Leaf of the Day - Jan 20, 2009 - Simon Gamache

Jan 20, 2009 - Simon Gamache

Simon was picked up by JFJ prior to last season as something of a reclamation project.  He'd had some NHL experience with Atlanta and the Leafs were picking up bodies wherever they could find them, hoping to catch a break with at least one.  (This is kind of reminiscent of the Jays' search for a fourth and fifth starter a couple of seasons back.  That didn't work either.)

His Leaf career got off to a flying start.  A goal and an assist in his first game, followed by points in his next two.  Looked like the Leafs had themselves a keeper.

Those were the last points he ever got, as it turned out.  After eight scoreless games, he went back to the Marlies, and from there to Switzerland.

This year's team is surprisingly devoid of projects.  Not that it's reflected in their record....

Simon's stats:

Canadian Major Junior Second All-Star Team (2000)
QMJHL First All-Star Team (2001)
Michel Briere Trophy (MVP - QMJHL) (2001)
Canadian Major Junior First All-Star Team (2001)
Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year (2001)
Memorial Cup Tournament All-Star Team (2001)
Ed Chynoweth Trophy (Memorial Cup Tournament - Leading Scorer) (2001)
ECHL All-Rookie Team (2002)
ECHL Playoff MVP (2002) (co-winner - Tyrone Garner)
AHL First All-Star Team (2005)

- Traded to Nashville by Atlanta with Kirill Safronov for Ben Simon and Tomas Kloucek, December 2, 2003.
- Claimed on waivers by St. Louis from Nashville, November 29, 2005.
- Signed as a free agent by Toronto, June 25, 2007.

the HHOF take on Simon:

Simon Gamache was born January 3, 1981 in Thetford-Mines, Quebec. The ninth round, 290th overall selection of the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Gamache is a graduate of the QMJHL's Val d'Or Foreurs.

The 2001 CHL Player-of-the-Year and QMJHL MVP, Gamache spent three highly productive seasons in Val d'Or (157G 232A 389PTS) capturing numerous awards while breaking Mario Lemieux's playoff point record with 57 (22G 35A) leading the Foreurs to the 2001 QMJHL title and the 2001 Memorial Cup, only to fall short against the host Red Deer Rebels in the final.

Coming off a career year with Val d'Or in 2001, Gamache split the 2001-02 season with the AHLs Chicago Wolves and the ECHL's Greenville Grrrowl leading them to the 2002 Kelly Cup title and being named Co-MVP of the 2002 ECHL Playoffs.

In 2002-03 Gamache broke out offensively with the Wolves, finishing second in team scoring with 77 points, while playing in his first two NHL games with the Thrashers.

After parts of three seasons with the Thrashers organization, Gamache was acquired by the Nashville Predators during the early part of the 2003-04 season. Upon his arrival with the Preds', the former QMJHL star spent most of his time helping the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals capture the Calder Cup title and in 2004-05 was an AHL First Team All-Star after registering an impressive 86 points (29-57-86).

Despite a strong season in Milwaukee, Gamache would be acquired by the St. Louis Blues in November, 2005 and compete in fifteen games with the club that season. The following year Gamache would see action overseas with SC Bern in Switzerland before signing with the Maple Leafs in June, 2007.

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