Simon Gagne announces retirement after 14 NHL seasons
Simon Gagne has announced his retirement from after 14 NHL seasons.
“Today, I want to thank my trainers and teammates,” Gagne wrote in a statement. “You inspired me to surpass myself. You made me understand that you need more than talent; it takes sacrifice and discipline and you need to work harder than your rivals. I also wish to thank my fans. Every evening, you energized me and inspired me to perform.”
Gagne finishes his career with 291 goals, 601 points, two All-Star appearances, one Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal, one World Cup of Hockey title and silvers from the World Junior Championships and World Championships.
After 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Gagne was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010 and later signed with the Los Angeles Kings in the summer of 2011. He would play four games during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs as LA won their first Cup. He was traded back to the Flyers in Feb. 2013 and scored in his triumphant return to Philadelphia:
Gagne did not play in the 2013-14 season, but returned a year later after making the Boston Bruins through a tryout contract. He played 23 games for the club, but in late January he announced he would not return to the team following the death of his father. He had taken a leave of absence in December to be with his ailing dad.
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“Last year, I lost my father: my number 1 fan, my coach, my confidant, my best friend, and my top teammate,” Gagne wrote. “The hard knocks of life often teach us to stop, think and look back at the road traveled, so that we can make the right decisions going forward. Today, I am hanging up my skates, calmly and with peace of mind, knowing that it is the right time and the right decision.”
A fan favorite, two highlights that will live on in the minds of Flyers fans are the goals Gagne scored during their historic 2010 playoff comeback against the Bruins:
The Game 4 overtime winner to avoid a sweep:
And the third period go-ahead goal in Game 7:
Farewell, Simon.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
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