"I'm a Philadelphia Flyer, right? I've been here for eight seasons and I'd like to continue on longer here, but whatever happens, happens," Simmonds told the Courier-Post on Thursday in Boston. "All I can do is focus on doing my job. Right now that's with the Flyers. We're fighting tooth and nail for every point we can get to make a comeback here."
The Flyers take a season-high five-game winning streak into their game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS, NESN, NBCSP+, NHL.TV). Philadelphia (21-23-6) is 13th in the Eastern Conference, 11 points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
The 30-year-old is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $3.97 million and can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, making him a potential trade chip ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. ET.
Simmonds said he's tried to block out the noise surrounding his contract and the deadline.
"These are my boys. I've been here for eight years," Simmonds said. "I've played with some of them for eight years, played with the younger guys since they've come in.
"I feel like these are my boys. I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna battle, fight and claw and do everything within my power."
Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said though he's had talks with Simmonds and his agents, he can't say how the situation will turn out.
"We all know where we stand and I can't really predict how it's going to play out," Fletcher said Monday. "But in the next few weeks we'll have to resolve it one way or the other."
Simmonds has 15 goals, second on the Flyers to Sean Couturier's 19. He's tied with Couturier and James van Riemsdyk for the Flyers lead with four power-play goals. Simmonds' 90 power-play goals since the start of the 2011-12 season are second among NHL players to Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (141).
