The Philadelphia Flyers were holding out hope that they wouldn’t have to trade Wayne Simmonds, but they have finally made him available.
Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher has engaged in trade talks about Simmonds ahead of Monday’s deadline, according to TSN’s Frank Seravalli.
#Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher has now engaged in trade talks for Wayne Simmonds today. He’d been waiting until the last moment before deadline to give his team every chance to claw back in the race.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 25, 2019
The Flyers are a fringe playoff contender and not among the top teams in the league this season. They have been reluctant to move Simmonds because of how much he means to the club and city, but the Flyers would like to receive something in return for the winger with his six-year deal set to expire after the season.
Simmonds has 27 points this season and continues to make an impact with his big hits, including a controversial one on Brian Dumoulin Saturday night. His teammates love him and reportedly lobbied Fletcher not to trade him, but that might not be enough.
Flyer source confirms that Wayne Simmonds has probably played his last game for the Flyers: “Likely but not 100% decided yet”#TradeDeadline
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) February 24, 2019
