Did Simon Gagne just say what I think he said?
by Travis Hughes on Sep 10, 2010 12:59 PM EDT
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PrintI might be hearing things. It's possible. That's why I need you all to correct me if I am.
There's this video up on the official site of the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's of Simon Gagne, arriving at their practice facility at some point this week. He's speaking with the media, they're asking him questions like "why did you want to come to Tampa?" even though, despite waiving a no-trade clause, it's pretty obvious he didn't have a choice, etc etc.
But dumb questions from the media isn't the point of this post. Here's where I need some help: watch the interview with me. It's difficult to stomach (especially for some of you) but you might just be rewarded with some hope and optimism (okay, probably not) at the end of it.
Simon does seem genuinely excited to be in Florida, and really, despite the fact that he's not playing in his adoptive home city anymore, there is reason to be excited about joining the Lightning. He lists all the reasons: playing with Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, the new coach, the new ownership, Steve Yzerman making things happen.
There are reasons to be excited.
But you and I both heard what he said in there, right? At around the 1:05 mark, Simon almost makes a point of saying "I'm looking forward to playing one season with those guys." And the last words out of his mouth at the end of the interview were "I think it's going to be fun to spend one year in Florida."
Okay, so maybe we're reading into this too much. (And don't for a second think that this means Gagne is coming back, because that bridge seems burned at this point.) His contract expires at the end of this season and he'll be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. But okay, picture this:
Chris Pronger, talking with the media on draft day in 2009. He's just been traded to the Flyers. Speaking with the media, he says "I'm looking forward to spending one season with the Flyers." Not only does he say it once, but he says it twice. This town would have freaked out.
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He can’t really plan on anything though… not until he’s offered a new contract. In case he does get an offer, naturally.
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.
But these guys always say something like “I hope to be in town for the rest of my career blah blah blah” when talking to the media. Simon just kind of says it a few times without even being pressed on the subject. That’s why its strange to me… it’s not like he says “oh well, I don’t have a contract so we’ll see what happens.” Nobody’s talking about his contract and he still makes a point of saying it… twice.
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by Travis Hughes on Sep 10, 2010 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I see your points. But I’m trying not to read into it much. I don’t want to build some hopes and then have them crushed down. Plus, nobody can tell what’s Sim really thinking and the fact he’s a Frenchie probably also have some role in this too…
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.
You see that type of diction a lot with people who speak French as their first language — they’re sometimes more precise than “this [season]”. Having said that…yeah, I agree that the inflection sounds like he doesn’t expect/want to be there for more than a season.
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My first thought seeing this was that it could be a francophone thing. I wouldn’t rule it out.
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by James Mirtle on Sep 10, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
English ‘a’ = French ‘un’
English ‘one’ = French ‘un’
Not unreasonable to think a primary French speaker wouldn’t understand the subtlety and nuance separating the number one and the article for one.
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He’s been speaking english for at least 10 years. Its not like he just started.
by tmurder on Sep 10, 2010 6:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I honestly think he says “one season” and “one year” because he simply doesn’t know what’s going to happen after the season when his contract expires. I wish he would come back to Philly, I hope you all learned that about me already… But I don’t see it happening. I don’t see Simon coming back. Not if Holmgren is at the helm. And if he’s not coming back to the Flyers, I wholeheartedly hope he stays in Tampa. Any other place is basically unacceptable for me.
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.
I’m sorry to say that I could see the Habs throwing some money at him, even though he’s not really strong on wanting to play there. Gags in a Habs uni might make me gag.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
Gags in a Habs uni makes Simon want to gag. I don’t want to say it will never happen, but I’m saying he’s less likely than Briere was to end up there.
That does make me want to gag too, Gags in a Habs uniform. I know he grew up a Nordiques fan so it would be like one of us getting signed by the Devils.
We’ll see what happens though, I’m not going to read into this much, but if next July 1 rolls around and he is a UFA we’ll all be talking about him coming back here.
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by Lindbergh 31 on Sep 10, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d find it hilarious, as he’d be taller than half of their team.
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by Kevin Sellathamby on Sep 10, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Good catch Travis.
Should I be excited? No, probably not. But it’s definitely interesting that he says it twice.
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by Geoff Detweiler on Sep 10, 2010 1:24 PM EDT reply actions
Does anyone speak French?
Because I know in German “one” is eins and “a” is some variation of ein, which can be easily confused when going from German to English.
Does anyone know if it is a similar situation between French and English? This may help explain his suggestive choice of words.
Google says that French translation of “a” and “one” is the same.
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.
“Un” or “une” is “one” in French, while “à” mean “in” or “to” in French. http://www.google.com/dictionary?langpair=fr%7Cen&q=a&hl=en&aq=f
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by Cassie McClellan on Sep 10, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Thx Cassie… another reason to not read into it much.
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.
Oh, he may intend to be there only one season – you never know – but it’s also only September. A whole lot can happen in six months or so. He may change his mind completely, whether he’s intending to stay or leave right now. So just because of that, I’m not sure how seriously anyone can take that even if he did say “one” year.
If Vinny isn't going back to play in Québec, then Québec is coming to play with Vinny. Tampa Bay Lightning 2010-2011.
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by Cassie McClellan on Sep 10, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly, Cassie, exactly. Even if it really was his intent to point it out, if he really is planning on staying for one season, he’s thinking it NOW. As you said, a lot can happen.
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.
Also, “an” is “year” in French.
If Vinny isn't going back to play in Québec, then Québec is coming to play with Vinny. Tampa Bay Lightning 2010-2011.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Sep 10, 2010 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
SERIOUSLY. When the fuck does October get here?
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by hintzy64 on Sep 12, 2010 11:22 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You got some good points guys but I just wanna add my 2 cents. There are numerous rumors that Quebec might have a team as soon as next years. Gagne often said that he would love to play with the Nordiques. And he is also very close with Patrick Roy who a lot of people think is going to be the GM and/or the HC of the team. Maybe he knows things that we don’t. Of course it’s a bunch rumors but you don’t know how much I would like to see Gagne play in Quebec again.
While I don’t doubt that Simon would love to play for any future Nordique incarnation, he wouldn’t be stressing one year for that reason, because Quebec at least a few years away.
i agree that those rumors are hard to believe but Quebec got all the stars align. We have an owner in Pierre-Karl Peladeau, a media mogul in quebec that got the right for a sports only t.v. channel who said yesterday that he got enough money in his budget for a team but not for a team and an arena. The city of Quebec and the province announce that they will put for about 250 millions in a arena, and we’re waiting on the federal government for the rest of the money. I could write a fifty page long text on why the government needs to put the money but let’s say it’s mainly because of future olympics and how important is Quebec city for the Conservator if they want to be re-elected.
So by January, a new arena will most likely be announce and it will take from 2 to 3 years to build it, but a lot of people said the new team can play during the construction in the old building.
I’m not saying it will happen for sure, I’m just saying that it might happen.
Oh, I’d love a team in Quebec again. I’d make that road trip every year. I was merely saying it won’t effect Gagne’s contract for next year.
Interested to hear your thoughts on the arena financing. The people in Edmonton are up in arms at the possibility of the federal government funding an arena in Quebec after saying no to Edmonton, especially because it seems like fairly obvious political pandering.
When he was traded didn’t he say that it was important for him to go to a team with cap space so he can sign a long-term deal?
Anyways this means that I can dream of him possibly coming back next year although it probably won’t happen.
Possibly could have been said in the heat of the moment since he, like so many other Flyers, have been cap casualties in the past few years.
Being a Flyer isn’t just a job as I understand it; it gets in the blood. You belong to us, Simon. Don’t fight the power. /bwahahahaha
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I HATE YOU HOLMGREN!
I’m sorry… I had to let it out again. It’s been nearly two months, though it hurts still the same. I just want Simon to be happy… :’(
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.
I interpret this to mean even after this season and then after signing for 3 or 4 more seasons, he will, in total, at the end of 4 or 5 seasons really only play one total season. As has been the case here.
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I LOL’d
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by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Sep 12, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Call me a Debbie Downer, but I would not read anything into this
As mentioned above, Simon Gagne is French-Canadian and the French word for a and one is the same thing, “un” or “une” (depending on whether the noun it is next to is masculine or feminine), meaning “one.” I don’t want to say this is something lost in translation, but to someone whose 1st language is French, the difference between “a” and “one” is non-existent. Also, it is no secret that Simon Gagne only has 1 year left on his contract. Assuming there is nothing in the works for an extension, Gagne can only really say he is looking forward to spending one year in Tampa Bay.
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by Justin F. on Sep 10, 2010 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
My thoughts exactly.
But I had hoped (and still do) that Homer made a deal with Gagne to bring him back after this season. I just don’t see the logic for Gagne to waive his no trade clause to play in Tampa when he’s got no family there, no real connections, and never played in warm weather year round after essentially a lifetime of living in cold weather during hockey season. Playing with Vinny and Marty would be good for him but I doubt that would be enough to make him waive his NTC and go from a team like ours to a team like Tampa voluntarily when the decision is his so to speak. Just my .02 worth.
What about the threat of being put on waivers? That wouldn’t make you think things over and say “well, I’d rather waive my NTC and pick a team I want to go to, then be on the waivers.”? As well having Yzerman as GM, being on a team that obviously has no cap issues, appealing coaching stuff. That are definitely pros.
go from a team like ours to a team like Tampa voluntarily when the decision is his
You’re not really serious with this, are you?
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.
This sums up how I feel about Simon Gagne. I hope that we can bring him back at the deadline or something like that. I know it probably won’t happen but still. He should have been a lifer.
Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.
What’s that? I’m too afraid to click on it… I’m kinda over sensitive today… eh.
I love the Lightning AND the Flyers... go ahead, preach me!
Dare to follow my childish, biased, petty and cheesy alter ego.
American Cheese, B!tch! ... #1 mission? Kill Holmgren.
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Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.
by KreiderDesigns on Sep 10, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I still wish it would happen too, but my pessimism on that front starts with this interview with Boruk, where Boruk specifically asked him whether he might be able to come back in a year as a UFA. If you didn’t see this when it was on Sportnite originally, it’s around the 2:10 mark. But who knows what could have changed in the meantime, everything could be different.
by DragonGirl0583 on Sep 10, 2010 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Tampa is going to take a wait and see before they offer any kind of contract. Great numbers could result in a good offer but Hedman and Stamkos contracts are also up.
I dunno
Even if he meant one season. Brind’Amour said that he wanted to be out of Carolina as fast as possible when he was first sent there yeah?
Simon Gagne may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home, but at the end of the day, he will always be a Philadelphia Flyer.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Sep 10, 2010 9:44 PM EDT reply actions
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