Wayne Simmonds announced his retirement from hockey today as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Wayne Simmonds announced his retirement from hockey today as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.

"It's hard to describe my emotions on a day like this, but one of my very first thoughts as I look back is my life in Philadelphia and playing for the Flyers," Simmonds said in a press release. "Taking the ice in a Flyers sweater is a special feeling, and it's one that I'm truly proud of. The history of this franchise and standard of being a Flyer that was set is unique and one that I hold in the highest regard. Perhaps the biggest reason for that is the way the fans embrace this team. It was a thrill to play for you all these years, and you mean so much to me. I'd like to thank Dan Hilferty, Keith Jones, and Danny Briere for making this a special day and the fans for all their support throughout the years for me and my family."

Simmonds played eight seasons in Philadelphia, playing 584 games for the Flyers, scoring 203 goals and 175 assists. His career-best seasons came while he was with the Flyers. He scored 60 points in 2013-14 and 2015-16. He reached 30 goals twice in his career, during the 15-16 (32) and 2016-17 (31).

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He was a heart and soul guy for a team with aspirations of doing great things but ultimately fell short. 

Philadelphia acquired Simmonds from the Los Angeles Kings along with Brayden Schenn and a second-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. In return, Philadelphia sent Mike Richards and Rob Bordson. Simmonds represented the Flyers at the 2017 NHL All-Star Game and was named the All-Star Game MVP. He won the 2011-12 Gene Hart Memorial Award, the 2015-16 Yanick Dupre Class Guy Memorial Award, and the 2016-17 Bobby Clarke Trophy and Toyota Cup.

The team announced that Simmonds will be honored before its game on April 13th against the New Jersey Devils.

Simmonds finishes his career with 1,037 NHL regular season games played. Across 15 seasons, he played with the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Make sure to bookmark THN's Philadelphia Flyers site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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