BLOG: Devils Pumped for Simmonds' Presence

With all the Devils additions this summer, perhaps the most overlooked is the signing of Wayne Simmonds in free agency.

The veteran power forward has quite a few fans around the Devils locker room, and they all say essentially the same thing: they're glad he's now on their side.

"I obviously got to know him real well playing against him for so many years in Philly," said Devils Captain Andy Greene. "He makes everybody a little bit taller and a little bit braver out there just with the way he plays and how he protects his teammates. Everyone knows that you've got be careful out there with him. And then just the way he plays. You know how skilled he is and how much of a power forward he is down there and he grinds it out. He can make plays. It's exciting to have him over here.

Video: RAW | Miles Wood on Devils Media Day

"I'm sick of playing against him. It's fun. It's very exciting. I think he's maybe really motivated this year in terms of not being exactly thrilled I'm sure with how the whole year went last year health-wise and stuff like that. So it's great for us and, like I said, I'm really looking forward to having him out there."

Devils forward Miles Wood had a big smile on his face when asked about Simmonds joining the team.

"I I think that's the best," said Wood. "[Ray] Shero actually texted me right before and I was so excited when I got that text and to know that he's on the team now and to know that I don't have to bark at him anymore when we're playing the Flyers or Nashville or any teams like that. I think it's so important to have those guys in your team in the long run, especially come playoff time.

Wood sees Simmonds as the perfect example of how to have success in the league and he even sees similarities in their games.

"He's a player that I've admired over the years that he's played, 800-plus games or so, and I watch his highlight films and how he scores goals. To now actually meet him and play with him, I think is really cool for me."