Kyle Dubas Puts the Word Out That Veteran Winger is Available
With the 2022-23 regular season just a few, short days away, clubs are trimming their rosters down to compliant size, with most down to the last remaining handful. For fans, it is an exciting time; the anticipation of waiting to see their favorite teams' final composition before they ride into battle.
For players, however, this time of year is incredibly stressful. For the many, many players on two-way contracts (simply, the difference between 5 and 6 digits in annual salary), the uncertainty of where they will be living and how much they will be making adds an exorbitant amount of stress onto players. Players who are already stressing to get their bodies right and hopefully make their NHL club, all while balancing family simultaneously.
And for the veterans whose careers are on the cusp of retirement, this is their last chance to galvanize their legacies; their last dance, if you will. Wayne Simmonds falls front and center of this category, as his fascinating career is nearing the 18th green. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Toronto GM Kyle Dubas sent an email to other GMs notifying them that Wayne Simmonds is available.
Friedman writes, ''With season-opening rosters finalized tomorrow afternoon, TOR sent email making it known 1,019-game vet Wayne Simmonds is available. Return is not as important as 'doing right by the player.' Simmonds has said he feels good and very much wants to play. Hopefully, there's a path.''
34 years old, Simmonds is about to start his 15th NHL season, but it does not look like the Leafs have room for him. Desperate to advance in the playoffs, Dubas is making the necessary cuts to his team in order to maximize his chances. Unfortunate, however, that Simmonds is a casualty.
Considering Toronto was a top-four team in the NHL last season in two-way dominance, Simmonds' lack of individual impact is a concern. If anyone takes Dubas up on his offering, I foresee 'future considerations' being on the move once again, this time to Toronto.
At least Dubas is trying to facilitate a lateral move for the veteran, rather than relegating Simmonds to the minors or worse, retirement. Still, the odds are not great that a Stanley Cup contender will pay anything for Simmonds' services, unfortunately.
Although, perhaps there is a team out there looking for veteran presence and the certain edge Simmonds has always had to his game.
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