I was of the understanding that this was his last year. I thought he stated his desire to return home after the season.

Maybe I was wrong.
- 77rams

I can see him doing this every single year until he feels like he can't do it anymore.

Draft me a top two defenseman, for goodness sake already! If you can't, move over and find me a GM who can.

- 77rams

His point is who replaces him if you let him walk?
- stveshdy

In essence nobody in FA.

You can target a guy like Seth Jones, and give up assets to get that pick.

That or you do a short team fix with Streit.

Giordano via trade. I am sure there are other options, and the team will probably have to overpay but I do not have the phone numbers to the other GM's of the league.

If he has an injury plagued season, or doesn't play up to his standards this year, you have an injury plagued, aging dman, in decline at a 6 million dollar cap hit next season.

That doesn't need to be replaced.
- PLindbergh31

I'm on record saying I don't like the signing but I understand why Homer did it. I personally would of waited before making this deal.

In essence nobody in FA.

You can target a guy like Seth Jones, and give up assets to get that pick.

That or you do a short team fix with Streit.

Giordano via trade. I am sure there are other options, and the team will probably have to overpay but I do not have the phone numbers to the other GM's of the league.
- flyer_nutter

I'm all for it. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing whats out there.

In essence nobody in FA.

You can target a guy like Seth Jones, and give up assets to get that pick.

That or you do a short team fix with Streit.

Giordano via trade. I am sure there are other options, and the team will probably have to overpay but I do not have the phone numbers to the other GM's of the league.
- flyer_nutter

they keep playing like this and they wont have to give up any assets for Jones

I'm on record saying I don't like the signing but I understand why Homer did it. I personally would of waited before making this deal.
- stveshdy

That's my only issue, the timing. I'm not thrilled with the cap hit, but if he played well this season I could live with it. Now he's injured already.

Its not really a fear.

I just have a concern that even next off-season might not be as good as what we had hoped for.

I do think this team needs some serious talent infused.

The Flyers love to use the term retool, it will be interesting to see what they do.
- flyer_nutter

not having a durable org philosophy may have caught up with the team. I'm on board w/ ob18's choice of Jim nill. don't just collect talent, build a team that matches an org philosophy and show patience to see it thru.

Timonen, as a 36 year old last season, was 16th in the NHL in scoring by defensemen. He's also still a very good defensive defenseman and plays a ton of minutes. Age aside, one doesn't reach down to the AHL and replace that.
- Jsaquella

Not saying you can.

But you will have find a replacement shortly. Very shortly.

Edit. Though he was 37, to be 38 in March?

Eddit. 36 last season. Got it.

Weber is arguably, the top defenseman in the league. You can't replace that. But you should be able to replace a 37 year old, injury riddled, worn out, d-man like Timmo. But not this year because there is no one on the roster or in the pipeline who can come close to what Timmo brings. So, you better have plan B in place soon.

And that's the rub. And that's Homer, not Lavi.

Timmo's injury is no surprise. It didn't sneak up on anyone. I'll go so far as to say it was expected at some point, as it will be next year. It's a product of his age, the minutes he plays, who he plays against, and in what situations he's on the ice for.

Draft me a top two defenseman, for goodness sake already! If you can't, move over and find me a GM who can.

Sorry. Breakfast tasted funny.
- 77rams

Concerning your comment that Weber is arguably, the top defenseman in the league.
Shea Weber,THIS YEAR, is 126 in Assists, 105 in Goals (zero), 106 in points, 71 in plus/minus, 23 in hits, 44 in BS, 77 in Give aways and 1 in bonus money.
There are some others doing better.

they keep playing like this and they wont have to give up any assets for Jones
- vejim

I still think there are worse teams. Colorado, Columbus, Winnipeg and Florida all have the ability to suck more.

In essence nobody in FA.

You can target a guy like Seth Jones, and give up assets to get that pick.

That or you do a short team fix with Streit.

Giordano via trade. I am sure there are other options, and the team will probably have to overpay but I do not have the phone numbers to the other GM's of the league.
- flyer_nutter

Trade would be the way to go, but I sincerely doubt that #1 pick to get Jones is up for trade. Unless Toronto wins the lottery, that is.

That's my only issue, the timing. I'm not thrilled with the cap hit, but if he played well this season I could live with it. Now he's injured already.
- PLindbergh31

Atleast its one year. I am concerned with his health issues.

I hear you, I don't think you would have gotten a discount if you waited, but if he struggles somewhat with his play, or has a problem staying healthy you say thank you Kimmo for being a rock for this franchise and move on.
- PLindbergh31

Valid, until you look at what is available to replace him. If he was let go, who is there to replace him and at what cost?

Looking at the UFA list, there's a slew of veterans that are not as good as Timonen, but close in age and not to bad. Would one of them be acceptable on a one year deal at $5mm? I'm talking guys like Gonchar, Vishnovsky and Streit.

There's a few good names in RFA, but how realistic is it to expect to sign one of them to an offer sheet, and not have the current team match? How realistic is it to be able to trade for one's rights without trading a slew of good young forward talent? And if they trade for one, they still have to spend money to re-sign them.

We're not even sure how much time Timonen will miss. HE played 76 games last year and has missed 13 games in six years as a Flyer. He's far from injury prone.

The team currently leading the division lost it's leading scorer, yet somehow got better? If it did, it's because it's coaching staff made adjustments to account for the loss of Parise.

The Pens got better? They lost Jordan Staal and a very solid defensive defenseman in Zybenek Michalik. Brandon Sutter has replaced Staaal's defensive ability, but they lack his offense and nobody's replaced Michalek.

Shea Weber DID sign the offer sheet, which Nashville matched. So the fear of signing here is sort of a myth.
- Jsaquella

they shed michalek because he failed there...

Not saying you can.

But you will have find a replacement shortly. Very shortly.

Edit. Though he was 37, to be 38 in March?
- 77rams

Yes, they will, eventually. This season and upcoming summer is not the easiest time to do that, which is likely why they signed the extension.

not having a durable org philosophy may have caught up with the team. I'm on board w/ ob18's choice of Jim nill. don't just collect talent, build a team that matches an org philosophy and show patience to see it thru.
- isaiah520

Hell I'd be all for that.

I like the culture they seem to be builing of having 3 solid centers. Where any one of them could have a night to lead the team. It creates match-up problems for other teams.

I just want them to bring in guys who are solid players but excel at certain things. Not a bunch of guys who are kind of good all round, but dont really excel in an area.

Concerning your comment that Weber is arguably, the top defenseman in the league.
Shea Weber,THIS YEAR, is 126 in Assists, 105 in Goals (zero), 106 in points, 71 in plus/minus, 23 in hits, 44 in BS, 77 in Give aways and 1 in bonus money.
There are some others doing better.
- strongsupporter

You make my "arguably" comment a valid one. Thank you.

Enjoy BUdaj tonight, Price is sick.

they shed michalek because he failed there...
- isaiah520

He didn't play as poorly as Paul Martin. How many Pens fans did we hve roll thru here asking us if we wanted Martin?

I still think there are worse teams. Colorado, Columbus, Winnipeg and Florida all have the ability to suck more.
- flyer_nutter

my fear is that we will have the chance to pick Jones and Homer will go with a forward

Enjoy BUdaj tonight, Price is sick.
- Symba007

flyer flu?

Valid, until you look at what is available to replace him. If he was let go, who is there to replace him and at what cost?

Looking at the UFA list, there's a slew of veterans that are not as good as Timonen, but close in age and not to bad. Would one of them be acceptable on a one year deal at $5mm? I'm talking guys like Gonchar, Vishnovsky and Streit.

There's a few good names in RFA, but how realistic is it to expect to sign one of them to an offer sheet, and not have the current team match? How realistic is it to be able to trade for one's rights without trading a slew of good young forward talent? And if they trade for one, they still have to spend money to re-sign them.

We're not even sure how much time Timonen will miss. HE played 76 games last year and has missed 13 games in six years as a Flyer. He's far from injury prone.
- Jsaquella

All great points.

Only thing Id like to point out is Kimmo has also played through a lot. A lot of things that would probably makes some guys sit out. His play has usually dropped when he has done so.

Flyers have real organizational issues past the players on the ice. You hit it on the head
- Just5

What are the Organizational issues specifically?

Concerning your comment that Weber is arguably, the top defenseman in the league.
Shea Weber,THIS YEAR, is 126 in Assists, 105 in Goals (zero), 106 in points, 71 in plus/minus, 23 in hits, 44 in BS, 77 in Give aways and 1 in bonus money.
There are some others doing better.
- strongsupporter

If we're going to say a guy is or isn't the best defenseman in the league, using a month of stats after a player spent the previous 7 months not playing at all is pretty short sighted, to say the least.