Six-year extension for Simmonds
Daily News Flyers blog
Six-year extension for Simmonds
Wayne Simmonds has spent a little more than one full year as a member of the Flyers, but he took a huge step on Wednesday to making Philadelphia his home for a long time.
The Flyers and Simmonds agreed to a six-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday morning.
Simmonds, 23, will earn approximately $24 million over those six years with the estimated $4 million in average annual value reported by TSN’s Bob McKenzie. It is unclear how the deal will be structured as to whether it is back-loaded or front-loaded.
Simmonds was set to enter the final year of his 2-year contract this fall, after being acquired from Los Angeles last summer in a trade for Mike Richards. He set new career-highs in goals (28) and points (49) while adding significant grit and toughness over 82 games on the wing with the Flyers.
The new deal is set to begin in the 2013-14 season.
The timing of Simmonds’ extension is certainly interesting.
For one, Simmonds is just 45 days into his negotiating period for an extension, as he has next season remaining on his deal at $2 million. Although this reported new extension will nearly double his salary, there is a strong possibility that with the league’s current labor uncertainty, the new deal could ultimately be worth less.
For instance, the NHL’s original Collective Bargaining Agreement proposal on July 13 - which was finally countered by the NHLPA on Tuesday in Toronto - called for a 24-percent rollback in player salaries. So, if Simmonds signed a $24 million deal, and the NHL gets its way, his new extension is suddenly worth a little more than $18 million. The NHL has also proposed term limits on contracts of 5 years.
The NHL's CBA expires on Sept. 15, at which point commissioner Gary Bettman has promised the owners will lockout the players. Both the NHL and NHLPA said on Wednesday that there is a "significant economic gulf" in negotiations.
More to come.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
I like Wayne, he plays tough and turned on the red light a lot more that I thought he would. The thing is, when Homer signs you to a long term contract.....
Looking forward to watching Simmons for the next few years. Guaranteed 25 goal scorer, grit and toughness like the article says and developing chemistry with the other young guns...Solid hockey player.— Reality Speaks- I'm looking forward to you learning his name.
you too, meteo30 . . . .
knuckleheads.— ekw555 - My apologies to Mr. Wayne Simmonds - in case he was ever offended by me not adding the 'd' at the end of his name.
now you have one less thing to look forward to, ekw555....
spaz. - Would guess with Simmon's signing that Hartnell is out at some point.— meteo30
- Good move!— quigly46
- This is a great signing. Simmonds is talented and tough. I flet like he had 20-25 goals last year, not almost 30. Young talent, large upside. I have little hope that a lockout can be avoided. Bettman's and ownership's rhetoric is pretty severe. NHLPA should offer what they can back in a pay cut to establish that the owners and league management are the potentially very bad guys in this. And please NHLPA none of this, " I can't feed my family on half a million less a year", per player stuff. Everyone knows this generally is millionaires and near millionaires negotiating with multimillionaires. No arguments that regular collective bargaining unit represented people can make apply to sports. It is about fairness and reasonable equity. And drop the shootout so I can avoid using my cell phone calculator for converting wins and losses to standing points.— RI_flyers_guy
- Had a real nice regular season but disappeared in playoffs....plays tough which is always needed...6 yr contracts mean nothing anymore he could be gone in a trade before the season starts..as far as this meaning the end of Hartnell I love the guy his attitude..his effort...his lockeroom qualities..but we all know last year was a total fluke..no rush to resign him— flyers1000
- Hartnell has had 2 30 goal seasons and he's also been a big part of three highly effective lines over the past few seasons. He had his first 30 goal season with Carter and Lupul, then was very effective as the LW on Briere's line that helped the team to the 2010 SCF. He's the only proven 20-25 goal guy with size the Flyers have. — JSaq
- flyers1000 the dark cloud of the message board. How can u say hartnels numbers where a fluke. He has put up decent numbers in relation to his skill set throughout his career, and once he was paired with giroux he took advantage of that opportunity & had his best season yet. Also a good portion of his goals where scored when giroux was out injured. Jeez for a guy who claims to have followed this team since it's inception, you sure do miss a whole lot of what's going on out their.
— mos19delta - @Flyers1000, Hartnell a Fluke? I guess you missed the 08-09 season where he had 30 goals, 60 points?— barnzy02
- Simmonds disappeared in the playoffs when this team really needed a contribution from anyone. Hope it's just one of those things; this year will decide which way the meter goes for Wayne. Either way, he is a crowd favorite, brings a physical force to the team and good energy. He has just got to find another gear for the playoff run....— DelawareRiverRat
- I concur that this is the end of Hartnell, which would be a shame. He's a proven 25-30 goal scorer but because he lacks flash, he can be had for under $6m, which is a comparative bargain these days.— philly57
- It's good to see the brotha got paid.— Tyrone Biggums
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