Simmonds has Flyers seeking contract extension, not trade: report

Wayne Simmonds will be offered a contract extension by the Philadelphia Flyers, general manager Ron Hextall told Sportsnet on Friday.

"We're going to try and sign him," Hextall said.
Reports this week said the Flyers may try to trade the 29-year-old forward who can become a free agent after next season.
Simmonds is going into the final season of a six-year, $23.82 million contract (average annual value: $3.97 million) he signed Aug. 16, 2012. He is eligible to sign an extension July 1.
Simmonds had 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists) in 75 games this season despite playing all of it with a torn pelvis he had surgically repaired after the Flyers lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference First Round.

In October, Simmonds sustained a groin injury, lost six teeth when hit by a stick while sitting on the bench, and broke his ankle when hit by a shot, but he did not miss any time. He missed seven games after tearing a ligament in his thumb Feb. 18.
"I don't regret playing through it," Simmonds said April 25. "That's just my character. If I'm able to play, if I'm healthy enough to contribute, I'm going to do that. It's something I could play through and did through the end of the year. My performance wasn't the best, (but) I definitely don't regret it. … I don't know if it's the right thing, but I can't not play. I think it's geared in my head where if I'm not dead or not deathly sick, I'm going to try to get out there and do whatever I can."
Simmonds has scored at least 28 goals five times in seven seasons with Philadelphia, and his 86 power-play goals since 2011-12 are second in the NHL to Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (131).