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Player Discussion: Wayne Simmonds

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Toughness has it's place on a team. And Simmonds bring something that the team would sorely lack without him.

I don't care what he looks like in the pre-season. I expect he'll still have a role and be a contributor once the games matter.
 
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I dunno last night it looked like the Wayne Train got into the station behind schedule a lot last night

His wheels which were never great looked to be Joe Thornton level so far this pre-season

I still think he can contribute a little with limited 4th line minutes and maybe a little PP time parked in front of the net, but so can Kurtis Gabriel who may be a little straight line faster
 
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zeke said:
The thing about Simmonds is that he's responsible defensively, even if it's frustrating watching him fumble the puck offensively.
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He's responsible in the sense he tries and doesn't too many bad turnovers - but he can't skate so is a complete defensive liability in transition.
 
VanW27 said:
He's responsible in the sense he tries and doesn't too many bad turnovers - but he can't skate so is a complete defensive liability in transition.
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You would think so - but statistically he's actually been very effective (last year led all leafs forwards in expected goals against relative to teammates) even while getting ice time on all 4 lines, not just the sheltered 4th line.
 
The Iceman said:
You don't wake up one day and say THAT IS IT, I AM GOING TO PLAY TOUGH. You either are or are not.

Batherson was throwing hits at everyone last night. All in the flow of the game. Good for him.
Then on the PP in the 3rd period he took a run at Biega and hit him high.
That was the first time I said out loud somebody needs to go have a chat with him. My son said Simmonds. And next shift for those watching that is exactly what happened and surprisingly the running around like an idiot stopped.

Some posters believe intimidation in hockey doesn't exist, and dressing toughness is not required.
I would use this as exhibit A that in fact it does.
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True. You’re either tough and willing to play or you’re not.

Simmonds doesn’t really intimidate anyone. Tampa players would laugh at him and Point would intentionally run Marner or Matthews out of spite.
 
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I’m a Simmonds fan, but he’s been brutal this preseason. I hope he finds another gear because plays are dying all around him.
 
Nineteen67 said:
True. You’re either tough and willing to play or you’re not.

Simmonds doesn’t really intimidate anyone. Tampa players would laugh at him and Point would intentionally run Marner or Matthews out of spite.
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When you drop Tommy on 2 shots you have power in your fists. Not quite Chara steel fists but damn close. He shook up everyone on sens bench last night. It is why we won last night. He was game changer.
 
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He's not one of their top 12 forwards but he should be in the lineup as the 12th guy. A switch flips for a lot of guys once the actual season starts; I think he'll be something between what he was pre & post wrist injury.
 
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I think the only way you keep him is if he knows he's only playing against dirty teams. Ottawa, Montreal, etc.

Anything past that we're playing with 11 forwards.
 
TMLAM34 said:
Having Simmonds on the 4th line is fine.
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Likely this. He's really not doing too much in the pre-season. It's sort of frustrating because some people in camp are giving their all, and Simmonds is giving an "I'm a lock to make this team" effort. If he doesn't show anything this season on the 4th line you have to wonder...
 
Nineteen67 said:
True. You’re either tough and willing to play or you’re not.

Simmonds doesn’t really intimidate anyone. Tampa players would laugh at him and Point would intentionally run Marner or Matthews out of spite.
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That's not what I saw last night. Maybe when Simmonds was injured and couldn't fight.....maybe.

Last night Batherson and others stopped dead in their tracks when Simmonds was delivering his message after Biega got run high.
 
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Simmonds was starting to play well and score dirty goals when he got that freak injury. He is a guy who will play better as the season progresses and easily fits on our 4th line, if only to inject some energy into the game.
 
Simmonds looks like a tough, gritty vet getting his legs in pre season.

I think he still has a couple of gears. Montreal intimidated our skill guys. We need Simmonds, Ritchie, and even maybe Gabriel to ride a little shotgun and even stir things up once in a while.

As a skilled possession team, we are going to tend to get outhit. This team needs to learn to initiate contact, not try to avoid it.
 
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zeke said:
The thing about Simmonds is that he's responsible defensively, even if it's frustrating watching him fumble the puck offensively.
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Yep. The key will be to make sure he is with a couple guys who can skate, carry the puck, and cover for him. I wonder if he would do well with Kampf-Kase on the 3rd line? I don't love the idea of him with Spezza on the 4th.
 
kb said:
That's not what I saw last night. Maybe when Simmonds was injured and couldn't fight.....maybe.

Last night Batherson and others stopped dead in their tracks when Simmonds was delivering his message after Biega got run high.
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I get to see a lot of Senator games and he's really taken some strides as a complete player, Batherson really doesn't have much fear if any, I'd like to see him in B&W
 
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WinnieThePooh said:
Yep. The key will be to make sure he is with a couple guys who can skate, carry the puck, and cover for him. I wonder if he would do well with Kampf-Kase on the 3rd line? I don't love the idea of him with Spezza on the 4th.
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I'd say no to a 3rd line spot for Simmonds, I know he's a pretty smart player but he just doesn't have the 200 feet in him anymore, if he had to do it 3 times a shift
 
Dude's trash. In 20 games most of you are going to beg for him to leave this team
Love the guy. I used to love Kaberle too, I still do. But his final years were brutal to watch
 
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