Maple Leafs Close to Extending Forward Wayne Simmonds [Report]

According to a few reports on Monday, while not finalized, it sounds like the Toronto Maple Leafs are close to signing an extension with forward Wayne Simmonds. Elliotte Friedman has posted a tweet about it and will be running with the story in his latest 31 Thoughts report.

31 Thoughts will be coming soon, but one bit of news. Nothing finalized, but word is TOR is working on an extension with Wayne Simmonds. Sounds positive.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 28, 2021

The initial reaction from Maple Leafs fans seems to be that this is a great bit of news, if Simmonds signs for $1 million per season or less. Most don’t want him back at the same $1.5 million it cost the team last season to acquire him, but on a close-to league-minimum deal, he could be an excellent piece to keep around.

Simmonds signed with the Maple Leafs last offseason on a team-friendly deal. During points of the 2020-21 campaign, he was playing extremely well. At other teams, it was rocky. An injury didn’t help his cause and he only wound up playing in 38 of the team’s regular season games. He had seven goals and nine points.

As for what this means when it comes to the NHL Expansion Draft and the Leafs plans for protection, we’ll have more information as that becomes available. If Simmonds signs for a low-cost contract, he would have had some interest in free agency, even though he’s turning 33 in August. There’s a real push from teams around the NHL to get bigger and more physical. Simmonds could have fit for a number of clubs.

He wasn’t a factor in the playoffs for Toronto, but players like him carry around a bit of cache this time of year. He’s highly regarded as a great teammate with excellent leadership qualities.

Next: Islanders’ Casey Cizikas and Kyle Palmieri Talk Future with Team