Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers has captured the NHL All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award.
Originally drafted by the L.A. Kings, Simmonds wins the award in the same city and arena where his NHL career started. In Philly, he has blossomed into an impact power forward for the Flyers and there is the potential for this season to be his most productive. He’s up to 21 goals and 38 points this season.
Simmonds scored twice in the Metropolitan Division’s win over the Atlantic Division to reach the final, putting himself at least into the conversation for the MVP award.
Against Connor McDavid and the stars of the Pacific Division, Simmonds scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the second half of the main event Sunday. The Metropolitan, with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, won 4-3 to earn the $1 million grand prize.
Simmonds buried a perfect pass from Taylor Hall, who immediately broke into the zone from the faceoff following the Cam Atkinson tying goal.