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After announcing that he would be hanging up his skates after the 2023-24 season, Wayne Simmonds confirmed that he would be signing a one-day contract with the Philadelphia Flyers so he could retire in orange and black.
On Friday, Simmonds, along with his family, arrived at the Flyers Training Center in Vorhees, New Jersey to officially put pen to paper on his contract.
During a virtual press conference held after he announced his decision to retire as a Flyer, Simmonds described what it meant to him to be welcomed back to Philadelphia.
“Philadelphia has always had a special place in my heart,” he said. “The people of Philadelphia accepted me as one of their own. Being there for eight years…I loved every second of it.”
He also said that he “didn’t really want to ever be traded Philadelphia,” which is why “it’s so important for me to come back an sign this one-day contract and retire as a Flyer.”
Across his eight seasons in Philadelphia, Simmonds played 584 games, recording 203 goals and 175 assists. He was named an alternate captain during 2014-15 season, and remained one until getting traded in 2019.
“I gave everything I had to Philadelphia,” he said. “[Injuries] kind of cut my career short, but I wouldn’t change it one bit. Every ounce, every tear, all the sweat, all the teeth 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.”
Simmonds will be honored prior to the Flyers taking on the New Jersey Devils on Apr. 13 at the Wells Fargo Center.
Make sure to bookmark THN’s Philadelphia Flyers site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
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