Why Wayne Simmonds declined free agency to rejoin the Maple Leafs
The forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Wayne Simmonds, discusses why he wasn’t really tempted to check out the open free agent market this off-season, why there was still interest from both parties to stay in Toronto, and why he still thinks he’s a perfect match.
TORONTO: The Wayne Train believes there’s no reason to keep stopping at each town.
Now that he has identified his home station, cap-friendly Toronto Maple Leaf Wayne Simmonds is going full steam ahead until 2022–2023. He promises to keep churning till the wheels come off while gladly accepting another salary cut.
“I’m an individual who…” I will never give up. After the ink had dried on a two-year, $1.8 million agreement with his neighborhood club, Simmonds declared on Tuesday, “No matter what.”
“This is where I live. This is my desired location. My dream place to raise a family is here. I want to win the Stanley Cup here.
Simmonds, who is 32 years old, has been training for his 14th NHL season for the past two weeks. He’s experienced enough bumps and surgeries, accomplishments and happiness, brawls and heartbreaks to last seventeen lifetimes.
He’s gotten to the stage in his life where cliches are no longer a crutch for him. that point in life when family and security come before money. where happiness is not tampered with.
Thus, Simmonds’ cap hit will decrease once more, from $1.5 million in 2020–21 to $900,000, providing general manager Kyle Dubas with additional experience and value on his fourth line (peer culture-enhancing veteran Jason Spezza re-upped for the minimum $750,000 two weeks ago) — and a contract that may be buried in the minors if the resolute Simmonds struggles to match his
In exchange, Simmonds receives mental clarity, additional time to heal from his fractured wrist sustained in February, and two chances to take care of unresolved business while surrounded by a strong core.
Simmonds was repelled from any temptation to peer behind the veil of free agency on July 28 by that pitch.
Shortly after being eliminated, Dubas and Simmonds’ team started speaking, with the player candidly questioning whether the Leafs would even want to give him another chance.
“I felt like there was more I could have done to support the guys,” Simmonds remarked. “I just think badly first because that’s who I am. We didn’t get to our mutual understanding, so I wasn’t really sure if the Leafs would want me back or anything.
According to Simmonds, the Toronto locker room has been the most welcoming place he’s been since his eight-year tenure and 30-goal star performances in Philadelphia.
Additionally, Simmonds won’t have to worry about packing a bag at the trade deadline as he did in 2019 (moving from Philadelphia to Nashville) and 2020 (moving from New Jersey to Buffalo) thanks to Dubas’ additional year of committment.
Why since the Leafs were eliminated by the Habs, Simmonds hasn’t watched much hockey
Wayne Simmonds, a forward with the Maple Leafs who was recently re-signed, revealed that the first-round loss to the Canadiens this year hurt so much that he isn’t even able to watch the NHL playoffs.
In addition to representing Scarborough in front of a packed Scotiabank Arena as the pandemic begins to fade in Ontario, knock wood.
It will be astounding. “I experienced a small taste, not the entire thing, of what it means to be a Toronto Maple Leaf,” Simmonds said while driving his car home from the gym and holding a Zoom conference.
“My daughter is two years old. Nothing would make me happier than to spot her wearing her SIMMONDS shirt while sitting in the stands. and witnessing the weekly games that my spouse, my family, and my friends could attend.
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Simmonds himself has not been taking in games of late. He caught a bit of Game 1 between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, but made a point to take some time away from the rink after the Habs ousted the Leafs in Game 7.
“To be honest, I haven’t even watched hockey since we lost. That loss to Montreal stung a lot. I think that was one of the hardest losses of my life. And I think for me, reading about how we failed and what we should have did differently, everyone saying what they wanted to say about our players, I think it left a bitter taste in my mouth and a huge sting,” Simmonds said.
“I know we have a team good enough to go farther than the first round, and it was extremely important for me to show the guys on the team that I’m in this with them.
“I just wanted to be back on this team and prove all our naysayers wrong.”
Simmonds is back with Spezza’s “Put me anywhere, coach!” mentality at a cost that both increases and further narrows the middle class of the Maple Leafs.
Where they see me doesn’t really matter to me. For the lads, I’m here. “My goal is to triumph,” declared Simmonds.
He will let go, just as he did three times during the postponed season of 2021. He can score second goals and drive the goal (seven goals in 38 games isn’t terrible for a bottom-six player). He’ll spend the summer honing his “explosiveness” to give off energy.
He’ll also call out Toronto’s collapse for what it was, which is refreshing.
We might have taken a few too many steps back. Thinking back to how his time with the Leafs could have ended, Simmonds remarked, “We didn’t kill when we smelled the blood in the water.”
“I am aware that every man on this team is carrying a bad taste in their mouth, and they will be prepared.”
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