Wayne Simmonds, the beloved right winger who spent eight of his 15-season career in Philadelphia, has officially announced his retirement.
Wayne Simmonds, the beloved right winger who spent eight of his 15-season career in Philadelphia, has officially announced his retirement.
Wayne Simmonds, the beloved right winger who spent eight of his 15-season career in Philadelphia, has officially announced his retirement.
The Flyers organization confirmed that Simmonds will sign a one-day contract and will officially retire as a Flyer, and will be honored for his contributions to the team and the community on April 13.
Looking relaxed as ever in a pink T-shirt and gold chain, sunglasses shielding his eyes from the sun of, judging by the clear blue sky and palm trees behind him, some dreamy tropical destination, Simmonds explained over Zoom just how much the Flyers and the city of Philadelphia mean to him, and how important it was to him to make sure he retired a Flyer.
"Philadelphia has always had a special place in my heart," Simmonds said. "Philly is a blue-collar town, and I think that's what I brought in my game. I think that's what made myself endeared to the fans, and I loved every second of it."
Simmonds has been renowned as one of the "ideal Flyers players," becoming famous for his hard-hitting style of hockey. Currently Flyers head coach John Tortorella hasn't had the chance to speak with Simmonds one-on-one yet, but he did reveal that he has long admired the player from his days of coaching against him.
"I watched him from afar," Tortorella said. "He played hard, played the right way, but I've never spoken to him. I hope he enjoys the next part of his life. He played the game the right way and I just hope things fall into place for him as he starts his next chapter. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him just as far as watching him from afar."
Simmonds also spoke of the way he was immediately welcomed into the city with open arms in 2011 after being traded to the Flyers from the Los Angeles Kings.
"The people of Philadelphia accepted me as one of their own," he recalled. "Being there for eight years, it felt like it was only right to give back to the community and do whatever I could possibly do."
Simmonds was heavily involved in the community, a value that was instilled to him by his mother from a young age. He worked extremely closely with the Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education non-profit, where he is still an honorary board member today.
Although he worked his way up to being named an alternate captain and was a clear fan-favorite for his indisputable tenacity on the ice, along with his famous accountability and transparency after losses, Simmonds was traded to the Nashville Predators in 2019.
He recalls how emotional he was when he was honored at the 2019 Stadium Series between the Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Lincoln Financial Field—his last game in a Flyers uniform, saying, "I remember getting that [celebratory] helmet and speaking with the team and tears were coming out of my eyes. I didn't really want to ever be traded from Philadelphia.
"It's just the nature of the business, but, if I remember correctly, what I said was to keep our dream alive and keep fighting for the playoffs. It was very disheartening to get traded but, at the same time, it's a business and I know how things go. That's why it's important for me to come back and sign this one-day contract and retire as a Flyer."
Simmonds also fondly remembered how he wanted to get booed by Flyers fans when he came back to the Wells Fargo Center as a member of the New Jersey Devils, and relished in how the fans treated him as part of a rival team.
"It's kind of funny," he said. "The amount of cheers [returning to the Wells Fargo Center as a Devil] was mind-blowing, but it was nice to be booed coming in with the road team, especially as a Devil. People probably didn't like that too much."
He also recounted how injuries plagued him throughout his entire NHL career and likely shortened his career by limiting how much he was able physically give on the ice.
"I didn't have what I used to have, and it was extremely frustrating," he said. "I have a young family...so, for me, it was important to set my roots and be here for my family. If I was still at the top of my game, I'd still be playing, obviously. The way I was going, I just felt it was time for me to be with my family and enjoy that life."
But, make no mistake, everything he did have, he left on the ice for the Flyers.
"I gave everything I had to Philadelphia. It kind of cut my career short, but I wouldn't change it one bit," he laughed. "Every ounce, every tear, all the sweat, all the teeth that I have—or don't have, I should say!—it was just something I was willing to do whatever I could possibly do to try and win. I always meant every single thing that I did...I got so much love from the fans there, so it was just important to me that I did give it my all."
That's why it will be so special to come back to the city that he credits with making him the player he became, and sharing the love of his Flyers family with his three young children.
"I'm really looking forward to coming back on April 13 and just enjoying the love that I always get from Philadelphia," he said. "I get to bring my family with me; my kids know nothing about me being a Flyer, but I show them my hockey cards and my daughters just think I was a Leaf for my whole career. It'll be special to show them where I'm a product of."
As for what the future holds for him in retirement, it's likely that the hockey world won't miss Simmonds for too long before he gets involved in a different role within the sport.
"I've liked hockey since I was six years old, so it's really all I know," he said. "I'd like to stay in the game. I'd like to stick around and do something."
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