Gagne on LTI; Jones to Re-entry Waivers

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

By Tim Panaccio
CSNphilly.com

Flyers left wing Simon Gagne has been placed on long-term injury, allowing the club to place defenseman Randy Jones on re-entry waivers from the Phantoms.

Gagne has two hernias in his right groin that require surgical repair. He is traveling to Montreal to get a second opinion from orthopedic specialists David Mulder and Rea Brown of Montreal General Hospital, who performed previous surgeries on Gagne’s lower right side.

"We just want to[go to Montreal] to make sure that it isn’t something else," Gagne said. "For now, we know it is two hernias that need to be fixed. We will find out a little bit more tomorrow."

 LTI requires that a player miss at least 10 games and 24 days.

“When we loaned Randy, it was a cap issue, and with Simon going on long-term, we don’t have as many cap issues,” general manager Paul Holmgren told CSNPhilly.com Wednesday.

Jones was exiled to the Phantoms so the Flyers could sign Blair Betts, plus carry James van Riemsdyk and Mika Pyorala on their opening night roster.

Jones’ $3 million salary will go back on the books, though his cap hit is $2.75 million – if he clears and is added to the roster. The earliest he could rejoin the club for practice is Friday. his $3 million salary is back on the books, though his cap hit is $2.75 million

“Randy can help us a little bit; that’s why we are doing this,” Holmgren said.

Later, during a conference call, Holmgren said he met with team orthopedic surgeon Peter DeLuca and trainer Jim McCrossin to discuss Gagne’s condition. DeLuca recommended surgery and Gagne concurred, adding he still wanted another opinion.

“Once we see what is concluded after receiving a second opinion, we will proceed with our game plan to have the double hernia fixed surgically,” Holmgren said. “Unless something comes back totally different, there are no other options. These need to be fixed.”

No timetable will be announced until after surgery, Holmgren said.

Both hernias are in the same area where Gagne has been complaining of pain, Holmgren said, adding that rest doesn’t do “any good.”

The Flyers are not expecting to know until Thursday, at the earliest, the particulars on when and the where surgery will be performed and by whom.

"I have had three surgeries in the past four years in the same area," Gagne said. "I had the hip done twice and the groin surgery, the sport hernia. ... I don’t think it is going to hurt to make sure that we get a second opinion and make sure that we all see the same thing in Montreal that we do here in Philly." 

Holmgren said he sees Betts (dislocated right shoulder ), who could be activated by the weekend, as helping the club out, rather than calling up a player from the Phantoms or signing a player via free agency. There is no interest in Brendan Shanahan.

Ryan Parent, who has what is believed to be a groin pull, is also expected to play this weekend against Carolina.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net