The NHL Trade Deadline is just four days away and the Philadelphia Flyers’ biggest asset: Wayne Simmonds’ interest around the league is growing according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun:
Interest has intensified on Wayne Simmonds last few days. But Flyers for now focused on trying to stay in the race. Couple of big games including tonight which will sway final decision before Monday.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 21, 2019
Interest around Simmonds has flip-flopped heading into the deadline. Before Mark Stone, Matt Duchene and Artemi Panarin reportedly entered the market, the Flyers winger was one of the biggest names available. But there was a point where it looked like it might be harder for the team to move him, even with plenty of teams interested.
The rumor mill started Thursday with Lebrun stating that contending teams were starting to look elsewhere besides Ottawa as the Senators attempted to figure out things with Stone, Duchene and Ryan Dzingel. LeBrun just listed New York Rangers as alternate options for teams looking to buy but it looks like Simmonds may have been a part of that too.
Unlike the Senators players, though, Simmonds is still playing for the Flyers. The Sens healthy scratched the trio of Stone, Duchene, and Dzingel to not risk injury as the team looks for a trading partner. Simmonds is playing Thursday night.
As for the Flyers, they entered Thursday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens six points out of the playoffs and with games against the Penguins, Sabres and Blue Jackets following the Habs. All four teams are within nine points of Philly. However, just Thursday’s game and the Stadium Series game against the Penguins will come before the trade deadline.
And that may be an important event in the Simmonds saga. It doesn’t seem outlandish that general manager Chuck Fletcher would want to give the 30-year-old a farewell last game in an outdoor game that the team has to be excited about.
It’s also possible that Fletcher is just holding out to see if bids grow. Most insiders have reported that the GM will move Simmonds despite the Flyers’ recent success and if some names start flying off the board, teams might grow more desperate.
Either way, everything will come to an end in some way by this Monday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. when the trade deadline is put in effect. Follow along here at Broad Street Buzz and on our Twitter and Facebook pages for any updates.