New Lightning forward Simon Gagne appreciative of Ryan Malone’s gesture

Posted Sep 13, 2010 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Sep 13, 2010 at 05:58 PM

Everything regarding Simon Gagne’s existence right now is all about newness.

New city. New practice facility. New locker stall. New teammates. New training staff. New home.

Everywhere Gagne looks right now offers up the unfamiliar, save one – his jersey.

On the back of Gagne’s helmet on Monday, and above his locker stall on his name plate, is his old standby – No. 12, the number he has worn not only throughout his 11-year career with the Philadelphia Flyers, but since he was a kid growing up in Quebec.

When Gagne was traded to Tampa Bay, that number belonged to Ryan Malone and Gagne was willing to transpose the numbers and wear No. 21. But after Malone spoke with head equipment manager Ray Thill following the trade, Malone said he was willing to give the jersey number to Gagne.

“Just to see that act from a player that I played against for so many years, but never really met, it just shows the class of the guy,’’ Gagne said of Malone. “I hear a lot of great things about him, and just by giving No. 12 away shows what kind of a person he is.’’

Malone, who instead will wear No. 6 this season, didn’t ask for anything from Gagne in return for giving up his number, although Gagne said a meal on the road at some point during the season is on his list of things to pay back the favor.

“I said we’re happy to have him on the team,” Malone said. “He’s done some great things with that number and it was time for a change for myself, I thought, so it was no problem at all. I just said with open arms, ‘Come join the team.’ “

For Gagne it was a welcomed welcome to his new team.

“That’s a good start, coming in here to a new place, never having met the guy or met anyone here, it just shows the welcome right away,’’ he said.