LA Kings hoping free agent Gagne can regain form

Simon Gagne, who spent his first decade in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, has agreed to join the Los Angeles Kings. The two-time all-star Gagne will make an average of $3.5 million per season over two years with the Kings, who failed to land Dallas forward Brad Richards earlier in the day. The 31-year-old Canadian became a free agent after spending his first 10 National Hockey League seasons with the Flyers, where he scored at least 20 goals seven times, and one season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Kings will be his third team in three years. Philadelphia traded him last year to Tampa Bay, where he finished with just 17 goals in 63 games. He stepped up his play in the playoffs, getting five goals and 12 points in 15 post-season games for the Lightning. Gagne, a two-time Olympian, has been hobbled by injuries in the past few seasons. He has missed playing time with several concussions, a serious groin injury and a neck injury. The Kings are trying to add offence to their lineup after trading away several key players in the past few weeks, including last year's world junior MVP Brayden Schenn to Philadelphia and two-time Olympic forward Ryan Smyth. Smyth had asked to be traded back to the Edmonton Oilers, where he began his NHL career. The Kings scored a division low 219 goals last season.