The 35-year-old announced his retirement on Monday through the Philadelphia Flyers, where he played eight
seasons. Simmonds appeared in 1,037 NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville
Predators, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
“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 stated in an e-mail.
“Taking the ice in a Flyers sweater is a special sensation that I’m very proud of. The history of this franchise and the
standard that was established as a Flyer is unique, and I hold it in high regard.
“Perhaps the most important reason for this is the way the fans support this team. It was a pleasure to play for you
all these years, and you mean a lot to me. I’d want to thank Dan Hilferty, Keith Jones, and Danny Briere for making
this such a memorable day, as well as the fans for their continued support of me and my family over the years.
Simmonds, of Scarborough, Ontario, signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs on October 9, 2020. During his
debut season with Toronto, he appeared in 38 games and recorded seven goals and two assists.
The following summer, Simmonds signed another contract with the Maple Leafs, this time for two years and $1.8
million. He appeared in nine playoff games wearing blue and white, recording one assist.
“I thoroughly loved playing with Wayne. He’s an excellent teammate. “He plays a hard brand of hockey,” Morgan
Rielly stated on Monday.
“Playing against him for all those years in Philadelphia was extremely challenging. But having him in our room for a
couple of years was an absolute pleasure.”
