Flyers' Wayne Simmonds departs German team for Czech Republic

Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds is leaving the German second division and heading to the top league in the Czech Republic. Simmonds and his good friend, St. Louis Blues forward Chris Stewart, both signed 30-day contracts with the Eispiraten Crimmitschau Ice Pirates that were nearing their end. Both players decided to play for Liberec of the Czech league, leaving Germany on Monday.

Simmonds led the Ice Pirates with 14 points in nine games, Stewart had 11 points over the same time period.

Simmonds finished the 2011-12 season with 49 points, scoring 28 goals and adding 21 assists for the Flyers, his best season in the NHL. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Simmonds is one of eight Flyers currently playing overseas as the NHL lockout drags on. Both Claude Giroux and Danny Briere play for Eisbaren Berlin in Germany's top league.