Simon “Gags” Gagne, 31, a forward for the Los Angeles Kings, was born on February 29, 1980 in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada.  He became a member of the Kings organization on July 2, 2011, after signing a two-year contract worth $7 million. 

“I believe that the Kings are just getting better and better every year,” Gagne told kings.nhl.com, “and those young guys are just getting better and better too.  So that’s why, when I had some choices between teams, that the Kings were at the top of the list, because they’re a team where I know good stuff is going to happen for the next two years.”

Gagne began his professional hockey career with the Philadelphia Flyers after the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.  He played for the Flyers until summer 2010 when he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 6-foot-1, 193-pound left-winger played 63 games with the Lightning, with 17 goals and 23 assists.  

Gagne played in the 2001 and 2007 NHL All-Star Games and was slated to play in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics on Team Canada, but had to leave the 2009 summer camp due to a groin injury.

He was awarded the Bobby Clarke Trophy, which is given to the Flyers’ MVP after the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 season.  He also won the Toyota Cup, which is awarded to the Flyer with the most three star selections, three times: the 2001-2002, 2005-2006, 2006-2007 seasons.  In the 2000-2001 season, Gagne received the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial, given to the Flyers’ most improved player.

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