Player Discussion: Wayne Simmonds

[HockeyVirus]

I think we can all agree his first half of the season last year he was a beast in our bottom 6. However after his injury and into the playoffs, he was kind of just there. Wasn't scoring, wasn't hitting, wasn't fighting, wasn't really great on the cycle.

IMO, the same is what he is doing so far this pre-season. So I ask, what do we have with him at this point? IMO if it wasn't for his legacy, he wouldn't even look like an NHL forward so far this pre-season. That's fine as long as he brings toughness and grit, but he isn't doing that either.

Does he end up on waivers sooner than later?

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[egd27]

Does he end up on waivers sooner than later?

Should he be? Probably
Will he be? I doubt it.

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

One word: Cut.

 

[Knies iT]

Shouldn't try to evaluate a guy like Simmonds in pre-season. He won't dial it up until reg season.

The second year on his contract will mean he likely clears waivers if it comes to that.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Shouldn't try to evaluate a guy like Simmonds in pre-season. He won't dial it up until reg season.

The second year on his contract will mean he likely clears waivers if it comes to that.

Simmonds isn't good enough to just coast through preseason and keep his spot. There's plenty of other veterans who are actually assured an NHL spot who have stood out more, and he should feel the need to do the same

 

[Buds17]

Fair to state that the two year contract was - to a reasonable extent - about lowering the AAV. I still imagine he at least sticks around for the first season of the deal.

 

[Menzinger]

I think people tend to overstate his decline. He's still an NHL caliber player, though obviously not a top nine guy anymore.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

He has been fairly invisible through 4 periods, which is not good for a guy who is on the fringes and is seeing a bunch of other fringe guys bring it and perform well.

At this point, he is not a full time top 12 forward on this team and should end up on waivers. He looks a lot like he did for much of last year since his injury, which is not a good thing for him. He should still be on the Leafs, but at this point he hasn't proved he can handle being anything more than a rotation piece who comes in when we need a physical element. Maybe that is for the best for both Simmonds and the Leafs anyways. Injuries are a concern for him, and at his age, he definitely can't play every day and be effective.

We haven't seen Engvall yet, but Brooks and Semyonov especially have looked better than him thus far, and those two can PK (and PP if necessary), take draws, and bring a lot more in pretty much every area except size and physicality... although Semyonov looks about as physically engaged as Simmonds right now.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Shouldn't try to evaluate a guy like Simmonds in pre-season. He won't dial it up until reg season.

The second year on his contract will mean he likely clears waivers if it comes to that.

He doesn't need to get into fights or chase hits (he shouldn't be doing that in the regular season unless necessary either), but he has struggled in front of the net and along the boards, even against guys he should easily win against, and hasn't really done anything productive. Not sure he is really making mistakes, but not making mistakes is not keeping him in the lineup when he is useless otherwise.

He needs to bring better effort, because he is not good enough to coast through preseason and certainly not good enough to struggle bringing his main offerings in preseason and expect a spot on the full time roster.

Bunting has a safer spot than him at this point and Bunting is skating his ass off. He's even over-skated the puck a few times because he is probably trying a bit too hard.

 

[ottomaddox]

what the heck? people on this board rolled their eyes at me, said "no chance" he gets cut.

________

Simmonds now on the outside looking in.

 

[Amadeus]

He played really well on the West Coast trip and it was on the same trip he got hurt. If he gets back to that level, I'm fine with him. If he's anything like how he was in the playoffs, cut him now.

 

[diceman934]

lol. He is still a very effective hockey player still. He does not need to fight unless someone takes a run at are star players. He is very good on the forecheck and much better carrying him on our roster then a small player who takes up a roster spot with out offering toughness and other attributes.

 

[Ashdown2]

dead weight

 

[fahad203]

Dudes done. He has been on decline what now for past 5 years?

I loved the guy back in Philly but I also loved Lindros when he was in Philly. We didn't get those Philly boys.

Leafs offered him a 2 year contract for no reason at all. That's just Kyle being a nice guy and going him some free money

He was never good with the leafs. He looked better in that west coast swing but that's because the team was playing well

He should be with the Marlies and that's it

 

[seventieslord]

I think we can all agree his first half of the season last year he was a beast in our bottom 6. However after his injury and into the playoffs, he was kind of just there. Wasn't scoring, wasn't hitting, wasn't fighting, wasn't really great on the cycle.

IMO, the same is what he is doing so far this pre-season. So I ask, what do we have with him at this point? IMO if it wasn't for his legacy, he wouldn't even look like an NHL forward so far this pre-season. That's fine as long as he brings toughness and grit, but he isn't doing that either.

Does he end up on waivers sooner than later?

I don't think he was even a "beast in our bottom 6" at any point in the season. A few opportunistic PP goals made him look like he was contributing significantly. He was awful at even strength all season.

 

[Menzinger]

what the heck? people on this board rolled their eyes at me, said "no chance" he gets cut.

________

Simmonds now on the outside looking in.

Is he though? I still wouldn't expect him to be waived unless he completely flops during the first few regular season games

 

[zeke]

I warned people last year when they were so happy we signed this "gritty warrior power forward" that he wasn't actually good.

That being said, being near league minimum this year is better than paying him real money like last year.

I would rather he wasn't on the team but as an 12th/13th forward I get that they might benefit from his muscle a bit.

 

[Iapyi]

It's good to have a guy like Simmonds around just in case for the games against some of the rougher teams. That said if we get some grit from some other guys he is just like anyone else and could end up expendable.

 

[The Blueprint]

I said when we re signed him it would be a mistake. He's being judged purely by past accomplishments it seems like.

I love Simmonds but he's not the same player he was, aside from a very small stretch last year. Too slow, pucks a grenade on his stick, can't hit guys cause he can't catch them. Just doesn't work in our system at all and he's stopping younger/hungrier/better players from playing on this team because of his rep.

Ill accept him as 13th forward but it's a mistake otherwise imo.

 

[Face Of Bear]

Imo he's still a good player to have around as your 12/13/14 forward. Once we start getting some injuries I think we'll be happy to have Simmonds stepping in. But I agree, we have enough young guys who are looking good that might push Simmonds out of the top 12 for now.

 

[TML Dynasty]

Anyone that makes our young fellas stand a little taller is worth it for me. He’ll be at 4th line minutes without stupid mistakes. I’m ok with it.

I actually liked Matt Martin a lot, but the main thing we gained with him IMO is how our young guys played knowing they had backup. We need more from our core. This is helping that IMO.

Simmonds isn’t what he once was but that’s ok. Gabriel can spell him off from time to time. Ritchie is there too. It’ll be a good culture shift.

 

[thusk]

Except for physically, he don't bring anything good to the leafs. He's awfull without the puck, he's awfull with the puck. The only thing he can do in a hockey game is hitting and being out of play. I don't see what he really bring to the leafs to stay in the line up in front of brooks, anderson, engvall, semyonov or ho sang ( if he continu to play like that)

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Simmonds was awful last year, occasionally he can make a skilled move when he has the puck within 5 feet of the net but that's about it. I'll be ripping my hair out if he's seeing regular powerplay minutes again this year.

 

[Maple Leaf]

We. Eed. Needs a. New. Crunch master

 

[TMLAM34]

Don’t get the hate, he’s a solid 4th line winger. Great in the locker room, great off the ice, provides physicality and will drop the gloves when needed. Not sure what people really expect from a 4th line guy for under 1 mill.