Simon Gagne has a few words of encouragement for Flyers fans that have seen R.J. Umberger, Jason Smith and Sami Kapanen fly away from Philadelphia to play elsewhere next season.

"The way I look at it, I might be the free agent the Flyers signed this year," Gagne said. "I wasn't a big part of the team last year and I want to be a big part this season."

Gagne said the concussions symptoms that kept him out of all but 25 games last season are completely gone, thanks to an innovative injection therapy called prolotherapy.

Beginning in April, Gagne, 28, underwent a series of anesthetic injections in his neck, head, shoulders, pelvis and back and was encouraged enough to seriously consider returning to the Flyers' lineup if they had made it past the Pittsburgh Penguins and into the Stanley Cup Finals.

He now receives treatments once a month and may continue the therapy through the season.

Gagne has also stepped up his offseason training regimen. At the advice of teammate Daniel Briere, he is working once a week with Hugo Girard, a five-time winner of Canada's Strongest Man competition.

Briere began working with Girard in 2001 and Gagne decided to try the rigorous program this summer. Girard, who is best known for pulling an 80-ton Boeing 737, stands 6-foot-2, 330 pounds and has a 62-inch chest, a 33-inch waist and 22-inch biceps.

Under Girard's direction, Gagne has hurled tires and has run 30-yard sprints while carrying bags of sand.

"It has really helped with my balance and foot quickness," Gagne said. "I'm in better shape now than before I got hurt."

That is precisely what Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren was hoping for when he met with Gagne during individual meetings at the end of last season.

"Simon's taking his conditioning a little more seriously," Holmgren said. "He's changed his diet and he has set new parameters for himself. He's pushing himself to the max."

A two-time 40-goal scorer, Gagne said he's anxious to get back on the ice next month to see the results of his summer therapy. Gagne is likely to return to a top line with Briere at center and either Joffrey Lupul, Mike Knuble or rookie Claude Giroux on the right wing.

"The first few days of training camp are going to be huge for him," Holmgren said. "I'm more excited for him than I am concerned."

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