Los Angeles Kings to keep Simon Gagne out of line-up for Stanley Cup Finals -NHL Playoffs Update
After an announcement before the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Finals were to kick off that he was healthy and cleared for contact, veteran left winger, Simon Gagne, got some disappointing news for Game 1 as Los Angeles Kings head coach,
Darryl Sutter, decided not to play the man.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals between Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils was intense, but the Kings prevailed with a 2-1 victory in overtime and now seeing the way they play against Devils, it is close to impossible that LA would want to disturb
their line-up by adding Gagne.
Gagne has been out of form since December 26 of 2011 after taking a hit during a matchup against Toronto Maple Leafs, giving him a severe concussion.
"It's going to take something for me to get in," Gagne said. "If we win four in a row, it might not happen. I am not going to wish anything bad."
As reporters continued to ask coach Sutter about Gagne’s condition and whether or not he will be putting him back into the line-up anytime soon, the coach gave a mixed answer.
"I'm not answering that question again about Simon," Sutter said. "Cleared for contact, cleared for practice, travelling with the team. So there won't be any further update on that one because, quite honestly, the answer's the same. I don't know how to answer
it, right? You tell the truth or don't say nothing."
If Los Angeles Kings decide to keep Gagne out for the remainder of the series, this will the players first time not playing in a postseason since 2008-2009 as he went in numerous times with his original draft team, the Philadelphia Flyers and last time with
Tampa Bay Lightning.
There is no doubt in Gagne’s capability as he was one of the top contributors for Tampa Bay and Philadelphia in the past two playoffs with 12 points in each. Last year, Gagne was a major factor in Lightning making it to the Eastern Conference Finals, and
now after losing him to Los Angeles, Tampa Bay failed to make the postseason at all.
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