The Toronto Maple Leafs No Longer Need Wayne Simmonds

The Toronto Maple Leafs pursued Wayne Simmonds last free agency, with the intent to revitalise his career, while adding toughness to their line-up.

Unfortunately for them, it hasn’t quite gone to plan. While Wayne Simmonds did indeed offer the extra physicality that the Toronto Maple Leafs sought, he was limited to less than 10 minutes on most nights.

In fact, by the time the Stanley Cup Playoffs rolled around, Simmonds found himself seeing action in just two of the Leafs’ seven-game first round series with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The signing, of course, was made was the best intentions and the hope that Simmonds could find his scoring game once more; after all, he’d historically been a 30-goal man.

Toronto Maple Leafs Don’t Need Wayne Simmonds Anymore

With the Toronto Maple Leafs seeming likely to change things up, with regards to the make-up of their fourth line, there’s every chance that Wayne Simmonds may find himself demoted to the Toronto Marlies or perhaps even bought out.

Quite simply, the Leafs have better options.

Factor in that summer free agency signing Nicolas Aube-Kubel isn’t scared to show a physical side to his game and he will be in competition for Simmond’s job.  Also consider that the Leafs have Engvall, Kampf, Jarnkrok locked for sure into the bottom six, with possibly Kerfoot (if he’s not traded or the second left-wing) Denis Malgin, Adam Gaudette, Nick Robertson, Joey Anderson,  Alex Steeves, Nick Abruzzese, Pontus Holmberg and Semyon Der-Arguchintsov.

Is there any way that Simmonds, or even Kyle Clifford, is breaking through and winning one of the (maximum) three jobs available against guys who are a decade younger and feature way more upside?  It’s hard to see.

However, when doing right by the player is a toss-up between sending him to the minors or buying out his contract, it’s not exactly the nicest business decision to have to make.

Frankly, a buyout doesn’t even buy the team that much space – while it’ll save them $350,000 it only frees up an extra $200,000 this season (per CapFriendly) which is not exactly an amount that moves the needle.

It’s a bit of a tough spot the team find themselves in because Simmonds isn’t likely to want to play with the Marlies and a buyout is of no true value – there’s every chance the Maple Leafs have to keep Simmonds on the roster this season despite not needing him and his style not matching their tactics.

Then again, they are in a pro sports team, and sometimes it’s necessary to be a little cut-throat. If Tampa can throw away Ryan McDonagh, the Leafs can’t keep Wayne Simmonds for sentimental reasons.