Flyers Fan-Favorite Wayne Simmonds Unofficially Retires: ‘It’s family time’

Still without an NHL contract for the 2023-24 NHL season, Philadelphia Flyers fan-favorite Wayne Simmonds has shared that his playing days are over.

“I haven’t officially announced my retirement, but I’m done. I had a great career,” Simmonds told Joshua Clipperton of The Canadian Press. “It was the best time I’ve ever had in my life. Right now, it’s family time.”

Simmonds, 35, is best known for the time he spent with the Flyers. Joining the Flyers via trade from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Mike Richards in 2011, Simmonds spent eight years in Philadelphia, scoring 203 goals, 173 assists, and 378 points in 584 regular season games. In 30 playoff games with the Flyers, Simmonds scored five goals, 10 assists, and 15 points.

Having last played for the Orange and Black in the 2018-19 season, Simmonds was traded to the Nashville Predators mid-season for Ryan Hartman and what became a 2020 fourth-round pick. The 35-year-old made pitstops with the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs before unofficially calling it quits.

Simmonds played as recently as last season as a member of the Maple Leafs, but only managed to appear in 18 regular season games. The Scarborough, Ontario native spent each of the last three seasons in Toronto and scored 12 goals, 15 assists, and 27 points in 128 games, serving mostly as an enforcer in a reserve-forward role.

“Nice to be able to play at home. From the playing aspect, it wasn’t what I hoped,” Simmonds said. “I’m still grateful to the organization for allowing me to put on the Maple Leaf. That’s an iconic jersey. It’s something that I’ll never forget.”

With the Flyers Alumni Game coming up on Friday night, maybe the organization can get an old friend to lace ’em back up once in a while? We extend our congrats to Wayne on a great career with the Flyers and in the NHL.

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