PHILADELPHIA
(Ticker) -- The Philadelphia
Flyers today signed 19-year-old center Simon Gagne, their
first-round pick in 1998, to a three-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Gagne was the 22nd-overall pick by the Flyers two years ago
after recording 30 goals and 39 assists in 53 games in the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Last season, he had 50 goals,
70 assists and a plus-53 rating in 61 games in the QMJHL.
"Simon is a very talented player and probably one of the
top prospects in Canadian junior hockey right now," Flyers
general manager Bob Clarke said. "He has the potential to
play in the NHL in
the very near future. He has a chance of making our club this
season."
Gagne is a native of Ste. Foy, Quebec. He was a member of the
silver medal-winning Canadian national team in the 1999 World
Junior Championships.
