Eastern Conferemce Eye Candy: Simon Gagné (Philadelphia Flyers)

I feel the need to include a little "disclaimer" to begin this post since I'm a Penguins fan (and reside in southwestern PA) which means it's in my DNA to have a strong-seeded hatred for the Philadelphia Flyers; however, this is where I push childish ideations aside and try hard to be neutral so that I can provide all of you with the widest variety of hotness throughout the league and allow you to make up your own minds. It's a hard job, but someone has to do it!!
; P

HOCKEY FACTOR:
Simon Gagné is currently the "longest serving player" on the Philadelphia Flyers roster. He was invited to play with the team after attending his first training camp with the Flyers following the 1998 Entry Draft when he was chosen as the organization's first round pick (22nd overall). That same year, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie team and eventually earned a spot on the top line. During his career with Philadelphia, he's appeared in two NHL All-Star games and earned two Bobby Clarke trophies (team MVP). He's currently one of Philly's alternate captains and his contract was extended this past off-season making him worth $25 million through 5 years; however, he's been out of the lineup since the beginning of November after having surgery to repair tears in his abdominal wall along with a small hernia and is expected to be out for 3-5 weeks.

He represented Canada and helped them win silver medals at the 1999 World Junior Championship and 2005 World Championships, and gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics (being the youngest member on the team at age 22) and 2004 World Cup Championships.

HOTNESS FACTOR:
Gagné is a husband and father. He was married in 2004 and his wife, Karine, gave birth to the couple's first child this past July; a boy they named Matthew.

"It feels like a dream," Gagne said. "I don't know if I really realize it yet. I got home with my wife and the baby on Tuesday morning. So I got to spend like 1 day with them at the house."This is where you start to realize that you are going to have a family, and you are going to be a father when the baby comes back to the house."

Simon chooses to raise money for charity through the "Simon Gagné Golf Tournament" which is held in Ste. Foy, Quebec and has raised over $200,000 for the past eight years benefiting kids with Leukemia.

He's really into sports cars and owns a really sweet yellow Lamborghini Gallardo.

Nicknames: Gags, 'The Kid,' Sim

FAVORITES:

• video game - Guitar Hero for Playstation 3
• restaurant - Capital Grille and Buddakan (in Philly)
• TV shows - Entourage and Lost
• band / music - Metallica
• movie - "Old School"