Predators Acquire Simmonds from Flyers

The Predators’ top-six is getting some kind of makeover. Nashville acquired Wayne Simmonds from the Philadelphia Flyers just minutes before Monday’s trade deadline. The deal was announced less than hour after Nashville swapped Kevin Fiala for Mikael Granlund. In exchange for Simmonds, the Flyers received Ryan Hartman and a conditional 2020 fourth-round draft pick. The fourth-round pick will become a third-rounder if Nashville wins at least one playoff round.

To the Flyers

A five-time 25-goal scorer, Simmonds is on pace for just 21 goals and 14 assists this season. His dip in production has coincided with a loss of ice time. Simmonds is averaging just 16:33 a game after playing over 18 minutes a night in each of the last two seasons. Simmonds’ fate as an impending unrestricted free-agent was sealed when the Flyers signed James van Reimsdyk in the summer. He is a quality addition to Nashville‘s top-nine, capable of producing anywhere in the lineup. The 30-year-old Simmonds has racked up 203 goals and 175 assists in 824 games across his 11-year career. His status for tonight’s game against the Oilers is unknown at this time.