Flyers reacquire Simon Gagne from Kings

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

Simon Gagne was excited enough about his return to Philadelphia that he is catching a red eye flight from Los Angeles Tuesday evening to ensure that he arrives in time to play Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals.

"I will fly all night, so it's going to be a special game, and I will try to bring all of that emotion and bring that energy to the game," Gagne said Tuesday after he was dealt by the Kings to the Flyers for a conditional fourth-round pick.

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Gagne, 32, played his first 10 NHL seasons for the Flyers, including a 47-goal campaign in 2005-06. He has spent the last two seasons in Los Angeles, where he has struggled, primarily because of injury.

After enduring offseason neck surgery, Gagne was hoping to regain his productiveness. But the Kings have used him in only 11 games, and he has been a healthy scratch for the past four.

"Health-wise I feel really good, but hockey-wise, it's a little tougher," Gagne said. "The last couple of weeks, in and out of the lineup, not playing much ... trying to understand my role with the Kings. But now that is behind me. It's time to focus on what I can do to help the Flyers to win."

Gagne said the neck surgery significantly improved his quality of life. He noticed it just playing with his kids. He even slept better.

"I've felt really good since the surgery," Gagne said. "The neck problem had been going on for quite a while. It was a tough situation the last couple of years."

Although he hasn't played since Feb. 13, he feels as if he's in game shape.

"The games I've played this year, I was feeling really good and I think it's just a matter of playing a little bit more hockey and all of that will come back," Gagne said.

He said he had considered the possibility of asking for a trade, but decided, mostly for family reasons, to allow his situation to play out for a couple of more weeks,

"They just did it in on their own, which shows you the class those guys have," Gagne said.

He has yet to score a goal this season for the Kings and finishes his stint there with 22 points in 45 games.

He did play four games for the Kings in last spring's playoffs, earning the right to have his name etched on the Stanley Cup.