Fantasy Impact: The Philadelphia Flyers have reacquired winger Simon Gagne from the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional fourth-round draft pick.

The Flyers get: A skilled winger whose talent has eroded due to relentless injuries to his body – most recently his neck, foot, groin, shoulder, not to mention a pretty serious concussion. The neck/concussion injuries are of greater concern. But when he does play, with the right linemates he can definitely contribute.

The Kings get: A conditional draft pick for an asset that they weren’t using.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Obviously, Gagne getting back into games helps his fantasy value. He’s been scratched six times this year, including the last four games. When he did play, he averaged about 13 or 14 minutes of ice time in a defense-first system. His production (five points in 11 games) for the Kings is actually eighth on the team among forwards – pretty good, considering he was scratched six times. His last season with the Flyers was three years ago, and saw him tally 40 points in 58 games. His best season since leaving the Flyers was 40 points in 63 games. He turns 33 in a couple of days, which is still young enough to produce at that level. With 27 games left on the schedule, assume he will be healthy enough to play 22 of them and tally 15 or 16 points – with an early ‘hot streak’ to kick off his grand return (adrenalin). 

Here are the line combinations that the Flyers used last game (to see line combos for all teams from last game, click here):

#1 25.9% BRIERE,DANIEL – SCHENN,BRAYDEN – SIMMONDS,WAYNE
#2 25% GIROUX,CLAUDE – HARTNELL,SCOTT – VORACEK,JAKUB
#3 18.8% COUTURIER,SEAN – RINALDO,ZAC – TALBOT,MAXIME
#4 6.7% FEDOTENKO,RUSLAN – KNUBLE,MICHAEL – MCGINN,TYE

The first two lines are etched in stone, so look for Gagne to slot into Rinaldo’s spot – and Rinaldo will knock Knuble out of the lineup. The upgrade in skill should have the ripple effect of helping Sean Couturier.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Gagne

2. Couturier

3. Dustin Penner (this should keep him in the lineup more often)

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order: 

1. Knuble