I was thinking last night that this may be the final handful of games we get to watch Timonen play in the NHL.

I'm going to savor them.

For his entire career, he seems to be under appreciated except by maybe a handful of knowledgable fans and writers.

Truly a remarkable player.
The Finnish God of Defense.
- Marc D

are you trying to kill me here ?

I agree with Bill, at even strength, I would put VL on the 4th line and go with:
Hartnell-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Downie
Hall-VL-Rinaldo

I know it's a bitter pill to swallow considering they just signed him to a 5 year deal, but he just is not working out on the wing and I don't see another option that's any better at this point.
- BiggE

I have a feeling the Flyers are going to go after a top defenseman in the offseason, involving getting rid of either Schenn or Couturier. That frees up a center posistion for Vinny, probably 2nd center, where he should be.

I disagree. Lecavalier was scoring at a 33 goal pace when he was playing center before he suffered the back injury. And he was playing very well.
- MJL

You can't draw conclusions after a 9 game stretch to open the season. Look at the here and now.

I agree with these lines. Raffl adds the necessary speed and defensive play that line would need.

They can always just write it off and say he's injured so they'll use him mainly as a 'PP specialist'. Then try like hell to move him this offseason.
- PhillySportsGuy

He's going to be tough to move after this season, unless he finishes with a hot streak or a great playoff run. My guess is, and I think Bill may be thinking along the same lines, is that both Schenns may very well be moved in a deal for a dman and then Vinnie would go back to centering the 2nd line next year. Hopefully, he will be fully healthy at the start of next season, and able to be successful as a 2nd line center.

are you trying to kill me here ?
- -davies-

Kimmo Timonen will become a New York Ranger on July 1, 2014.

I agree with Bill, at even strength, I would put VL on the 4th line and go with:
Hartnell-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Downie
Hall-VL-Rinaldo

I know it's a bitter pill to swallow considering they just signed him to a 5 year deal, but he just is not working out on the wing and I don't see another option that's any better at this point.
- BiggE

The simplest solution that makes the team better is moving B Schenn back to Wing, and Lecavalier back to Center. When you look at the disparity between the first PP unit and the 2nd in terms of icetime. Coupled with the low ES icetime that the 4th line gets, it would be wasting Lecavalier.

I have a feeling the Flyers are going to go after a top defenseman in the offseason, involving getting rid of either Schenn or Couturier. That frees up a center posistion for Vinny, probably 2nd center, where he should be.
- Streit2ThePoint

I really don't think so. They've spent the last couple drafts picking several defenseman. Those guys are getting closer. Might as well just wait it out rather than overpay for an overrated defenseman.

Kimmo Timonen will become a New York Ranger on July 1, 2014.
- aightwebang17

You sir, are a very bad man!

Kimmo Timonen will become a New York Ranger on July 1, 2014.
- aightwebang17

don't u watson me buddy

I really don't think so. They've spent the last couple drafts picking several defenseman. Those guys are getting closer. Might as well just wait it out rather than overpay for an overrated defenseman.
- PhillySportsGuy

But that's the Flyer way!

The simplest solution that makes the team better is moving B Schenn back to Wing, and Lecavalier back to Center. When you look at the disparity between the first PP unit and the 2nd in terms of icetime. Coupled with the low ES icetime that the 4th line gets, it would be wasting Lecavalier.
- MJL

That might be true, but I don't think they are going to do it. They obviously feel that Schenn is better at center and whether their long term plan is keeping him or trading him, it's best to let him stay at the position that best suits him.

I disagree. Lecavalier was scoring at a 33 goal pace when he was playing center before he suffered the back injury. And he was playing very well.
- MJL

Regardless, he has the back injury, it's impacting his play, and the Flyers need to do what is best for the team, and if that means bumping one of Downie or VL down to the 4th line while moving Raffl up, give it a try.

That might be true, but I don't think they are going to do it. They obviously feel that Schenn is better at center and whether their long term plan is keeping him or trading him, it's best to let him stay at the position that best suits him.
- BiggE

But center also best suits Vinny. I'd rather let a young forward who is good at both wing and center play wing when a veteran player who is only good at center, play center.

You can't draw conclusions after a 9 game stretch to open the season. Look at the here and now.
- PhillySportsGuy

First of all it wasn't 9 games, it was over 22 games before the back injury. And my conclusion is also drawn from Lecavalier's 15 year career in which he's been a top player. He's not a rookie playing his first NHL Season.

The simplest solution that makes the team better is moving B Schenn back to Wing, and Lecavalier back to Center. When you look at the disparity between the first PP unit and the 2nd in terms of icetime. Coupled with the low ES icetime that the 4th line gets, it would be wasting Lecavalier.
- MJL

We'll never agree on Brayden Schenn, but I feel he's a much better center than winger. Not to mention, I'd rather him grow into being a #2C than a top 6 winger. He's more valuable in that area.

Regardless, he has the back injury, it's impacting his play, and the Flyers need to do what is best for the team, and if that means bumping one of Downie or VL down to the 4th line while moving Raffl up, give it a try.
- wolfhounds

I agree in doing what's best for the team. I think playing Lecavalier at Center, and Schenn at Wing is what's best personally.

We'll never agree on Brayden Schenn, but I feel he's a much better center than winger. Not to mention, I'd rather him grow into being a #2C than a top 6 winger. He's more valuable in that area.
- PhillySportsGuy

Long term, I see Couturier as this team's #2 Center. What makes B Schenn a better center then winger?

But that's the Flyer way!
- Streit2ThePoint

I can see them going after Niskanen and overpaying. I don't see them overpaying through trade though.

Long term, I see Couturier as this team's #2 Center. What makes B Schenn a better center then winger?
- MJL

Through my eyes, he seems to play better at center. I think his defense has improved. I would love to see him play a few months without Vinny or Briere on his wing. I believe he's on the cusp of being a bonafide #2C if you change out Vinny for Raffl on his line.

The simplest solution that makes the team better is moving B Schenn back to Wing, and Lecavalier back to Center. When you look at the disparity between the first PP unit and the 2nd in terms of icetime. Coupled with the low ES icetime that the 4th line gets, it would be wasting Lecavalier.
- MJL

It doesn't matter who's in the middle, that line has shown very little offensive chemisty, and they are terrible together defensively.

With the margin for error against teams like the Devils already razor thin, they simply can't afford to have have exploitable weak links like the Vinny line and Mark Streit out there, much less together, especially if Berube's not going to do a good enough job of getting them all away from Jagr's line, who owned them twice.

Through my eyes, he seems to play better at center. I think his defense has improved. I would love to see him play a few months without Vinny or Briere on his wing. I believe he's on the cusp of being a bonafide #2C if you change out Vinny of Raffl on his line.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think Schenn can play both spots. And I don't see a clear difference between one or the other. Schenn has been playing center, and he 6 points in the last 15 games played. And 5 of those points have come in the last 7 games. Which means he scored 1 point in the 8 games before that. So he has the same inconsistency and dry spells in production at either position. And the difference between Schenn at Center or Wing, is not nearly as detrimental to the team as moving Lecavalier from Center to LW has been..

It doesn't matter who's in the middle, that line has shown very little offensive chemisty, and they are terrible together defensively.

With the margin for error against teams like the Devils already razor thin, they simply can't afford to have have exploitable weak links like the Vinny line and Mark Streit out there, much less together, especially if Berube's not going to do a good enough job of getting them away from Jagr's line, who owned them twice.
- Tomahawk

I agree. So what's the solution? I switch Lecavalier and Schenn and start there.

Through my eyes, he seems to play better at center. I think his defense has improved. I would love to see him play a few months without Vinny or Briere on his wing. I believe he's on the cusp of being a bonafide #2C if you change out Vinny for Raffl on his line.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree with this. He already has good chemistry with Simmonds and adding a smart speedy 2-way winger like Raffl to that combo should only help.

For Vinnie to be successful, he not only needs to be at center, but he needs speedy linemates who can get him the puck where he likes it. A guy like Simmonds, who is much more of a finisher than a playmaker, is not the ideal winger for Vinnie.

You won't see this, but the best line for a player with Vinnie's skill set would most likely be: Raffl-VL-Voracek or exchange either of the wingers with Read.

I agree. So what's the solution?
- MJL

Bill said it, and many of us have said it in the past... Vinny needs to be moved down to the 4th-line and used as a specialist. Ditto Streit... get him the hell away from Grossmann and carefully manage his defensive matchups.

I know what you are getting at, but Lecavalier can't play the LW at all and isn't as effective on RW as at C. But with B. Schenn also better at center and Lecavalier struggling defensively in one-on-one matchups, it creates a real dilemma about where and with whom to play Lecavalier. Berube has all but come and said it directly a couple times -- he dances around it in the most thinly veiled of ways.

The truth is that the most effective way to maximize Lecavalier offensively would be to move Giroux back to a wing for the first time in years and have Lecavalier center the top line. But that's not going to happen.
- bmeltzer

So to sum this up... poor signing of Lecavalier.