[Chris]

Kim Johnsson is returning to Philadelphia.

The 29-year old defenceman has accepted his $2.2 million qualifying offer from the Flyers.

Johnsson played 80 games for the Flyers in 2003-04, posting career highs in goals (13) and points (42).

He spent 2004-05 with HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss National League, where he posted 14 points in 24 games.

Robert Esche remains the lone key Flyer yet to sign a deal with the club for 2005-06.

Johnsson will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.


Flyers sign Gagne to one-year contract

The Philadelphia Flyers have locked up a key part of their roster for next season, signing forward Simon Gagne to a one-year deal worth $2 million US.

The deal is about $25,000 US more than the qualifying offer that was extended to him last month.

Gagne, 25, has been a mainstay with the Flyers since the team selected him 22nd overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

He has 113 goals and 245 points in 354 career games.

In 2003-04, Gagne scored 45 points in 80 games and helped lead the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

His best season thus far came in 2001-2002, when he led the Flyers with 33 goals and finished second in team scoring with 66 points. Gagne was also selected to Canada's men's Olympic hockey team that year and helped lead the red and white to a gold medal in Salt Lake City.

TSN

[Jlg-28]

good to that they will be back , now we just need to get the rest of our U.F.A.'s under contract

[TonyFatt]

GREAT news. With Radivojevic and Sharp also resigned, that just leaves Esche and Seindenberg, and Somik, assuming the Flyers are planning to bring him back, which would be a good move in my opinion (cap room permitting).

[Hyperfried]

Not a bad move... Glad to hear that they're going to be back.

However, I really would've liked to see them signed to multi-year deals... It's looking like the Flyers are going to fall apart next season if their players run off after their one-year contracts expire.

[TonyFatt]

Originally posted by Hyperfried
However, I really would've liked to see them signed to multi-year deals... It's looking like the Flyers are going to fall apart next season if their players run off after their one-year contracts expire.

It seems like it's been one-year contracts all around the league. It's probably a matter of teams not wanting to commit too much money to players who might not be worth it after the year is up... even though Johnsson, at least, has proved himself. Gagne.. eh.

[Hyperfried]

This year is going to be the NHL's big year, I agree, but next year will be the year of off-season chaos.

[Forsberg2005]

i love both signing Clarke is going a great job in signing players go fylers go