Thread: Why is Gagne not playing?

Originally Posted by Brown23

I said to my wife yesterday that I don't get why the Kings haven't, yet, if ever, trade Gagne already. He is a player that is taking up room on the team. At the most Gagne for a low draft pick. Saves the remaining of the $3.5M of Gagne's contract this season that the Kings owe him.

I don't think Gagne is a bad player, it is just that he hasn't been given a clean opportunity, other than last year at the early part of the year, when he had his one and only real chance to play.

I love to see Gagne/Richards/Carter play on a line together.

Gagne proved valuable in the playoffs, and last year the Kings were lucky and blessed enough not to suffer any injuries. There may not be room for both Penner and Gagne now, but what happens if Brown/Carter/Williams/Lewis or any of the top wingers gets injured or traded? The Kings need depth and if they can afford all of their players under the salary cap, you let it ride.

I vaguely recall that Gagne WAS the injury in the playoffs. That said, I wouldn't trade him for that very reason above, so we have the top-6 depth. Not even for a defenseman, because although we are down half our defense, once everyone comes back we are going to have a glut of defensemen and I would hate for Scuderi to not be re-signed because of it.

Gagne showed up for the last 4 games of the Finals and was a 4th line player contributing an average of 8 minutes a game. He scored no goals, had no assists and was a -1.

His contract is up at the end of the year.
He's carrying a $3.5 Million Cap Hit that will be used to give Slava Voynov a raise next season.

I don't wish any ill will on the guy... but I don't care if he plays another minute as a member of the Los Angeles Kings so long as the Kings keep winning.

The Los Angeles Kings are 3-0-0 since Simon Gagne last played.

I fail to see the problem.

Originally Posted by Dr. Naysay

Gagne showed up for the last 4 games of the Finals and was a 4th line player contributing an average of 8 minutes a game. He scored no goals, had no assists and was a -1.

His contract is up at the end of the year.
He's carrying a $3.5 Million Cap Hit that will be used to give Slava Voynov a raise next season.

I don't wish any ill will on the guy... but I don't care if he plays another minute as a member of the Los Angeles Kings so long as the Kings keep winning.

The Los Angeles Kings are 3-0-0 since Simon Gagne last played.

I fail to see the problem.

Yep - agree 100%. Gagne is not the same player he used to be. The skills are still there, but he does not want to get dirty in the corners and make the extra plays any more. It's gotta change you when you have all those concussions. Watching back the New Jersey series, he was pretty much a non-factor the entire time. I would prefer keeping Penner over him. When Penner is really asserting himself, he is such a big, strong force and can make some pretty nifty passes too.

Give Voynov the raise when Gagne goes UFA and give one of the young guys from Manchester a chance to fill in the forward slot. I'm betting you that Toffoli or Vey get time up here next year. My guess is Toffoli because of the goal scoring touch and the lack of a center spot opening.

It pisses me off to see his name on the Cup instead of Loktionov's.

You guys are doing it wrong. You're supposed to be complaining about irrelevant players when we're LOSING, not winning.

Gagne is giving a great effort, but he still doesn't have chemistry with anyone. He could be a 2nd liner on some other teams but we need penner in there. Gagne will be gone next season to make room for slavas and penners raise.

Originally Posted by Mr.Hockey 2.0

Gagne will be gone next season to make room for slavas and penners raise.

I don't think Penner is getting a raise. I think Penner and Gagne are leaving so that Voynov, Clifford and Lewis can all get raises.

Originally Posted by Dr. Naysay

I don't think Penner is getting a raise. I think Penner and Gagne are leaving so that Voynov, Clifford and Lewis can all get raises.

+1 for that, throw in Richardson as well and that's almost $7m in cap space freed up, pay raises plus bring in some fresh blood.