Simmonds’ Offense A Key Variable In Flyers’ Success
Since acquiring Wayne Simmonds this offseason, the Flyers’ eyes have been wide with optimistic hope that the lanky energy and power winger will see an offensive renaissance and make a small departure from the grind-only role he had assumed with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Flyers, most notably general manager Paul Holmgren, think Simmonds, whose previous career high is 40 points, has more to his game than what he’s shown in his young career. And this preseason, the organization has handed the 23-year-old every chance possible to prove them right.
With four goals and an assist in four preseason games, he’s doing just that.
On Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center against the New Jersey Devils in preseason action, coach Peter Laviolette sent out the first power play unit which feature highly offensive guns such as Claude Giroux, Jaromir Jagr, Chris Pronger and Andrej Meszaros.
However, one name accompanied the group that didn’t seem to belong — Wayne Simmonds.
“To be honest they asked me to stand in front of the net,” Simmonds said. “It’s a pretty easy job when you’re playing with Giroux and Jagr out there. They’ll get pucks through I know that all I really have to do is go and stand there and try and get pucks and be a screen.”
Filling in for the injured James van Riemsdyk as the big body net presence, Simmonds made the most of his work, earning a dirty goal and even snagging an assist on the man advantage, which went 2-for-4 and has been scorching hot all preseason. Jagr, who will work as a power play shot specialist, sees the benefit of someone as strong and long as Simmonds working the net.
“Well, that’s his job,” Jagr said about Simmonds working in rebounds. “He’s a great, strong guy and he’s got the big body, big reach. I think we’re going to shoot a lot, so he’s getting everything.”
Since power play setups are typically recipes and promote the cohesiveness of particular combinations, Simmonds’ insertion adds a new ingredient that the Flyers haven’t attempted before. Van Riemsdyk will certainly be the primary net factor and Scott Hartnell will also receive time to produce. But with Simmonds in the mix, Laviolette now has a new dynamic. An untapped offensive talent.
“Both units, I think both units are going to really click,” Laviolette said about his team’s power play, which struggled to find consistency last season. “We’ve got to get James [van Riemsdyk] in there when he gets back, but both units have had a lot of time, it’s been every day now for four or five days. I think the more time we spend on it, work on it, find some continuity with the groups, the more successful we’ll be. I definitely think there’s a lot of options that are available. They’re both set up just a little bit different. A lot of things can happen.”
What Simmonds is doing for the Flyers’ power play late in the preseason is the same thing he stands to do for the team’s offense as a whole — give them options. As a player not counted on for production, Simmonds is a variable with the ability to surprise. And with the offense lost from the offseason of exodus for the Flyers, who sent Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Ville Leino packing, a player like Simmonds could prove the X-factor moving forward.
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