BUFFALO, N.Y. [WKBW] — Wayne Simmonds is ready to prove he still belongs in the NHL.
On Tuesday Simmonds joined his new teammates for the first time as the Buffalo Sabres get ready for a playoff push.
"I think this team is going in the right direction," Simmonds said after his first practice as a Sabre. "I thought that I could be a piece to ultimately help this team get into the playoffs."
During his first skate with his new team, Simmonds skating on a line with Jeff Skinner and Marcus Johansson. The 31-year-old winger said he'll do whatever he needs to down the stretch to prove to the Sabres and the other teams in the NHL that he can still play.
"I'm a UFA [unrestricted free agent] at the end of the year, so whether I stay here or I go, I need to prove myself," Simmonds said. "Obviously I know I'm not going to be the savior or anything here but just to be another piece to help the boys out. That's something that I relish. I'm a competitor and I've been a competitor my whole career and this kind of stuff brings the best out of me."
Simmonds and his new teammates begin a four-game road trip starting Wednesday in Colorado. For the full interview with Simmonds, head to the top of the page!
