Philadelphia Flyers legend Wayne Simmonds announces NHL retirement after 15 seasons

Philadelphia Flyers veteran Wayne Simmonds has introduced his retirement from the NHL aged 35 after a glittering 15 seasons within the league.

The ahead plans to signal a ceremonial one-day contract with the Flyers subsequent month and he’ll be honored by the staff earlier than their recreation in opposition to the New Jersey Devils on April 13 at Wells Fargo Middle.

He performed over half of his NHL video games (584 of 1,037) as a ahead with Philadelphia between 2011 and 2019. Simmonds scored a formidable 203 targets in his tenure with the Flyers, rating 14th in staff historical past.

“Philadelphia has at all times acquired a particular place in my coronary heart,” Simmonds stated.

“It’s been unbelievable to me. Philly is a blue-collar city, and I believe that’s form of what I introduced in my recreation. I believe that’s form of what made myself endeared to the followers. I liked each second of it. It was wonderful, my time in Philly.”

Wayne Simmonds has introduced his retirement.️

Congratulations on an amazing profession, Wayne! 👏 pic.twitter.com/hyq1xmsFwM

— NHL (@NHL) March 18, 2024

“I believe my profession had run its course,” he stated. “Having a number of the accidents that I had slowed me down fairly a bit and I believe the best way that I performed the sport, I at all times needed to be on my toes and at all times needed to be going. I noticed the final couple of years there that I simply didn’t have what I used to have, and it was extraordinarily irritating.

“On the similar time, I began a household. I’ve a 4-year-old [daughter] who turns 5 in a month, one other daughter who simply turned 2 and I’ve a 4-month-old son. For me, it was essential to set my roots and be right here for my household. If I used to be nonetheless on the prime of my recreation I’d nonetheless be taking part in, clearly, and I believe that retirement might wait. However the best way I used to be going, I simply felt it was time for me to be with my household and revel in that that life.”

Simmonds spent his final two NHL campaigns along with his hometown staff, the Toronto Maple Leafs. He recorded six seasons with not less than 20 targets and gained the MVP award on the 2017 NHL All-Star recreation.