Bill Meltzer: Timonen's Hockey Future is Cloudy; Flyers Sign Del Zotto

You have to believe that Hextall will spend the rest of the summer trying to find a player that can log big minutes (Byfluglien, Myers, Edler, Phaneuf)?

Ummmmmm what?

Agreed Bill! Hopefully he can re-prove himself and be more accountable. The chief will demand it, and it's an inexpensive option if kimmo can't return.

Oh to be a Flyers fan.

Bill Meltzer: Timonen's Hockey Future is Cloudy; Flyers Sign Del Zotto
- bmeltzer

Roll of the dice on a former 40 point defenseman...he won't replace Kimmo, but he gives them options and mobility.

Low risk possible good reward

So, the D pairings just got a bit uncertain going into camp. Who takes Kimmo's spot on the top line? Where doesM MDZ fit in? For fun:


Coburn-Streit
Grossmann-MacDonald
MDZ-Schenn

Oh to be a Flyers fan.
- Flyers1218

In NYC?

Can't deny the loss of his leadership will be felt, but he was in all honesty going to be a 3rd pairing D man. His minutes weren't going to be what they used to be. I hate to say this on the day of this sad news, but I didn't have a whole lot of confidence in the D even with him playing.

Hopefully MDZ has a bounce back year in a new sweater.

In all honesty this thread is about Kimmo. I hope you have a speedy and healthy recovery. Your presence is going to be missed.

Can't deny the loss of his leadership will be felt, but he was in all honesty going to be a 3rd pairing D man. His minutes weren't going to be what they used to be. I hate to say this on the day of this sad news, but I didn't have a whole lot of confidence in the D even with him playing.

Hopefully MDZ has a bounce back year in a new sweater.

In all honesty this thread is about Kimmo. I hope you have a speedy and healthy recovery. Your presence is going to be missed.
- Pelle31Forever

I don't agree with that at all. There's no doubt in my mind that Timonen was going to continue to be a 20 minute or better defenseman with the Flyers, if not for this health issue.

he's at the end of his career. Even though we could use it, I don't care if Kimmo ever laces them up again. I just hope he gets healthy for his own sake.


good lookin out, Kimmo. You had a hell of a run.

Actually I was kind of wondering something.

There is an old saying "If you want to be a millionaire, just copy what millionaires do". So it got me thinking: Do NHL scouts talk among each other even though they are employed by different teams or are they tight lipped about everything? I mean, if I am a Flyer scout, I would no doubt be picking the brains of guys in Chicago or LA(yes I am aware that Hexy was there) to see what they see in a defenseman.

I don't want to come across like a Debbie Downer on our D, I am just hoping like crazy our young core of prospects are as advertised and can help in the not too distant future.

In NYC?
- eichiefs9

that's right.

Can't deny the loss of his leadership will be felt, but he was in all honesty going to be a 3rd pairing D man. His minutes weren't going to be what they used to be. .
- Pelle31Forever

That was sort of the party line but I would have been surprised if it played out that way. I fully expected him to wind up in his accustomed role.

Can't deny the loss of his leadership will be felt, but he was in all honesty going to be a 3rd pairing D man. His minutes weren't going to be what they used to be. I hate to say this on the day of this sad news, but I didn't have a whole lot of confidence in the D even with him playing.

Hopefully MDZ has a bounce back year in a new sweater.

In all honesty this thread is about Kimmo. I hope you have a speedy and healthy recovery. Your presence is going to be missed.
- Pelle31Forever

Trouble is, Timonen was still their steadiest Dman last year. The areas where he logged heavy minutes-PP & PK- were strongest areas of the team. He's not a 25 minute a night top defenseman anymore, but was still really good last year

Trouble is, Timonen was still their steadiest Dman last year. The areas where he logged heavy minutes-PP & PK- were strongest areas of the team. He's not a 25 minute a night top defenseman anymore, but was still really good last year
- Jsaquella

You have to believe that Hextall will spend the rest of the summer trying to find a player that can log big minutes (Byfluglien, Myers, Edler, Phaneuf)?
- spatso

I doubt it. If he was willing to do that, he probably wouldn't have re-signed Timonen in the first place.

Actually I was kind of wondering something.

There is an old saying "If you want to be a millionaire, just copy what millionaires do". So it got me thinking: Do NHL scouts talk among each other even though they are employed by different teams or are they tight lipped about everything? I mean, if I am a Flyer scout, I would no doubt be picking the brains of guys in Chicago or LA(yes I am aware that Hexy was there) to see what they see in a defenseman.

I don't want to come across like a Debbie Downer on our D, I am just hoping like crazy our young core of prospects are as advertised and can help in the not too distant future.
- Pelle31Forever

Yes, scouts and GMs compare notes to varying degrees; obviously nothing that would tip a hand on impending move but they do talk shop.

In NYC?
- eichiefs9

East Islip Chiefs #9. I wouldn't advertise that. The Suffolk County High School hockey league is largely void of talent now that St. Anthony's isn't playing in it anymore.

Trouble is, Timonen was still their steadiest Dman last year. The areas where he logged heavy minutes-PP & PK- were strongest areas of the team. He's not a 25 minute a night top defenseman anymore, but was still really good last year
- Jsaquella

I get that he was on one of the top PP units in the league. But really, cmon, it was either pass to jake or pass to G. whoop dee doo. Looking forward to Streit getting the minutes there.

I get that he was on one of the top PP units in the league. But really, cmon, it was either pass to jake or pass to G. whoop dee doo. Looking forward to Streit getting the minutes there.
- Just5

First and foremost let's hope for a speedy recovery for Kimmo. He has been a machine for the Flyers. All that he brings to the team will be missed.

Will be interesting to see what this D will look like this year. Have to wonder if it will look much different by the end of the season. Hopefully MDZ gets his groove back.

I get that he was on one of the top PP units in the league. But really, cmon, it was either pass to jake or pass to G. whoop dee doo. Looking forward to Streit getting the minutes there.
- Just5

With having Streit and the addition of Del Zotto, the PP isn't where the loss of Timonen is likely to be felt. It's in other areas where the loss will be felt.

2 things...1) Get well Timo, You're a true warrior. And 2) Del Zotto is nothing more then Steve Eminger. I don't see this going well even though I hope he reverts back to what he WAS when he was good

Trouble is, Timonen was still their steadiest Dman last year. The areas where he logged heavy minutes-PP & PK- were strongest areas of the team. He's not a 25 minute a night top defenseman anymore, but was still really good last year
- Jsaquella

Truth.