Wayne Simmonds joins Flyers as community relations ambassador and hockey operations consultant

By Mike Whitaker

Modified Sep 14, 2024 00:17 GMT

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced a handful of additions to their front office, and among the names included is Wayne Simmonds. They hired the former forward as the team's community relations ambassador and hockey operations consultant.

The hires were announced by Flyers general manager Daniel Briere, a former teammate of Simmonds, on Friday. Other additions to the hockey operations staff are:

• Former Flyers draft pick Reid Simpson as Director of European pro scouting
• Kedryn Orrison-Pilgrim as the head athletic trainer of the AHL affiliate Leigh Valley Phantoms
• Lindsay Eastwood as manager of player and hockey communications
• Ryan Cyr as a goaltending scout and development consultant
• Oleg Znarok as European player development and scouting consultant
• Ellyse Robert as a hockey analyst

Simmonds signed a one-day contract with the Flyers in April to retire as a member of the team. After announcing his retirement in March, he said:

“It’s hard to describe my emotions on a day like this, but one of my very first thoughts as I look back is my life in Philadelphia and playing for the Flyers. Taking the ice in a Flyers sweater is a special feeling and it’s one that I’m truly proud of. ..."

Wayne Simmonds was best known for his hard-nosed style of play

A native of Toronto, Wayne Simmonds suited up in the Greater Toronto Hockey League before advancing to the Central Junior A Hockey League. Eventually, he was noticed by the Ontario Hockey League's Owen Sound Attack, who made him the 114th overall pick in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection Draft.

Making it to the NHL after being taken by the Los Angeles Kings with the 61st overall pick in the 2007 draft, Simmonds made his debut in 2008 and appeared in all 82 regular season games, scoring nine goals with 14 assists while amassing 73 penalty minutes.

His offensive output increased to 40 points the following season before dropping to 30 in 2010-11. He was included in a major trade package to the Flyers that sent former Philadelphia captain Mike Richards back to Hollywood.

Simmonds immediately became a fan favorite with the Flyers and played six and a half years with the team before eventually being dealt again in 2019, this time to the Nashville Predators. He also played for the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs.

In addition to his hard-nosed play and offensive production, Simmonds was heavily involved in the greater Philadelphia community by participating in several charitable endeavors.

His notable community efforts included hosting 'Wayne's Road Hockey Warriors', which gifted tickets to underprivileged children, along with "Wayne's Warriors", honoring local veterans and other military members.