The longevity of Kimmo Timonen

by craigg747 on Jul 15, 2010 5:43 PM EDT

Before I begin, I'm new to the whole SBN stuff so don't kill me if I get it all wrong.

While listening to the new BSH Radio, I heard talk of replacing Kimmo Timonen (albeit for a short moment) and whether it be as a plan for long term or maybe even for this next season, I was unsure. That's what I'm here to get everyone's opinions on.

I thought that I would break up the usual posts at this time about Paul Holmgren and Simon Gagne with something completely unrelated. Now as far as I can tell, the general consensus on Timonen is that he is an incredibly underrated player for the Flyers. Is that safe to say? As he approaches his later years (being 35 at the moment) how will the Flyers deal with his contract? Just as a refresher, he is signed until the 2012-2013 season with a cap hit of $6,333,333 and a NMC. I have to admit, I'm a relatively new fan and didn't watch most of the regular season, but from what I can tell, in the post-season he did a pretty good job. I'm just wondering if the Flyers will want to get rid of that huge salary for an older player. Maybe I'm saying the exact wrong thing because I have absolutely no clue what anyone thinks on this. But hey, Chris Pronger is playing with a cap hit of $4,921,429 until he's 42ish. That seems odd to me. But I'm probably wrong. So in conclusion, I'm just here to ask your opinion and what the people that are "in the loop" think, seeing as I have no clue. Will he live out his contract, maybe even get resigned? Or is all of this Gagne talk just a cover up to trade Timonen right now? Tell me what you think.

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I think what they meant in terms of Kimmo’s replacement was that Meszaros was brought in for the long-term future when Kimo retires or gets his role reduced. Kimo isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Think of Kimo this way: he is a great defenseman that would be a a #1 on most teams but since we have Pronger he is 1A

by historywillbemade on Jul 15, 2010 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

What the hell else were you doing during the regular season that was more important then the Flyers?

Just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Jul 15, 2010 6:25 PM EDT reply actions

Haha I didn’t have time to watch hockey with school and all but next year I’m screwing school and giving priority to the Flyers.

by craigg747 on Jul 15, 2010 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Next you will be wasting away your days and nights over here on BSH and really never amounting to much. Aim high my man, Aim High. :-)

Just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Jul 15, 2010 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

actually can you blame him for missing out on the regular season…………? haha

by rmg4519 on Jul 15, 2010 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Timonen can skate and isn’t super physical like Volchenkov, so he’ll keep playing until he wants to stop, not until his body just says no. In reality Mezaros <<< Timonen, probably forever, and yeah, Timonen is only a little worse than Pronger. He’s almost irreplaceable.

I guess if you get rid of Timonen you have to get a real goalie ;)

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by red army line on Jul 15, 2010 6:47 PM EDT reply actions

Almost like your squad as well ;-) What have the Caps done this summer to change the course they seem to not be able to get off?

Just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Jul 15, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

dump their starting goalie for two young kids?

by historywillbemade on Jul 15, 2010 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Ahem

Our backup was better than Jonathan Bernier head-to-head against Manchester, and in case you weren’t watching, I’d say an inability to score goals hurt the Caps just a teeny bit over those last three games against MTL.

by red army line on Jul 15, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, the Caps kids come with some pedigree.

Backing Backlund for 2010-2011

by ToddtheFox on Jul 16, 2010 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

The last part of what you said is what I was thinking about. Washington needed to add some toughness upfront and on defense. Too many figure skaters for the playoff style of game.

Just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Jul 16, 2010 6:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Timonen I think is vastly underrated. One of my favorite defensemen. I was so happy when we acquired him 3 offseasons ago and I am glad he’s still with us, he is invaluable to the team.

I think that at the end of his contract he’ll think about retiring, or coming back. If he comes back he’ll probably have a much lower cap hit but I think he can still play an important role if he still has some left in the tank after 3 years.

#1 Flyers Fan in New York

by Lindbergh 31 on Jul 15, 2010 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

Talk about tough guys. We talk a lot about being tough and needing tough players but in line with how underrated he is, is how friggin’ tough he is. When Kunitz Pearl Harbored his ass and he popped right up and was the second man down the ice. Most guys would still be laying behind the net after a dirty hit like that. Other then the legends and in the more recent history Timonen is right behind Desjardin for me.

Just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Jul 15, 2010 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Kimo does remind me a lot of Desjardin.

by historywillbemade on Jul 15, 2010 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I didn’t state that but Kimmo most definitely gives me memories of Desjardins. He is as Alon says one of the top 10 NHL defensemen (or pretty much in that top tier) and I hope he is never traded. Yes he has the second largest cap hit on the team, but I feel he has been and will be worth it and defintiely deserves that NMC he has.

#1 Flyers Fan in New York

by Lindbergh 31 on Jul 15, 2010 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Look at it this way

Do you trade a top 10 NHL defenseman for anything less than a king’s ransom? No.

The Flyers would have to get about as much for Timonen as they sent for Pronger.

by Alon on Jul 15, 2010 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe minus one of the 1st round picks (that cap hit isn’t small and expiring after all).

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Jul 15, 2010 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

good point. Still, Sbisa + Lupul + a 1st is a hefty shopping bag.

by Alon on Jul 15, 2010 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

That would be the known as a bag full of rocks. Sbisa is of no pedigree and might have been a wild card but it seems not. Lupul is a total team killer. Talented but lazy and uncaring. He should have gone before Upshall and Metropolit that year and I bet you the mojo of the team would have been completely different. And picks are always a toss up.

Just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Jul 16, 2010 7:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m sure Richie, Carter, Hartnell and Upshall never considered Lupul a team killer haha. He’s also got a quite often updated twitter account, which is good for fans, I guess…

Briere, Betts and Pronger; Briere, Betts and Pronger; Briere, Betts and Pronger;
Our team is so much stronger
We've got Briere, Betts and Pronger...

by PursuitOfLappyness on Jul 16, 2010 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions

In that category he is leading. That dude was just not admirable on the ice or off and I have a standard as a Flyers fan and he was not it. Partying happens, but lethargic disinterest in playing the sport is unacceptable.

Just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Jul 16, 2010 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh Lupol…we’ll always have game 7 against the Caps! …and the frustration of watching a guy that could score 30+ goals take ever other game off…oh wait we still have that…curse you Jeff Carter

by historywillbemade on Jul 16, 2010 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Lupul…what a schmuck. On his twitter: “just got my iphone4. anyone wanna video chat? Preferably a female…”
Grrr…

by Vansteel on Jul 17, 2010 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

i in no way blame him

if you’re that young & wealthy & relatively famous and single, why the hell wouldn’t you have as much fun as you could while it lasted?

by Alon on Jul 17, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

If i’m young and wealthy and famous and single, I’m not going to sit around and recruit women via twitter to video chat….that’s a schmuck in my book….

by Vansteel on Jul 18, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Haha I saw that. Lupes should get his own dating show. It’ll be just as good as the others!

Backing Backlund for 2010-2011

by ToddtheFox on Jul 18, 2010 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

to clarify

I don’t blame him for not having to try and get girls, that’s the girls’ fault.

by Alon on Jul 17, 2010 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Personally, I love Kimmo Timonen. The talk of “Kimmo’s replacement” to me was long term, after the contract ran out. I’d say I’d love to have him back after that, but that’s two years away and I can’t tell. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he went back to Finland and played for the team he owns (along with Sami Kapanen) for a couple years then be done.

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Jul 15, 2010 10:06 PM EDT reply actions

Kappy. oh how I miss thee. Kappy gave so much for the team that he even played defense and did it pretty well. i still remember him being taken off the ice

by historywillbemade on Jul 16, 2010 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions

$6.3 million cap hit ...

Although I absolutely agree that Kimmo is one of the (if not the, only competition was Paul Martin, and now everyone knows him) most underrated and underappreciated defensemen in the league … he is getting a bit older, and that huge cap hit could very well be spent on several other pieces. I do see the similarity with Rico – and frankly, through Desjardins’ last two seasons I used to cajole the television, “Trade him already!” Timonen isn’t there yet, but maybe getting some good young players for him now wouldn’t be horrible. (Still would much rather see Briere and/or Hartnell packing their bags.)
And I do find it amusing that when I brought up this idea last week, I was positively lambasted.

Maybe it should read "reformedpenguinsfan" since I have retired my Lemeiux jersey ... and purchased an Orange and Black Pronger jersey.

by penguinsfan on Jul 16, 2010 1:35 AM EDT reply actions

That has to do with your name, not what you are saying.

Just Call Me "M"!

by MJDII on Jul 16, 2010 7:05 AM EDT up reply actions

well Briere and Hartnell were only 2/3 of the flyers best line in a cup run. Briere and Hartnell earned their right to stay for now.

by historywillbemade on Jul 16, 2010 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

See, people aren’t talking of trading him though.

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Jul 16, 2010 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions

“While listening to the new BSH Radio, I heard talk of replacing Kimmo Timonen”

Sorry – but I don’t see the use in keeping a player until they hit social security age. I guess I just assumed that the acquisition of Meszaros could spell the end of Kimmo’s tenure here. Don’t get me wrong – I hope just as much as any of you that I AM wrong about this, but ….

Maybe it should read "reformedpenguinsfan" since I have retired my Lemeiux jersey ... and purchased an Orange and Black Pronger jersey.

by penguinsfan on Jul 16, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, then you have some issue with Holmgren too. Signing players into their 40s probably doesn’t sit well with you. But I’m all for keeping Kimmo at his cap hit as long as he plays at the same level.

No worries on jumping to conclusions, since I have been saying privately how I think Matt Carle can become Kimmo’s replacement. Not that I think or want him to be traded, but I think Carle can play the same role (maybe not a leadership role) on the ice as Kimmo in a couple years, right around the time Kimmo’s contract is up.

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Jul 18, 2010 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

And I also admit not knowing the context thereof, so perhaps I jumped to a conclusion. My apologies.

Maybe it should read "reformedpenguinsfan" since I have retired my Lemeiux jersey ... and purchased an Orange and Black Pronger jersey.

by penguinsfan on Jul 16, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Before Pronger came, Kimmo carried the shutdown load. He’s just an unbelievable player, who does all the subtle things to the degree it’s hard to even quantify. When we lost to the Penguins in 2009, a big reason was because he got the blood clot in his foot, which just completely disrailed the team defenset, even though he came back heroicallly and played in game 5. Not sure why he continues to fly under the radar, as he’s already a 4x NHL allstar.

Probably a big reason is that he toiled a long time in Nashville, and was Captain of the Preds before the trade that brought him to Philly along with Scott Hartnell. This is the type of thing that happens to a team that has 12k avg attendence while the team leads their division and gets to the quarterfinals of the SCF. You don’t get the attention you deserve. He was a huge part in them making the playoffs there, putting up from 40-50 points. He’s also one of those consistent bankable guys who makes other people better, and improves his defensive partners.

I think it’s fair to say, Kimmo is one of the most liked players we have on the roster, even though he’s expensive.

by Gizmoitus on Jul 16, 2010 2:10 AM EDT reply actions

And having Prongs is only going to increase his longevity and his ability to quietly dominate his opponents. Pronger will be spending a majority of the time going up against other teams’ top scorers, leaving Kimmo to own weaker competition. Also, both Kimmo and Pronger make their partners better, which gives us two solid pairings. All we needed was to solidify the third pairing, which we did, albeit perhaps by overpaying. Also, Kimmo plays to win, and reading his comments during the playoffs from euroflyers especially made me feel happy about this team’s desire.

I think there’s no doubt that Kimmo is one of the top defenders in the league and that the current Philly defense is the best in the league (on paper). Removing Kimmo would basically be a massive downgrade. And seeing as he’s still criminally underrated it may be difficult getting equal value for him anyhow.

Briere, Betts and Pronger; Briere, Betts and Pronger; Briere, Betts and Pronger;
Our team is so much stronger
We've got Briere, Betts and Pronger...

by PursuitOfLappyness on Jul 16, 2010 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Timonen isn’t going anywhere. He’s our number 2 defenseman and can play 25 minutes behind Pronger. Before Pronger came, he basically kept the the team alive on the back end. Meszaros was only brought in to replace him in the future. After Pronger and Timonen retire, Meszaros, Carle and Coburn will be the core of our defense.

by Flyersfan94 on Jul 16, 2010 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

I’m glad to see that most people are saying he’ll stick around.

I mean c’mon. How could the the Flyers trade this guy?

by craigg747 on Jul 16, 2010 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

No way we can trade him. And other people have said this, but I really love his comments after the game. He is a true athlete and he always wants to win. I hope we can get his name on the cup.

#1 Flyers Fan in New York

by Lindbergh 31 on Jul 16, 2010 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions