Philadelphia Flyers: An Ode and Goodbye to Wayne Simmonds

It wasn’t a fun afternoon yesterday at 3pm EST for Philadelphia Flyers fanatics who were frantically refreshing Twitter and NHL.com waiting for the inevitable news; barring user error during the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline, that long-time Flyers power forward and fan favorite Wayne Simmonds would be traded.

Aptly nicknamed “Simmer” and “the Wayne Train” by fans for his quick temper on the ice and tough-as-nails demeanor, Wayne Simmonds terrorized Philadelphia Flyers rivals for eight years, knocking New Jersey Devils‘ forward David Clarkson out cold on the ice in just his second game with Philly. Fresh on a new contract in 2013-2014, Simmonds set a personal best in points, scoring 60 in the regular season, where his success carried into the post-season, scoring a hat-trick against the New York Rangers in game six of the first round of the playoffs.

Simmonds was acquired by the Flyers via trade on June 23, 2011 in exchange for at-the-time captain Mike Richards and Rob Bordson. The package included a second-round pick that was traded for Nicklas Grossmann, in addition to receiving Brayden Schenn, who was traded exactly six years later to the very date at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft to the St. Louis Blues, for a pair of first round picks and salary cap dump Jori Lehtera.

Speaking of the Rangers, who could forget his 2016 Valentine’s Day brawl with Dylan McIlrath? It was a messy response to a little rabbit punch Simmer left Rangers’ captain Ryan McDonagh with in their prior appearance. Social media was hot with trash-talking (at least on the Rangers’ end; we’re looking at you, Tanner Glass), and while McDonagh stayed clear of conflict in the Valentine’s Day bout, respondent and tough guy Tanner Glass answered the bell when Ryan White also came looking to dance.

We could write for days about all of the memories Simmonds has left us with in his eight-year tenure with the Flyers. He loved his team, and we loved him back. In his place, new GM Chuck Fletcher has given us Nashville Predators forward Ryan Hartman, and a $5 gift card at 7-Eleven – erm, I mean, a conditional fourth round pick to use at the 2020 entry draft. Hopefully, Hartman can help mend the sandpaper-grit void left by the departure Simmonds in this melancholy time for the Flyers.

Rest assured, Philadelphia fans; the Flyers farm system is ripe with youngsters ready to jump in at any time. German Rubtsov is a two-way center who could jump into a role as a bottom-six forward with a little bit of grit. Isaac Ratcliffe is a towering winger with soft hands, and on paper, the most likely option to fill Simmonds’ role.

To put everything simply: We’re going to miss you, Simmer. Thank you for everything you’ve done for this city and hockey team through the years.