Paul Holmgren's hands were tied Tuesday. Matt Read is on the shelf for another 5 weeks with torn rib muscles. Tye McGinn will miss at least the next 2 weeks with a fractured orbital bone, suffered on Monday. Simon Gagne, obtained Tuesday in a trade with Los Angeles, is not a permanent fix. He is a player who, when healthy, may be better than even the Flyers are expecting. He will provide a temporary stopgap in Peter Laviolette's lineup. If the Wells Fargo Center press-box seating chart is any indication, Holmgren has been working the phones like a mad man. There were 21 scouts at Monday night's loss to Toronto, representing 15 clubs, including the general managers of Winnipeg and St. Louis. Where there's smoke, there's fire. Nothing is burning with the Jets. Their general manager, Kevin Cheveldayoff, and his executive staff showed up Monday only because their team was still on the East Coast after Saturday's contest in Philly. The Blues are a different story. General manager Doug Armstrong visited Philadelphia for the second time in three home games, and also caught the Flyers in Toronto on Feb. 11. According to sources, Armstrong has been asking for forward Danny Briere. He isn't the only one. Boston inquired about Briere last week, among others. Briere, 35, is one player who isn't going anywhere. The Flyers have not asked Briere to waive his no-trade clause, and it isn't clear whether they're interested in moving him, but he provided an answer Tuesday. Briere has a full no-movement clause - meaning he can't even be sent to the minors without his permission - and will not waive it to be dealt to any team in the NHL, regardless of destination.