Wayne Simmonds is a “hell of a leader for our team.”
Those were the words head coach Dave Hakstol used to sum up what Simmonds brings to the Flyers.
When the Flyers acquired Simmonds as part of a package that included Brayden Schenn in exchange for Mike Richards, the Flyers were bringing in a player in Simmonds that had most notably been known as a checking line type skater.
He wasn’t a 30-goal scorer. He wasn’t sniping pucks top shelf over goaltender’s shoulders. He was just a hard-working, grinder.
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His highest scoring output was 16 before coming to Philadelphia.
When he came here, though, he was inserted into an offensive role and saw his production take off from there. He has scored 28 or more goals in four of his five seasons with the Flyers.
“We knew he was going to be a good player because he had that fire in his belly,” said general manager Ron Hextall, who was in the Kings organization when Simmonds was there. “He worked at his skills. I remember seeing him at juniors. He wasn’t a great player, he was O.K. He’s gotten better and better.
“Did I think he’d be as good as he is now? Probably not quite. You knew he was going to be a good player and an impact player because he’s a power forward.”
His head coach agrees.
“He’s one of the best power forwards in the game,” Hakstol said. “There’s an element of respect and fear that he brings that carries through opponents. But he’s also a 30-goal scorer. Those are the things that you see outside of the locker room. Inside, he’s sharp. He’s a good leader and he tells it like it is. He’s a key guy in our room.”
“He’s the complete package.”
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