Quick Hits: August 26, 2018
1) Flyers power forward Wayne Simmonds celebrates his 30th birthday today. He enters his 30s with 762 NHL regular season games (226 goals, 218 assists, 444 points, 958 penalty minutes) to his credit plus 42 playoff games (eight goals, 13 assists, 21 points, 106 penalty minutes). He is slated to begin his 11th season in the NHL and 8th with the Flyers.
Could it be the last in Philly for the impending unrestricted free agent? It depends on whether the organization and Simmonds' agent, Eustace King, come to an agreement on the term of a contract extension. Length of contract is believed to be a bigger stumbling block than cap hit, although the Simmonds camp will surely look to make up for what turned out to be a bargain six-year contract ($3.975 cap hit) under his current deal. One of the NHL's best netfront power play presences, he has scored 30+ goals twice, 28+ goals four times and 24+ goals five times while also taking on a leadership role as an alternate captain who doesn't mind playing the "bad cop" role when necessary but also invariably stands up for his teammates on the ice and in the press.
Although Simmonds is sometimes dismissed as a guy "who only scores on the power play" -- as if those goals count less on the scoreboard or are easy to collect -- he has also scored 72 even strength goals (and three shorthanded tallies) over the last five seasons; an average of 14.4 per season. Considering that he has only irregularly played on the top line and that last season was an injury-plagued year, that's not a bad total.
As far as puck-possession metrics go (since some consider it a primary-importance stat rather than one piece of a puzzle) Simmonds is more or less a break-even shot attempt differential player over his Philly career despite usually being minus-rated in on-ice goal differentials. It's not a really a big concern apart from struggles at times in converting clearing opportunities into successful clears. He's not a great puckhandler and he's not stellar without the puck but he is relentless in second and third efforts and he's also a very good forechecker.
Simmonds was far from a healthy player last season, which he subsequently admitted after the playoffs. It was evident in his skating, a downturn in his success on the boards and a bit of a dip in his physical game; the latter two areas are his bread-and-butter strengths along with his net-front scoring abilities. He should be back to normal in those areas in 2018-19 if he can stay healthy. Add that to all the intangible elements he brings, and deciding on what to do about his contract is not an enviable decision for Ron Hextall. He's not all that easy to replace at present, which is why the Flyers would have no problem finding a trade partner if it comes down to that later in the season.
Caveat: Power forwards' health records often become spotty in their 30s. Although very strong pound-for-pound, Simmonds has always been gangly-looking with long, skinny legs. How much of a toll has all the wear-and-tear he's played through taken? Can he continue to do so and still be effective come his mid-30s? Ideally, I don't think the Flyers really want to go beyond three years on a new deal for Simmonds but, on the flip side, I can see where the Simmonds camp would be coming from if they are trying to secure a deal that will take the player through the rest of his NHL career.
2) SHL preseason: Felix Sandström continued what has been a strong preseason for him with a victorious performance for HV71 in a 3-1 road win over Rögle BK on Saturday. Sandström turned back 28 of 29 shots, yielding only a latter first-period tally. He has stopped 57 of 60 shots thus far in the exhibition season.
3) Junior hockey training camps are underway in Canada and the preseason is about a week away from starting for some clubs. Flyers-related schedules are as follows:
*OHL: The defending OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs, featuring Flyers prospect Matthew Strome, are on the road against the Flint Firebirds on Aug. 31, and home on Sept. 1 to host the Windsor Spitfires and on the road again on Sept. 2 against the Erie Otters.
*OHL: Team captain Isaac Ratcliffe and the Guelph Storm have games on Sept. 1, hosting the Peterborough Petes, and hosting the Mississauga Steelheads on Sept. 3.
*OHL: Maksim Sushko and the Sudbury Wolves have games on Sept. 2 (hosting the Sudbury Wolves) and Sept. 3 (on the road in Sudbury). Sushko will likely dress in one of the two games.
* OHL: Ontario League MVP runner-up Morgan Frost and the new-look Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (new head coach, many notable players from last year's team moving up to the pros) do not have any preseason games until Sept. 13. By that point, Frost will be in training camp with the Flyers.
* WHL: The Flyers' lone Western Hockey League affiliated prospect this season is Everett Silvertips defenseman Wyatte Wylie. The native Washingtonian is the subject of the newest summertime article in the prospect profile series on the Flyers' official website. Everett, which like the Soo Greyhounds will have large-scale turnover atop its roster from recent seasons (including goalie Carter Hart graduating to the pro hockey ranks), is in preseason action on Aug. 31 (home vs. the Tri-City Americans), Sept. 1 (home vs. the Seattle Thunderbirds) and Sept. 2 (home vs. the Portland Winterhawks).
* QMJHL: The Flyers do not have any affiliated prospects slated to play in the Quebec League this season.
4) On the Flyers' official website, there is a profile of incoming Yale University freshman defenseman Jack St. Ivany. The USHL product is the first native of California to play for the Flyers, but would not be the first Californian to play for the Flyers if he someday makes it to the big club. Can you name the two California-raised players who have played for the Flyers? Only hint is that both played briefly for the Flyers and one was born in another country. The trivia answer is in the article: click here.
5) Flyers top goaltending prospect Carter Hart sported a No. 31 Flyers jersey at the NHLPA Showcase in Toronto. No Flyer has worn No. 31 since the passing of Pelle Lindbergh in Nov. 1985, although the jersey has never been officially retired. Hart wore No. 31 for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships last year but wore no. 70 for Everett and No. 79 in training camp with the Flyers last year. Hart was likely just handed a No. 31 jersey to wear at the Showcase, and it is not reflective of the Flyers organization ending the "unofficial retirement policy" for Lindbergh's number.
Carter Hart is at the @NHLPA Rookie Showcase, sporting No. 31 on his jersey (photo by @sportsology). It is likely just coincidental. He wore 31 at WJC but 70 for Everett. No Flyer has worn 31 since Pelle Lindbergh. Hart wore 79 at training camp last year. pic.twitter.com/wQcD3tqVxT
— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) August 26, 2018