Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Re-Sign Wayne Simmonds to Two-Year Deal [Report]

The Toronto Maple Leafs have resigned Wayne Simmonds to a two-year contract at $900,000. What does that mean for the expansion draft?

by
Old Prof
June 29, 2021

It was just announced that the Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed The Wayne Train – forward Wayne Simmonds – to a two-year contract extension. The contract is reported to average be worth $900,000 AAV.

Last season Simmonds, who is now 32-years-old, played in 38 regular-season games with the Maple Leafs. During those games, he scored nine points (seven goals and two assists). He also recorded an assist in seven playoff games.

His numbers would have been higher had he not suffered a broken wrist early in the season. At the time of his injury, he had been on a bit of a goal-scoring roll and had looked especially effective on the power-play unit.

Simmonds’ History in the NHL

Simmonds started with the Los Angeles Kings, when he was chosen during the second round (61st overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. In his prime, he was one of the great power forwards of the game and even was named to the 2017 NHL All-Star Game.

During his 947 career NHL games, the Toronto-area native has scored 258 goals and 508 points playing for six NHL teams. He first started with the Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and Maple Leafs.

Simmonds brings a physical presence to the lineup and – if he can stay healthy – can make the Maple Leafs a tough team to play against. He’s gritty, plays solid defense, and takes up space in front of the net. His invitation to his teammates is just to shoot right at him when he’s parked in front of the net – he might get a rebound goal. He’s a tough guy with great hands around the net.

The Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft

It’s unusual for the Maple Leafs to sign anyone to a contract with the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft looming. What does that mean for the expansion draft? It likely means that the Maple Leafs will likely expose Simmonds during the draft.

However, it also might mean that the Maple Leafs and the Kraken might have a deal in advance where the Kraken either agree to choose a particular player or to avoid a particular player. Maple Leafs’ fans will see in less than a month.

Next: Seattle Kraken Could Draft, Then Flip Players Like Dumba, Giordano