Simon says …: Simon Gagne and the Flyers will thrive under the tutelage of their new defensive-minded coach

Hockey Digest, Jan, 2003 by Tom Worgo

SIMON GAGNE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT who his coach will be if the Philadelphia Flyers struggle during the regular season or experience another first-round playoff exit.

Flyers management insists Ken Hitchcock will be around for at least a few seasons, no matter what happens--and that's fine with Gagne.

After all, he's played for a different head coach in each of his first four NHL seasons, starting with Roger Neilson, followed by Craig Ramsay, then Bill Barber, and now Hitchcock.

But Gagne thinks Hitchcock is a keeper and he's glad he'll have the chance to get to know him better than his previous coaches.

Gagne and Hitchcock were familiar with each other even before Hitchcock took the Flyers job. Their relationship started back during the Salt Lake City Olympic games, when Hitchcock, serving as an associate coach for Team Canada, helped guide Gagne and his teammates to the gold medal.

Hitchcock says he liked what he saw from Gagne in the tournament. Gagne was impressed with Hitchcock, too.

"It was a great experience," Gagne says of the Olympics. "When I heard [Hitchcock] was coming here, I was happy. He will be a coach that will stay around for a long time, and each year I will get better in his system."

Hitchcock's philosophy emphasizes defense, but that's OK with the high-scoring Gagne. He's been a solid two-way player since entering the NHL in 1999.

Gagne learned to play tough defense in Major Juniors and he doesn't think he will have a problem thriving under Hitchcock, who steered the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup in 1999.

"He wants us to play a tight game and play very well defensively," Gagne says. "I think that is good. If you play well defensively, that means you have stopped the other team and you'll get plenty of chances to score some goals. It's great and I like it."

Hitchcock seems to have an affinity for Gagne. He thinks the 6'0", 175-pound Gagne can emerge as a perennial All-Star. Gagne's point totals have increased every year he's been in the league, going from 48 to 59 to 66. He's scored at least 20 goals in each of his first three years.

Even with the presence of established stars John LeClair, Jeremy Roenick, Mark Recchi, and Keith Prime. au, Gagne led Philadelphia in goals last season with 33. Not a bad accomplishment considering he did not turn 22 until February.

Indeed, Gagne has made quite a mark in his short career. How many other players in league history have scored two goals in their first NHL All-Star game and been an impact player for their country in the Olympics all before their 22nd birthday?

"I think he has the potential to turn into one of the most complete players in the league," Hitchcock says. "He is an impact player like [Calgary's Jarome] Iginla. He is one of those unique guys.

"I always thought Simon played well beyond his years. He is so mature. He is 22, but he plays like he is 30. He doesn't panic under pressure. He doesn't get nervous in critical times."

Gagne's poise certainly showed in Salt Lake City in February. Gagne played big and earned a spot on a line with Colorado's Joe Sakic and Iginla.

The group helped Canada to its first gold medal in 50 years and Gagne played as well as anybody on Team Canada.

"The first day I was on the fourth line and I wasn't sure of I was going to play in the first game," Gagne says. "But it was great when they gave me a chance to play with Sakic and Iginla. We played well and we gave us a better chance to win the gold."

Hitchcock says succinctly of the Sakic-Iginla-Gagne line: "That was our best line in the tournament." That's high praise indeed considering another line featured Paul Kariya, Mario Lemieux, and Steve Yzerman.

Philadelphia's new coach predicts Gagne will improve on his career-high numbers from last season. "I think you will see a more consistent run throughout the season from him," Hitchcock says. "With the Olympics and everything last year, I think there was overuse. There was tiredness toward the end of the season. We played the heck out of him with Team Canada."

While Gagne performed at an All-Star level last year, but he was left off the North American team. He made the 2001 squad, however, and scored two goals in the contest, including the game-winner. He was the youngest player in the All-Star Game that year in Denver.

That season, Gagne didn't experience the sophomore jinx like so many other players. He finished with 27 goals (second on the team) and 32 assists in 2000-01, ranking second on the Flyers in game-winning goals, with seven.

As a rookie, Gagne totaled 20 goals and 28 assists en route to a spot on the league's All-Rookie team. As one of the Flyers' best forwards in the playoffs, he helped the team reach the Eastern Conference finals.

"He just keeps getting better and better," Flyers general manager Bob Clarke says. "At his age, he is certainly one of the best young players in the league. If his development continues, he will be a star in the league."

Gague played center in juniors with Quebec and Beauport in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, showing enough potential to justify the Flyers selection of him in the first round of the 1998 draft.