Philadelphia Flyers welcome back Wayne Simmonds.
Wayne Simmonds is once again a Flyer, after a great move from Flyers general manager Daniel Briere.
The Philadelphia Flyers have made a brilliant move.
It what honestly seems like a no-brainer, Flyers general manager Daniel Briere announced on Friday that the Flyers would be welcoming long time Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds back into the fold.
Simmonds of course has retired from professional play but will take on a new role in the Flyers front office with his official title being the Community Relations Ambassador and Hockey Operations Consultant. It is hard to think of who the Flyers could have picked that would have been a better choice, as Simmonds was universally beloved by fans in the Philadelphia market.
Another interesting factor in this decision will be the existing chemistry between the man who hired Simmonds in this new role and Simmonds himself. Briere played alongside the bruising Simmonds in what were Briere's final two seasons with the Flyers.
Simmonds has already had a tremendous impact on the growth of hockey in Philadelphia with his "Wayne's Road Hockey Warriors"program and will no doubt look to continue that positive impact in his new role as a community ambassador for the Flyers.
Simmonds gave his blood, sweat and tears while a member of the Flyers and played a very physical brand of hockey that clearly took a toll on his body during the later stages of his career. It seems fitting that the Flyers have chosen to reward his dedication to the city and to the Flyers uniform with a new role that I am positive fans in the Philly area will embrace fully.