Philadelphia Flyers icon Wayne Simmonds officially announced his retirement from the NHL on Monday morning, and with that, ‘Simmer’ will also sign a one-day contract to retire as a Flyers player on Saturday, April 13, when the Flyers host the New Jersey Devils at 5 p.m.
“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.”
Briere, who was teammates with Simmonds for two seasons, said, “It is a privilege to congratulate Wayne on his retirement from the NHL and I look forward to celebrating his career on April 13 with our great fans. He was an excellent teammate, a leader in the locker room and a class act for the Philadelphia community. He had such passion for this city and team that it was an honor to witness it all and play alongside him. I wish him all the happiness and success to him and his family as he embarks on this new chapter.”
After being traded to the Nashville Predators in 2019, Simmonds played for the Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs. The 35-year-old last played for Toronto in the 2022-23 season, scoring two assists in 18 games.
Simmonds will be honored on April 13 when the Flyers host the Devils – one of his former teams. Simmonds scored eight goals and 16 assists for New Jersey in 2019-20 before being traded to Buffalo. Three of Simmonds’ former Devils teammates – Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Jack Hughes – are still with New Jersey and should be there for the celebration of Simmonds’s career.
From the Flyers, Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, and Scott Laughton remain from Simmonds’s last season in Philadelphia.
As a Flyer, Simmonds scored 203 goals, 175 assists, and 378 points in 584 regular season games, and added five goals, 10 assists, and 15 points in 30 playoff games.
More must-reads: