Is it related to his May 28 hip surgery? "I'm not sure," Holmgren said. "That's what we're trying to get to the bottom of. He just doesn't feel right."
Holmgren said he "doesn't think anyone is sure" if it is Gagne's groin or hip, or a totally unrelated injury.
Gagne went for an ultrasound on his hip and groin area yesterday afternoon. Holmgren said last night that the Flyers would know more from the tests today. That makes Gagne doubtful for tonight's tilt with Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals in Washington.
Holmgren initially thought it was a strength issue that plagued Gagne, since he missed time working out this summer with his rehab schedule.
With the words Holmgren chose yesterday, though, one couldn't help but wonder whether the GM - who fought through more than a few injuries during his playing career - was calling Gagne soft.
"I look at him sometimes and I think he looks fine," Holmgren said. "For whatever reason, he's got some issues. We're trying to get to the bottom of it.
"I think we've hit a stumbling block here. We need to get to the bottom of it for Simon's own good and find out where he's at. Hopefully we can find something that's wrong."
Quality time
Life on the road usually isn't fun. But the Flyers' annual father-son bonding trip is one that the players actually look forward to taking.
Most of the Flyers' fathers flew in from the far corners of the globe - Anchorage, Alaska, forMatt Carle's father, Bob - to watch their sons take on Florida and San Jose last weekend and travel to Washington with the team for tonight's game.
"Since he is from back in Alaska, I don't get to see him often," Matt Carle said. "It's nice to see family when you can.
"We make the commitment all year long, so we don't get to see them too often. When your parents come around, you always want to play better."
