Flyers Acquire Timonen, Hartnell From Predators
Two weeks before one of the most highly anticipated free agency periods in NHL history, the Flyers have already made waves, trading for and signing defenseman Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell, formerly of the Predators. Both players were set to become hot commodities in free agency, and Flyers GM Paul Holmgren jumped the market, sending only a first-round pick to Nashville, and immediately signing Timonen and Hartnell to long-term deals today.
Hartnell, who was scheduled to become a free agent on July 1, signed with Flyers on a 6-year, $25.2 million deal for a cap hit of $4.2 million per year.
The Flyers also agreed to terms with Timonen on a 6-year, $37.8 million contract for an annual cap hit of $6.3 million.
The pick the Flyers traded away was actually the same one they acquired from the Predators in the deal that sent Peter Forsberg to Nashville for Scottie Upshaw and Ryan Parent.
Hartnell is likely to assume a first-line role with the Flyers, and Timonen is now easily the club's best defenseman and a gift from the gods on the power play, which was horrendous last year in a league that increasingly favors special teams. All in all, a great start to an exciting off-season, and there are bound to be more moves coming. The Inquirer is reporting that the Flyers may make an offer to the Sabres' Thomas Vanek, and also that they may trade their #2 overall pick for an established player, but today's trade news may have impacted that possibility.
>>Flyers Acquire Hartnell and Timonen [TSN]
>>Flyers are keeping options open with #2 pick [Inquirer]
Somewhere... not too far from here, Joni Pitkanen is lugging a puck up the ice... breaking into the offensive zone on the left wing... screaming past the left circle... get... getting to the goal line... ? now he's... Um... apparently he's shooting from the zero angle... no.. that was a pass... albeit 5 feet off the ice... the puck goes through the crease... and out the zone...
oh... he's also wishing he was Timmonen.
trade joni. trade him hard... and trade him fast. Either that, or have Downie permanently disable him in the first practice.
Posted by: Digi | Monday, June 18, 2007 at 05:24 PM
Where's Enrico with his Flyers Dancing Guy hateration? I told you guys this would be an exciting offseason.
PS. Eskin was drinking the haterade too. Must be something in the "wooter" here...
Posted by: J | Monday, June 18, 2007 at 07:49 PM
For the record, I don't hate the Flyguys. Far from it. I'm just not a big hockey guy. I don't hate the FDG either, just having some fun with him.
Posted by: enrico | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 12:23 AM
I'm a Flyers fan, but I don't follow Hockey Free Agency very closely, but this deal doesn't really make sense to me...The Flyers front office said they were close to signing deals with these guys who were scheduled to become free agents in a few weeks...so why not just wait for free agency and sign them then instead of giving up a first round pick for the right to sign them before July 1st? Upshall and Parent are nice prospects for Forsberg but it would've been nice to have that draft pick too...then again. I guess the kicker is that we get a shot at officially signing the guys before they hit the open market, but they could still refuse to sign with us, and hit the free agency market anyway.
Posted by: ryan | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 09:08 AM
ryan -
read the stories my friend. Remember, this isn't a very deep draft year. No clear players that will have an immediate impact, and maybe not any that will have an impact in 5 years. Rumor has it that another team was interested in Timo and Hartnell so Poile gave Holmer 72 hours to make an offer for them. Otherwise these two would never have made it to July 1st.
Posted by: ForTheShorties | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 09:18 AM
Draft picks in hockey are as a big a crap shoot as any sport. Maybe even moreso than baseball. If they turned a pick into 2 proven commodities... I say good deal.
Posted by: BGN | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 09:29 AM
I don't know anything about the hockey draft, or even free agency. I do follow the Flyers though ... and I want to see moves that will make an immediate impact.
Last year was the worst season in franchise history - and if they want to bounce back into serious contention - in one off-season - these are the moves they need to make ... draft picks won't help for many years (if they wind up helping at all).
Posted by: Joe Manning | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 09:54 AM
This is a great deal for the Flyers. I think they made this trade in order to guarantee themselves they got these two players. They might have overpaid Hartnell, but I think when teams want a player that bad, they tend to overpay. With that said, both are very good players. Looking back, they essentially traded Forsberg for Upshaw, Parent, Timonen, and Hartnell. That is borderline robbery. And they will probably make Vanek an offer, and they will probably trade their 2nd pick in the draft for an established player. If they can get a couple more serviceable, puck-moving defensemen, I expect them to be a force next season in the Eastern Conference.
Posted by: DD | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Great trade, but I think they paid too much for Hartnell. Giving $4+mil for a guy who never scored over 25 goals should make a guy like Gagne, who makes about $5 mil and scored 40 goals last year without a steady centerman, a little nuts. Clearly, the Hartnell move was a speculative one.
Getting Kimmo Timmonen was an absolute necessity. He gives them something they hadn't had since, well, Eric Desjardins was around. Not overpaying to keep Kim Johnsson last year made them do what it took to get Timmonen this year.
Posted by: johndewar | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Props to johndewar for calling the Timonen acquisition last week.
Posted by: Matt P | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Bring on Scott Gomez!
Posted by: Walklett | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Does anyone know of any Flyers specific blogs they would recommend?
Posted by: mbtoole | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 02:18 PM
LOVE the Timonen deal. Especially because we are going to arbitration with Joni. Which means if his fellow countryman (Timo) cannot straighten Joni out this year, then Joni is as good as gone after next season. Yes Hartnell was quite pricey, but keep in mind, despite his relatively low output last year, his 39 points would have put him 4th in scoring on our squad behind Gags, Knuble, and Joni and ahead of young guns Carter and Richards. So it could be worth it. AND MARK MY WORDS, the Flyers biggest acquisition is yet to come...
Posted by: ColeHamelsIn2008 | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 02:49 PM
Hope you're right, ColeHamelsIn2008.
As for Flyers-specific blogs, check out www.hockeybuzz.com. Tim Pinaccio, the Flyers beat writer from the Inquirer, posts on there. It also has a pretty vibrant comments field with some interesting conversation.
I love the Hartnell/Timmonen deals.
Homer for President!
Posted by: Bridoc10 | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 03:42 PM
Enrico - I know, just giving you some grief
Bridoc10 - Agreed, Hockeybuzz is a great go-to site for this stuff.
ColeHamelsIn2008 - possibly. Gomez is still out there obviously, and I'm still hearing whispers that the Lightning might try to dump Lecavalier's salary. But that's a real reach given that he got some MVP talk this year. Also if San Jose signs Drury, they may deal Marleu. Any package would probably have to involve the #2 pick, possibly Pitkanen, and either Umberger or Carter (and who knows who else). Gomez should be our priority, however. We have the cap room to sign him.
Posted by: J | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 08:41 PM