As long as Simmonds play doesn't drop off in the next year, I would have zero hesitation in signing him to a 5 year deal with a reasonable cap hit in the 6M range.

I like the four year idea but am not sure Summers camp does. I don't look to trade Simmer unless an offer is just too good to pass. Instead, as we have debated for some time, I look to move Girioux (maybe Jake). G is a bigger liability than a 37 year old Summer at 6m, IMHO. G appears to be a second line center and PP specialist at this point and may be declining from there.

Flyers are going to need some veteran players for the young guys to look up to, and who better than Wayne Simmonds? I also personally love Giroux and don't want to see a Mike Richards like trade. For me it's Voracek who I look to trade in a few years if at all possible, can you imagine how much cheaper his contract would have been had the Flyers waited a year to sign him?

the Simmonds camp could make a pretty convincing case that the collection of abilities he has demonstrated should put him north of Oshie's cap hit even if the term is shorter.

He will already get north of what Oshie makes if he continues this scoring pace. Shorter term would increase the cap hit even more. The 8 year deal for oshie was done to keep the AAV down.

Everyone likes to throw around oshie comparison but I see his next deal a lot more like lucic. Granted he got overpaid but 7x7 is his market oshie cap hit came down for cap strapped caps which is why they had to go 8 years. Personally if we could get him to take a slight discount at 4x6.5 or 5x6 I'd be happy. This guy plays in every area of the game 5on5 pp pk in the corners shootouts physicality he does it all and he's a leader a real leader. I'd move Jake before I walk away from Simmonds. Imo that's our worst contract for a 1 dimensional player. Unless all our young guys suddenly step up to be focal points and not emerging talent I don't think we can even afford to lose him.

Everyone likes to throw around oshie comparison but I see his next deal a lot more like lucic. Granted he got overpaid but 5x7 is his market oshie cap hit came down for cap strapped caps which is why they had to go 8 years. Personally if we could get him to take a slight discount at 4x6.5 or 5x6 I'd be happy. This guy plays in every area of the game 5on5 pp pk in the corners shootouts physicality he does it all and he's a leader a real leader. I'd move Jake before I walk away from Simmonds. Imo that's our worst contract for a 1 dimensional player. Unless all our young guys suddenly step up to be focal points and not emerging talent I don't think we can even afford to lose him.
- Tfaehner

Lol wait Jake is 1 dimensional?

Lol wait Jake is 1 dimensional?
- YuenglingJagr

Imo yes. What areas does he contribute to ? He's less talented ovechkin where if he's not scoring he's not impacting the game.

There is zero question you trade him and soon. The odds are overwhelming that his contract will become an anchor. He isn't taking any home town discount or short term deal. This is his last chance to cash in and any agent would tell him the same thing. Voracek and Giroux are signed long term with huge caphits to provide veteran leadership. Any contract Hextall signs going forward needs to be about production and upside not intangibles with those two already on the books.

With that said, Hextall will sign him. It's too bold a move to trade him unless the bottom falls out this season.

Imo yes. What areas does he contribute to ? He's less talented ovechkin where if he's not scoring he's not impacting the game.
- Tfaehner

He is one of the best possession drivers on the team, he is a top 3 playmaker on the team, he uses his body better than most on the team, and is part of leadership.

Did I mention he actually LED the team in points last year?

If he is one dimensional then what the (frank) are all the rest of these bumholes?

He is the best player on the team. Don't see what is so hard about the decision.

There is zero question you trade him and soon. The odds are overwhelming that his contract will become an anchor. He isn't taking any home town discount or short term deal. This is his last chance to cash in and any agent would tell him the same thing. Voracek and Giroux are signed long term with huge caphits to provide veteran leadership. Any contract Hextall signs going forward needs to be about production and upside not intangibles with those two already on the books.

With that said, Hextall will sign him. It's too bold a move to trade him unless the bottom falls out this season.
- psuhockey

I would also look to move him assuming he is going to sign a market deal. The return could be very good especially since he has another year left.

You could get a young already somewhat proven nhl player, young player who is close but would crack the flyers, some picks.

He is one of the best possession drivers on the team, he is a top 3 playmaker on the team, he uses his body better than most on the team, and is part of leadership.

Did I mention he actually LED the team in points last year?

If he is one dimensional then what the (frank) are all the rest of these bumholes?
- YuenglingJagr

He led the team in points when we were one of the bottom scoring team's in the league. Matt read was also a possession driver. One of our best. Looking at last year's roster who on the team is even a core piece moving forward? Expecting tk to grow, nolan lindblom coming in, etc if scoring is all he brings and mind you he's not even that great at that we have players coming to replace that. He is a winger who needs to be with g to produce he doesn't play pk he doesn't take face offs he's not particularly great in the defensive zone he isn't trusted to protect leads late in games and if argue his leadership does not outweigh simmonds. If I'm saying we had to move one of what would be our 3 biggest contracts I keep g and Simmonds and move Jake. In an unlimited cap world I don't move any the 3.

As long as Simmonds play doesn't drop off in the next year, I would have zero hesitation in signing him to a 5 year deal with a reasonable cap hit in the 6M range.
- MJL

From a player perspective he'll want the longest deal possible, so I doubt he'd accept a five year deal, but who knows.

Trade him, No player has ever been good in his mid 30s. Ever.

From a player perspective he'll want the longest deal possible, so I doubt he'd accept a five year deal, but who knows.
- DraftandDestroy

If there is one player between Giroux, Voracek or Simmonds that I'd want most it would be Simmonds so I think his asking price will be very high. Makes no sense to take a smaller term than 6-7 years, he won't get paid again like this on his next contract.

Flyers are going to need some veteran players for the young guys to look up to, and who better than Wayne Simmonds? I also personally love Giroux and don't want to see a Mike Richards like trade. For me it's Voracek who I look to trade in a few years if at all possible, can you imagine how much cheaper his contract would have been had the Flyers waited a year to sign him?
- Slipperypickle

Jake is one of there few good players at ES and he has the body type and skating ability that usually allows a guy to age pretty well. I wouldn't be looking to move him at this point.

If Giroux can have a solid, bounce back season this year, he would be the guy I'd prefer to move. He has a slight build and isn't a dynamic skater and I don't think he will age well. However moving him won't be easy for the following reasons.

1. He will be 31 at that point and still locked into 4 years with a cap hit of 8.275 per. The Flyers would likely have to eat somewhere between 25-50% of the contract to make a deal

2. He has a full NMC/NTC so you would have to send somewhere he wants to go which will make the deal that much harder to make.

If you are looking to get the best return, Simmonds is the logical guy to move.

Trade him. We will not win with Giroux Voracek and Simmonds unfortunately As much as I like the trio, the team has accomplished little with these 3 at the helm. Time to look to the future and get players that will be playing with Patrick. These 3 are considered our top producers yet our scoring at Even strength is non existent. To me it feels like these guys are part of the problem. If we should keep anyone I would go with Voracek.

He is one of the best possession drivers on the team, he is a top 3 playmaker on the team, he uses his body better than most on the team, and is part of leadership.

Did I mention he actually LED the team in points last year?

If he is one dimensional then what the (frank) are all the rest of these bumholes?
- YuenglingJagr

Last year he was absolutely one dimensional. His GF% was 37%. He was absolutely horrendous away from the puck and he wasn't that great with the puck.

From a player perspective he'll want the longest deal possible, so I doubt he'd accept a five year deal, but who knows.
- DraftandDestroy

If he's adamant about a 7 or 8 year term then explore a trade.

Trade him, No player has ever been good in his mid 30s. Ever.
- jmatchett383

The odds are overwhelming!

When it comes to trading or not trading Simmonds, you have to also consider Hextall's philosophy of building a team up the middle. It's clear he puts a higher value on Dmen, centers and goaltenders than he does wings. I very much doubt he is going to want 2 wingers in their 30s locked into long term, big dollar deals. He will make the deal.

Those who don't think that he has the stones to make such a deal are way off base. He hasn't made that type of deal yet, because he had no need or reason to. Hextall was fearless when he played and I expect that his mindset hasn't changed that much. He has a plan for how he wants to build this team and locking up a 31 winger who is an average player at ES to a long term, big dollar deal is not part of the plan. Simmonds will be moved either at the 2018 deadline or at the end of the 17-18 season.

Last year he was absolutely one dimensional. His GF% was 37%. He was absolutely horrendous away from the puck and he wasn't that great with the puck.
- MJL

Yes, even in a bad year for him, he led the team in points

When it comes to trading or not trading Simmonds, you have to also consider Hextall's philosophy of building a team up the middle. It's clear he puts a higher value on Dmen, centers and goaltenders than he does wings. I very much doubt he is going to want 2 wingers in their 30s locked into long term, big dollar deals. He will make the deal.

Those who don't think that he has the stones to make such a deal are way off base. He hasn't made that type of deal yet, because he had no need or reason to. Hextall was fearless when he played and I expect that his mindset hasn't changed that much. He has a plan for how he wants to build this team and locking up a 31 winger who is an average player at ES to a long term, big dollar deal is not part of the plan. Simmonds will be moved either at the 2018 deadline or at the end of the 17-18 season.
- BiggE

Also values 5v5 play more than anything else

Giroux had a poor season because he only had 58 points and was -15 and didn't produce well 5 on 5. But Wayne Simmonds apparently had a great season.

Flyers are going to need some veteran players for the young guys to look up to, and who better than Wayne Simmonds? I also personally love Giroux and don't want to see a Mike Richards like trade. For me it's Voracek who I look to trade in a few years if at all possible, can you imagine how much cheaper his contract would have been had the Flyers waited a year to sign him?
- Slipperypickle

If they wait a year he's an unrestricted free agent so I don't think it would have been much cheaper.

Kirill Ustimenko
- bmeltzer

I must've been sleeping as I've never heard that very fun to say name.