East Notes: Simmonds, Wilde, Noel

The Flyers are hopeful that they can sign Wayne Simmonds but GM Ron Hextall indicated at a press conference today that they have no issue with talks for the winger leaking over into next season (quote via the Flyers’ team website):

“If we get something done before training camp or going into the year, I don’t have the answer for that… Simmer’s got the character that something like that is not going to affect him. It’s not going to affect our team. I can certainly live with it. I’m sure he can too.”

Simmonds is entering the final year of what has become a very team-friendly deal with a cap hit of $3.975MM.  The 29-year-old has scored at least 24 goals in each of the last five years and is one of the better pure power forwards in the league.  As a result, he’ll undoubtedly garner plenty of interest from elsewhere if the Flyers can’t lock him up on a new deal.

Elsewhere out East:

• Islanders prospect Bode Wilde expects to play in the OHL next season, he noted to Brian Compton of NHL.com. The 2018 second-rounder (41st overall) spent last season with the US National Team Development Program which allowed him to maintain his college eligibility but the prospect of a longer schedule has pushed the defenseman to the major junior ranks instead of Michigan where he was originally expected to go.  Saginaw holds his junior rights but Wilde mentions that he’s not sure where he will actually play next season but expects to know where he’ll suit up soon.
• Panthers prospect Serron Noel has been added to Canada’s entry for the upcoming World Junior Summer Showcase, Hockey Canada announced. The winger was Florida’s second-round pick (34th overall) last month and will be taking the place of Penguins fifth-round center Justin Almeida, who is unable to play due to injury.