The Philadelphia Flyers have come to terms on a contract extension with 23-year-old winger Wayne Simmonds, per TSN’s Bob McKenzie and CSNPhilly’s Tim Panaccio.
The six-year extension is reportedly worth $24 million ($4 million cap hit/season).
Simmonds produced his best career numbers in his first season in Philadelphia after spending the first three seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Kings. Simmonds was traded to Philly last summer, along with Brayden Schenn, in the deal that sent then-Flyers captain Mike Richards to L.A.
Simmonds scored a career best 28 goals (previous high: 16) and 49 points (previous high: 40) while playing in all 82 regular season games with the Flyers last season.
No. 17 became a fan-favorite quickly after being introduced to the City of Brotherly Love for his gritty play, willingness to drop the gloves (10 fights in 2011-12) and surprising point-production.
Simmonds found a role as a power-forward last season, deflecting pucks, picking up rebounds and creating chaos in front of opponents’ goalies. ”Simmer” earned himself playing time for his willingness to go to the net and create room for his teammates, eventually solidifying a spot on the top power play line.
While the Flyers’ Chairman Ed Snider and the rest of the NHL’s owners and Commissioner Gary Bettman negotiate with the NHLPA over a new collective bargaining agreement in hopes of avoiding another lockout, the rest of the Flyers front-office is busy making sure the Flyers young core is locked up for the next few seasons.
Last week the Flyers signed 22-year old defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon to a multi-year extension and were able to sign their first round draft pick, 18-year-old center Scott Laughton to an entry-level deal.
On July 26th the Flyers announced they had signed 22-year-old restricted free-agent winger Jake Voracek to a four-year, $17 million contract.
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August 15, 2012
