Toronto Maple Leafs should inquire about Wayne Simmonds

Recent reports have suggested that Philadelphia Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds could be on the trading block this summer and the Toronto Maple Leafs should inquire as to his potential price.

A report from Sportsnet suggests that the Flyers are looking to deal Simmonds, who has just one year left on his contract, after a downturn in his productivity. The Toronto Maple Leafs should perform their due diligence and ask about the winger.

The 29-year-old picked up 24 goals and 46 total points in 75 regular season games, all the while carrying a number of injuries.

According to NBC, Simmonds suffered through a torn pelvis, pulled groin, fractured ankle and busted his mouth twice. He also tore a ligament in his thumb – the only injury that forced him to miss time last season.

With Simmonds set to turn 30 this summer, the Flyers are no doubt wary of his long-term future and would reluctantly prefer to pick up some value for him now, rather than see him walk away for free.

For the Leafs, they are also set to lose a big-scoring winger in the form of James van Riemsdyk.

Wayne Simmonds is a popular playing in the NHL and adding him, with his low cap hit of $3.975 million, for a season to fill the gap left by JVR could be shrewd business.

Simmonds is a tough guy, as shown by the number of injuries he’s played through, and is still capable of putting up a ton of goals – something the Leafs need once JVR walks.

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His HERO Chart puts him as a solid second-line winger, which could see him line up alongside the likes of Nazem Kadri and Mitch Marner, though the chemistry the pair have built up with Patrick Marleau would be difficult to break up.

Simmonds would be a solid addition to the team’s powerplay, meaning that he would be given plenty of minutes each game and would have many opportunities to score.

Despite the injuries, Simmonds still managed to play over 18 minutes each night and produce at a reasonable level – though somewhat lower than is typically expected of him.

This might not matter to the Leafs, who would manage his recovery carefully and be wary of pushing him too hard ahead of the new season.

For Simmonds, it would also give him a chance to be closer to his home in Scarborough, Ontario.

The biggest question surrounding a trade for Simmonds would be the price.

The Leafs could be willing to part with the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft, feeling that Simmonds’ immediate impact is more beneficial than a late first-rounder being developed over the next few years.

The Toronto Maple Leafs also have some prospects that might be of value to the Flyers. A package could be put together that even potentially sees the Buds retain their first-round pick.

Regardless of the potential price, the Toronto Maple Leafs should at the very least pick up a phone and enquire about Simmonds’ availability and cost.

He would give them an ideal scoring winger to replace the production of van Riemsdyk and, if he lives up to his usual performances, could be re-signed or flipped down the road.

Next: Leafs Mock Draft - Final Edition

What do you think Toronto Maple Leafs fans? Would you be happy seeing the team trading for Simmonds? Share your thoughts in the comments down below.