On an indefinite leave of absence from the Bruins to attend to his ailing father since Dec. 10, Simon Gagne has informed the Boston Bruins that he will not be returning to the club this season.
In 23 games with the Bruins, Gagne skated primarily on Boston’s fourth line, and scored three goals on 27 shots, added an assist, and picked up four minutes in penalties.
His departure from the club came shortly after the word that his father, Pierre Gagne, had an incurable form of cancer. Unfortunately, Pierre Gagne lost his battle with cancer in late December, and on Monday, Gagne made first his statement since.
“The last month has been extremely difficult for me with my father being sick and his passing,… said the 34-year-old Gagne, who signed a one-year contract worth $600,00 with the B’s back in October. “To play in the NHL you have to be 100% mentally, emotionally and physically committed to the game. At this time I know that I cannot be close to those levels.
“The Bruins organization and my teammates have been great to my family and I during this time. When I decided not to return this season, I spoke to Peter and assured him that I did not want the organization or my teammates to be impacted. Together we made the decision that my status would be changed so that the team could have a full active roster. In addition, I would like to thank the fans and the NHL family for all of the support that they have given my family and I during this difficult time – it has truly meant a lot.…
To properly handle Gagne’s absence, Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli will change Gagne’s status to ‘suspended player’, thus freeing up his $600,000 cap hit.
Over the past month, the Bruins have handled Gagne’s absence with internal options from Providence -- including Jordan Caron, Craig Cunningham and even Seth Griffith -- and will likely continue to roll with Caron and Cunningham, both of whom have games that suit the Bruins’ wants for their fourth-line. In two games since his last recall, the 24-year-old Caron has not struck with a point, but has one shot, a blocked shot, two hits, and one fighting (read as: hugging) major, while Cunningham has seemingly cemented his status as a fourth-line energy player/penalty killer for the Bruins as of late.
Hockey is clearly the last thing on Gagne’s mind, and for obvious reasons, but you have to wonder if this is the end of the NHL road for him. The Bruins took a flier on the former 22nd overall pick after a year-long sabbatical from hockey, and there’s seemingly little left for No. 12 to prove at this level.
Gagne has scored 291 goals and 601 points in 822 NHL games.