Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Timonen's Future

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Timonen's Future
- bmeltzer

make him captain !

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Timonen's Future
- bmeltzer

Timonen is every bit as important as Giroux right now, given the defense's uncertainty and inexperience. I was under the impression that he wanted to return to Finland and play for his team with Kapanen.

There's always a spot for a guy like Kimmo Timonen, IMO.

Timonen is every bit as important as Giroux right now, given the defense's uncertainty and inexperience. I was under the impression that he wanted to return to Finland and play for his team with Kapanen.

There's always a spot for a guy like Kimmo Timonen, IMO.
- Jsaquella

Just hope he can handle it physically.

Hopefully Kimmo plays another 2 years at a little lower hit.

I think everything you said makes getting J-Bo a good move. He would eat big minutes and play in all situations and still in his prime. The cap hit sucks, but I think he would do very well in Lavys high tempo system.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Timonen's Future
- bmeltzer

The Wings prolonged Lidstrom's career by limiting his PK time and carefully managing his minutes throughout the season -- no reason why the Flyers couldn't do the same with Timonen if they choose to extend him.

I have the feeling that Coburn's going to turn some heads next season in an elevated offensive role -- 35-40 points playing in all-situations is entirely within his capabilities.

The Wings prolonged Lidstrom's career by limiting his PK time and carefully managing his minutes throughout the season -- no reason why the Flyers couldn't do the same with Timonen if they choose to extend him.

I have the feeling that Coburn's going to turn some heads next season in an elevated offensive role -- 35-40 points playing in all-situations is entirely within his capabilities.
- Tomahawk

Nick Lidstrom was also a workout beast, which helped a lot. I'm sure Kimmo takes care of himself, but Lidstrom was apparently in a whole other realm of training.

which makes Homer's selection of Laughton even more puzzling. How many centers does this organization need? time to draft Dmen Homer.

which makes Homer's selection of Laughton even more puzzling. How many centers does this organization need? time to draft Dmen Homer.
- vejim

Best player available (and going off the board a little bit) has always served them well -- hard to argue with the results.

Nick Lidstrom was also a workout beast, which helped a lot. I'm sure Kimmo takes care of himself, but Lidstrom was apparently in a whole other realm of training.
- KGBflyers10

So is Timonen. He keep himself in tremendous shape.

Flyers need defensemen that are ready to play. I don't believe anyone avaiable to them at the draft would be ready near term.

which makes Homer's selection of Laughton even more puzzling. How many centers does this organization need? time to draft Dmen Homer.
- vejim

Still gotta take the best available player in the first round, IMO. Personally, I would have taken Määttä, but we'll see.

I did a blog a few months ago that showed future impact-player D-men are just as likely to be found later in the draft as in the first round. It really is a crapshoot, because D-man development is almost as unpredictable as with goalies.

The common denominator with most successful NHL D is that they were allowed to make their mistakes and go through the learning curve without too much being thrown on them right away. A lot of patience is needed to develop D men, even the best ones.

which makes Homer's selection of Laughton even more puzzling. How many centers does this organization need? time to draft Dmen Homer.
- vejim

I was going to post something like this but I can see I was Leight. I guess it is always a good policy to draft the best player available regardless of position like Bill mentioned. However, no where did I see that Laughton was the best player available when the Flyers picked.

There were two d-men available that were ranked higher than Laughton.

All that being said, I think Laughton is going to be a solid pro.

Still gotta take the best available player in the first round, IMO. Personally, I would have taken Määttä, but we'll see.

I did a blog a few months ago that showed future impact-player D-men are just as likely to be found later in the draft as in the first round. It really is a crapshoot, because D-man development is almost as unpredictable as with goalies.

The common denominator with most successful NHL D is that they were allowed to make their mistakes and go through the learning curve without too much being thrown on them right away. A lot of patience is needed to develop D men, even the best ones.
- bmeltzer

Hindsight is 20-20 but jeez, P.K. Subban was still available when the Flyers picked Kevin Marshall. I guess the talent diferential was not obvious back then

Still gotta take the best available player in the first round, IMO. Personally, I would have taken Määttä, but we'll see.

I did a blog a few months ago that showed future impact-player D-men are just as likely to be found later in the draft as in the first round. It really is a crapshoot, because D-man development is almost as unpredictable as with goalies.

The common denominator with most successful NHL D is that they were allowed to make their mistakes and go through the learning curve without too much being thrown on them right away. A lot of patience is needed to develop D men, even the best ones.
- bmeltzer

If I were an NHL GM, I wouldn't take the gamble of drafting a dman in the 1st-round unless they're of the can't-miss variety at the top of the draft -- the probabilities just aren't there like they are for forwards. IMO, I'm glad they let somebody else roll the dice with Määttä.

I love Couturier as much as the next guy, but passing on Hamilton might look pretty stupid in a few years. That guy has franchise-D written all over him.

There were two d-men available that were ranked higher than Laughton.
- MBFlyerfan

Of course, it depends on who's doing the ranking... Määttä, in particular, was in the top-10 to some, and barely in the top-30 to others.

Of course, it depends on who's doing the ranking... Määttä, in particular, was in the top-10 to some, and barely in the top-30 to others.
- Tomahawk

And your point illustrates why it is such a crap shoot. Maybe the Flyers didnt get the highest ranked guy in Laughton, but maybe they saw in him a guy who they knew could play i the NHL at some point, perhaps sooner than later.

Or he could be a guy that is part of a package to acquire an NHL defenseman.

Best player available (and going off the board a little bit) has always served them well -- hard to argue with the results.
- Tomahawk

I think that's true if you look at the specific players picked, but ignores the opportunity cost of those not picked and the long-term effect on the roster as a whole.

The fact is, good defensemen are generally more valuable than all but elite forwards and goalies as a commodity. Why? Because they are a rarer commodity. The cost of acquiring a 3-4 defenseman is higher than the cost of acquiring 2nd line, and even in some cases top line forwards.

As much as we all criticize the Flyers over neglecting the goalie positioning, they've also really struggled in drafting and developing defensemen.

Or he could be a guy that is part of a package to acquire an NHL defenseman.
- MBFlyerfan

They're usually loathe to trade their 1st-round picks before they've had a chance to crack the lineup and play... you'd have to go back to Woywitka to find a player they bailed on before he was given every opportunity to make the team, and Sbisa's the only guy who had a shot but was traded quickly.

It's kind of crazy to see that Giroux and Couturier are the only current Flyers 1st-rounders on the roster... the rest have been steadily dealt away.

Still gotta take the best available player in the first round, IMO. Personally, I would have taken Määttä, but we'll see.

I did a blog a few months ago that showed future impact-player D-men are just as likely to be found later in the draft as in the first round. It really is a crapshoot, because D-man development is almost as unpredictable as with goalies.

The common denominator with most successful NHL D is that they were allowed to make their mistakes and go through the learning curve without too much being thrown on them right away. A lot of patience is needed to develop D men, even the best ones.
- bmeltzer

It is a crap shoot, but it's also a numbers game. Personally, I would much rather them draft a larger volume of defensemen than prospects like Nodl, Cousins, McGinn, etc that are at best likely to be 3rd line agitators or checking line wingers with a little offensive pop. You can easily sign undrafted FA or NHL FA to fill those kinds of roles.

I think that's true if you look at the specific players picked, but ignores the opportunity cost of those not picked and the long-term effect on the roster as a whole.

The fact is, good defensemen are generally more valuable than all but elite forwards and goalies as a commodity. Why? Because they are a rarer commodity. The cost of acquiring a 3-4 defenseman is higher than the cost of acquiring 2nd line, and even in some cases top line forwards.
- TheGreat28

Their rarity has a lot to do with just how hard it is to identify the good ones at the draft table -- even teams with great track records of evaluating D prospects end up with Thomas Hickeys and Ryan Parents.

don't fall too much in love with schenn or couts. one will have to be moved to get a top 3 guy. inability to draft/develop dmen is a big maata... I mean matter, for this org.

My opinion of the Flyers and their drafting record is this:

They could be drunk, blindfolded, and have the 182nd pick in the draft and select an All-Star forward just by smelling him.

They could have 5 picks in the first round of the draft and either A. Not pick 1 dman or B. Pick the next Joni Pitkanen.

Other teams seem to have at least one high end defensemen in the organization. Why can't the Flyers?

Also.......

Ed Snider said a number of years ago in an interview that the Flyers had NEVER drafted and developed an All-Star dman. I found that hard to believe considering all of the great teams this franchise has had over the years. But I can't think of one.

Best player available (and going off the board a little bit) has always served them well -- hard to argue with the results.
- Tomahawk

It's worked for them so they stick with it. Even if they went defense they wouldn't likely be ready or help right now anyway.

Still gotta take the best available player in the first round, IMO. Personally, I would have taken Määttä, but we'll see.

I did a blog a few months ago that showed future impact-player D-men are just as likely to be found later in the draft as in the first round. It really is a crapshoot, because D-man development is almost as unpredictable as with goalies.

The common denominator with most successful NHL D is that they were allowed to make their mistakes and go through the learning curve without too much being thrown on them right away. A lot of patience is needed to develop D men, even the best ones.
- bmeltzer

re: Pietrangelo, Alex