Determination fueling Flyers' Simmonds

SAN JOSE - Spanning a brief career with two different franchises, Brayden Schenn has never played an NHL game without Wayne Simmonds in the same lineup.

The two have been linemates almost exclusively since arriving in Philadelphia in 2011. Few players on the Flyers' roster know Simmonds better.

When asked what has made Simmonds so consistent this season, Schenn responded Saturday with, "Determination." Minutes earlier, without prior knowledge, Simmonds used the same word.

"I've been really determined this year, no matter what," Simmonds said. "If I have a bad shift, I just put it in the back of my mind and keep moving forward."

Simmonds, 25, is a bonafide NHL player with 423 games under his belt already. He has been a 28-goal scorer. He signed a 6-year, $23.85 million deal 2 years ago, making him wealthy beyond his wildest expectations after growing up using second-hand equipment in Scarborough, Ontario.

So, what exactly fuels Simmonds' determination?

"I think he always feels like he needs to contribute more," Schenn said. "We all got off to a little bit of a slow start, but he's been one of the hottest guys in the league since the 20-game mark this season. He's definitely contributed. He's been great for us."

How great? If the season were to end today, it would be extremely tough for this voter to cast his ballot for someone other than Simmonds for the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the Flyers' most valuable player.

Simmonds' overall numbers - 18 goals, 22 assists for 40 points in 56 games - are not eye-popping. He does not have the most points on the team. But since Dec. 17, only Kyle Okposo (29), Claude Giroux (29) and Sidney Crosby (28) have more points than Simmonds (27).

The difference between Simmonds and Giroux is consistency. Simmonds shows up even when he isn't on the scoresheet. His secondary scoring ignited a once-deafeningly quiet offense.

"You know you're going to get the same thing from him every night," Schenn said. "He's going to be up and down the wall. He wins his battles. He's going to be strong in front. He sees the ice well. He's been extra determined. I think he's one of the best net-front guys in the league. He's strong on the power play and dangerous in front of the net."

Even factoring in his slow start of five points in his first 16 games, Simmonds has already brought up his goals-per-game (0.32) to near his career-high of 0.34 (2011-12). His assists (0.39 per game) and points (0.71 per game) are already at career-high levels.

"He plays the same way all the time," coach Craig Berube said. "He goes up and down his wing, he goes to the net. He plays a simple game and he skates. His feet are always moving."

Simmonds scored his 100th career goal on Saturday against his former team, the Kings, in a 2-0 victory. He has scored at least one goal against 29 of 30 NHL teams (Boston) - something other accomplished teammates like Scott Hartnell cannot say.

That is about where the impressive numbers end. In the analytics and advanced-stats world, Simmonds would not be lauded as an MVP-caliber player. He is the 247th ranked player in the NHL in relative Corsi percentage - the Flyers get 0.6 percent fewer shot attempts when he is on the ice compared to when he is on the bench, according to ExtraSkater.com.

Corsi is used as a way to help simply explain puck possession - a valuable stat since you can't attempt to shoot when you don't have it, and you can't win without shooting. He also starts more of his shifts than not already in the offensive zone, and the quality of competition he is facing is about average for the league.

Simmonds seems to be one of those players, though, best measured in person and not on paper. Outside of a 10-foot radius around the net, the puck is never on Simmonds' stick longer than a second or two.

"Because he keeps it simple," Jake Voracek said. "He doesn't try to toe-drag people. When he's got no play, he just tries to chip it in and go to work on their 'D' because he is so damn strong. I think he wins probably 80 percent of the battles he's in. That's a pretty big number."

Other than maybe Okposo, perhaps no player among the NHL's top 50 scoring leaders gets as little publicity or credit for his game than Simmonds. The better argument may be this: Which player among that group has done more with a comparatively limited talent scope?

What Simmonds does not have in playmaking or skating ability, he makes up for with brain and brawn. It's one thing to fancy a solid shot - like other struggling analytics player Phil Kessel - with an ability to dangle through defensemen. It is another entirely to willingly give the puck away, win it back and jam it into the net in a sport of men.

"He would be a great pick," Voracek, who won the Bobby Clarke Trophy last season, said of the team MVP award. "He's playing very well. He knows where to be around the net. He's always picking the right spot. Not everyone can do that."

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