Flyers deal Gagne to Tampa Bay

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07/19/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Flyers have traded left wing Simon Gagne to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenseman Matt Walker and fourth-round pick in 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Gagne, an oft-injured but talented forward, had one year left on his contract worth a reported $5.25 million and had to waive his no-trade clause. The Flyers also needed to make a move to get under the salary cap and add depth on the blue line.

"This was a move to solidify our defense," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. "Matt Walker is a right shot defenseman that we like; he brings size, grit and toughness to our back end. Simon Gagne played 10 seasons for the Flyers and was not only a good player for us, but also handled himself in a first class manner on and off the ice."

The 30-year-old Gagne was the longest-tenured Flyer, spending 10 seasons with the franchise. He appeared in just 58 games this past season, sitting out the first 24 contests following abdominal surgery, and notched 17 goals with 23 assists for 40 points.

A broken foot suffered in the first round of the playoffs this spring, though, only cost him four games as he returned well ahead of the projected 2-to-4 week prognosis. He tallied nine goals and three assists for 12 points in 19 games to help the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

"I'm very excited right now," Gagne said. "I'm looking at this opportunity as a new challenge and a new start. Tampa Bay was a team I was more than willing to waive my no move clause for. I really like the direction the team is headed in with a solid owner, Steve Yzerman as GM and coach Boucher. I'm really looking forward to playing with guys like [Vincent] Lecavalier, [Steven] Stamkos and [Martin] St. Louis. I'm excited to be a member of the Lightning and I'm looking forward to starting next season in Tampa Bay."

Concussion and groin problems allowed him to play just 46 games during the 2002-03 season and he appeared in only 25 games in 2007-08 because of concussion symptoms.

Gagne has twice reached the 40-goal plateau and in 664 career regular-season games has compiled 259 goals with 265 assists for 524 points.

"In adding Simon to the Lightning today, we acquire a very talented player that will play alongside our top forwards," said Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman. "With his combination of speed and skill we are excited to have him with us and grateful he was willing to waive his no movement clause. This trade not only makes us a better team in the short-term, it helps create long- term flexibility for us, which all along has been one of our top priorities."

Walker had signed a multi-year deal last summer and spent just one season with the Lightning. He posted a mere two goals with three assists for five points and had a minus-11 rating in 66 games.

The 30-year-old veteran has also played for the Blues and Blackhawks in his seven-year career. He has four goals and 26 assists for 30 points in 306 NHL games.

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Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?

I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.

There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.

Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.

For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.

A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.

The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.

Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.

So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.

Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.

“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.

Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.

“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.

It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.

Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.

The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.

“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.

“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”

Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.

The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.

“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”

Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?

“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.