Wayne Simmonds Ends NHL Playing Career
We have seen the last of Wayne Simmonds at the NHL level. It’s just not officially official yet. Simmonds hasn’t announced his retirement yet but apparently plans to.
According to a report by The Canadian Press‘ Joshua Clipperton, Simmonds is done playing hockey at the NHL level.
“I haven’t officially announced my retirement, but I’m done,” Simmonds said. “I had a great career. It was the best time I’ve ever had. Right now, it’s family time.”
Simmonds hasn’t officially filed the retirement paperwork but that process is expected to happen any given day.
Simmonds, 35, last suited up during the 2022-23 NHL Season for Toronto making 18 appearances that season. Simmonds ended up playing for six different franchises (Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Nashville, New Jersey, Buffalo, and Toronto).
He ends his time in the NHL with 263 goals, 263 assists, and 526 points. Of course, Simmonds was more so known as a talented enforcer during his heyday. The man known as the Wayne Train notched 1,313 PIMs throughout 1,037 games. A damn good career for a player that was selected 61st overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.
Simmonds never won a Stanley Cup but was part of a pretty high-profile trade that changed the course of history and may have determined a few. The Kings moved Simmonds and young prospect Brayden Schenn to the Flyers in exchange for Mike Richards. The Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014 just a few years after moving Simmonds out. However, Simmonds became a vital force for the Flyers during that time.
We don’t have enough players like Simmonds in the NHL today. Cheers to a hell of a career. Simmonds will be missed.
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