s not that far removed from those glory days as far as the Bruins are concerned. Factoring in Marc Savard’s soon-to-be negated $4.03 million cap hit, the Bruins have a bit more than $3 million to allocate to RFAs Torey Krug and Reilly Smith. Taking a look at Gagne and potentially giving him a bargain deal makes a lot of sense from the Bruins’ perspective, especially since they can pass after testing the veteran winger out in training camp.

Naturally, this also opens the door for the odd sight of seeing Gagne in a Bruins uniform.

The long-time Philadelphia Flyers forward scored his fair share of goals against the B’s, with some of the most painful ones coming during Philly’s historic comeback from an 0-3 deficit in the 2010 postseason. This one may still sting for some Bruins fans:

Obviously, Gagne hasn’t shown that game-breaking form in quite some time, but the Bruins might just benefit from a little veteran forward insurance. Unlike that video above, it can’t hurt to at least take a look, right?

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins