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5 Philadelphia Flyers Legends Who Would Dominate Today’s NHL

By Jonathan Bailey

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 14: Former Philadelphia Flyer Kimmo Timonen is honored prior to the game between the Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks prior to their game at the Wells Fargo Center on October 14, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 14: Former Philadelphia Flyer Kimmo Timonen is honored prior to the game between the Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks prior to their game at the Wells Fargo Center on October 14, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 04: Simon Gagne #12 of the Philadelphia Flyers fights for position against Brent Seabrook #7 and Antti Niemi #31 of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Four of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Wachovia Center on June 4, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – JUNE 04: Simon Gagne #12 of the Philadelphia Flyers fights for position against Brent Seabrook #7 and Antti Niemi #31 of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Four of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Wachovia Center on June 4, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Simon Gagné

Like John LeClair, Simon Gagné’s body did him no favors, especially late in his career. Still, the long-time Flyer was a terror to play against at both ends of the ice and particularly excelled at finishing his chances.

Gagné is the only player on this list to have started his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers, but something all five players have in common is that they played the best hockey of their careers in Orange and Black. The well-disciplined and highly versatile Gagné finally broke out of his shell in the 2005-06 season when he scored 47 goals and 79 points in only 72 games, and followed that campaign up with another 41 goals in 76 games in 2006-07.

Despite his best efforts, the Quebecois talisman wasn’t able to bring a Stanley Cup back to Philly, but did manage to do so for the Los Angeles Kings in an extremely brief season-and-a-half out west. However, during his time on the Flyers, Gagné twice won gold medals representing Canada – once in the 2004 World Cup and once in the 2002 Winter Olympics.

After 11 years and 691 regular season games, Gagné had built a reputation for himself as an extremely well-rounded player. The 6’1″ winger had received Lady Byng votes on six different occasions in his career, and also placed in the top-15 of Selke voting twice. With 264 goals and 535 points as a Flyer, Gagné would never have a 20-goal season again and failed to receive votes for any award after leaving Philly in 2010.

Gagné managed to play in just 131 regular season games in his four years post-Flyers, but it’s safe to say the team would love to have him back in his prime as they aim to return to the playoffs. Jeff Carter is the only player to have scored 40 or more goals in a season for the Flyers since Gagné in 2006-07.

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