Former Maple Leafs Announces His Retirement Mid-Season

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Hunter Bowman
January 26, 2024 (4:47 PM)

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After more than 1000 regular season games in the NHL, Wayne Simmonds, the 35-year-old unrestricted free agent, has quietly stepped away from the game, as revealed in an interview discussing the Hockey Diversity Alliance.

While an official retirement announcement is pending, Simmonds candidly shared with Joshua Clipperton of the Canadian Press,

"I haven't officially announced my retirement, but I'm done. I had a great career. It was the best time I've ever had in my life. Right now, it's family time."

Simmonds, renowned for his gritty play, particularly during his tenure with the Philadelphia Flyers, transitioned to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final three years of his career.

Despite facing challenges in the 2022-23 season with reduced offensive output and occasional healthy scratches, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity:

"Nice to be able to play at home. From the playing aspect, it wasn't what I hoped...I'm still grateful to the organization for allowing me to put on the Maple Leaf. That's an iconic jersey. It's something that I'll never forget."

Simmonds leaves an impactful legacy with achievements like winning gold at the World Juniors with Team Canada and earning an NHL All-Star nod in 2017. Across 1037 regular season NHL games, he amassed 263 goals and 263 assists, totaling 526 points. Simmonds will be remembered as not only a fierce competitor but also a highly-respected player across the league.