THE TWO lasting memories of being a Flyer, in Simon Gagne's mind, are pretty fitting ones, mostly because of the way they bookend his significant time in Philadelphia.
The first, he told reporters on a conference call Friday, was his rookie season. The 1999-2000 season, a year after the Flyers selected the Quebec native 22nd overall, saw the Flyers fall one game short of reaching the Stanley Cup final.
But Gagne scored 20 goals and tallied 28 assists that season, turning 20 in February. He remembers being the young guy on a team with Eric Lindros, John Leclair, Mark Recchi, Eric Desjardins and others.