Saturday, October 23, 2010

Lightning Without Gagne on Friday

It's been a tough start to the season for Lightning forward Simon Gagne and it got just a little more difficult with a stiff neck and being a bit under the weather. Gagne did not play in Tampa Bay's 5-2 victory over Atlanta on Friday night because of these ailments and is currently just considered to be out day-to-day for the moment.

Gagne has failed to register a point in the first six games of the season for the Lightning, which has to be considered a pretty big disappointment, since he was thought to be one of the better pick-ups by Lightning GM Steve Yzerman in the off-season.

Gagne is shooting the puck, but he has found little success early on, but if he is to find any success, he'll have to keep on shooting and good things should start to happen.

ImplicationsIn the draft, Gagne was taken in the 3rd round by Dale B., 58th overall.  Those are some pretty high expectations for a guy who only managed to pick up 40 points in 2010, thanks in large part to injuries.

Dale is currently sitting in 12th place with 50 points, 21 points behind 1st place already in this young season and will need Gagne to return to help climb the ladder a bit.  Dale's forwards are 19th in the pool in scoring with only 23 points this year, but he is being helped out by a decent defense and good goaltending tandem to start the year, so his front eight just need to step up here soon.

Link to the Injury/News Page

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