Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012, 12:33 PM | 31 comments |
 

Timonen intrigued by Nashville defensemen
options
 

   (UPDATED with Suter's comments on Friday)

    GATINEAU, Quebec _ It’s a longshot, but it’s no secret that the Flyers would love to acquire one of Nashville’s all-star defensemen, Shea Weber or Ryan Suter, before the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

   “We’ll see how it goes,” Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen, a former Predator, said after Thursday’s all-star draft.  “If we can get any of those two guys, perfect…..To be honest, if they want to win in Nashville, they have to keep those two guys.”

    Weber, who carries a $7.5 million cap hit this season, can become a restricted free agent after the season, while Suter ($3.5 million cap hit) can become an unrestricted free agent.

    The Flyers would want assurances that they could sign Suter for the future; they do not want a rent-a-player. They could fit Suter under the cap for the rest of this season, but if they would have to get rid of some salary if they wanted him long-term.

      In Sunday’s All-Star Game in Ottawa, Timonen will be on Team Chara with Suter, while Weber will play for Team Alfredsson.

* * *

    During Friday's Media Day at all-star weekend, Suter said that if everything was equal, he would like to remain with Nashville.

    Sutter hinted he will not sign during the season _ opening the possibility of a deal _ but said he hopes he isn’t traded.

    “Nashville is a great place to live and raise a family,” he said.

    Asked if he would like to play for the Flyers if he becomes a free agent, Suter said, “I don’t think about where I want to be. I focus on being a good player on our team. The time will come for all that, and now is not the time. Our team is doing very good right now, and hopefully we can go and get that piece we might need for the playoffs.”

     Suter said his agent and the Preds have “talked ideas” but haven't been negotiating during the season. Nor does he expect any until after the season.

        “Being in Nashville, which is not a huge hockey market, there is really no pressure on me (to resign),” he said. “I’m just trying to help our team win and trying to be a good teammate and leader. We’re trying not to make it a distraction.”

  * * *

     Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 12:33 PM  Permalink | 31 comments
31
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:37 PM, 01/27/2012
    Hey Homer,don't give up any drafts picks to talk to anybody! Remember Hamhuis!!!!
    — quigly46
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:55 PM, 01/27/2012
    Actually, they gave up a 4th to talk to him but then traded the rights to Pitt. for a 3rd.
    — Handsome B. Wonderful
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:46 PM, 01/27/2012
    Suter would be ideal and hope if made the move he would stick for a few years here. Now if only Ilya would play up to expectations (hoping he comes alive down the stretch and thru the playoffs).
    — connorjr
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:59 PM, 01/27/2012
    love weber as a #1 defenseman, but if they can't get him i'd just as soon take hal gill over suter. gill is a huge body and can serve as the stay at home role pronger used to serve with carle. he has a low cap hit and would certainly cost a lot less than either of these 2 from nashville, especially with montreal basically out of the race while the preds aim for home ice and a possible division crown.
    — bitlrc
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:48 PM, 01/27/2012
    I like Hal gill but he isn Suter. Suter is just as good if not better in his own zone as gill and he can chip in Offense. Gill is getting old the Flyers need to look long term because there is a good chance Pronger's career is over.
    — PhillyFran75
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:00 PM, 01/27/2012
    I'd take Suter for around $4/year sure, but Weber is the best defenseman in the league and the real prize of the offseason.
    — sla6yer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:45 PM, 01/27/2012
    Yeah right Suter for 4mill. Weber is allowed to do a lot in the offensive zone because of how defensively sound Suter is. Your not getting Suter for no less then 6-7mill.
    — PhillyFran75
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:03 PM, 01/27/2012
    Either will work. We've played 11 rookies, including, finally, Bourdon on D with Gufstason / Marshall / Bartulius in the wings. If one of those 3 can mature with Bourdon, then the bottom 3rd of the D-teams is set. Getting Suter/Weber brings up closer back to where we were with Pronger and insurance if Kimmo or Mezaros goes down. They can worry about Carle in the off-season. the only draft pick we need is a #1 pick to snag a goalie. Otherwise, I think we're in great shape for another 2 years with our young group of forwards. Make the deal right after the break so we can be settled for the deadline. Otherwise, collectively pray Bryzg bounces back and gets hot.
    — MichaelZoe
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:05 PM, 01/27/2012
    bitlrc: OMG, did you just seriously type that? Hall Gill compared to Pronger? Dude, seriously, get a clue.
    — MichaelZoe
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:13 PM, 01/27/2012
    @michaelzoe: no one said he's anywhere near as good as pronger, just that he could potentially fill the same role. gill is a solid 2nd pairing dman, which is where he'd play with carle. i would have no problem going into the playoffs with tim/coburn, gill/carle, mez/bourdon. but as i said, the biggest benefits would be the lower cap hit and the lower cost to acquire him.
    — bitlrc
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:29 PM, 01/27/2012
    salary they are getting ridding of next season = pronger. at least cap wise
    — Patriot72
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:29 PM, 01/27/2012
    salary they are getting ridding of next season = pronger. at least cap wise
    — Patriot72
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:46 PM, 01/27/2012
    bitlrc is right. There biggest problem on D is a crease-clearing defenseman, particularly on the PK. Gill has that. He does not have Pronger's offense skill but its not needed with our forwards and D who can bring the puck up. Weber has that and more - but is not in our price range. Suter doesn't seem to have that.
    — gob1234
  • Comment removed.


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About Sam Carchidi
Sam Carchidi is in his fourth year as the Flyers' beat reporter. He became an Inquirer staff writer in 1984 and covered mostly South Jersey high school sports and the Phillies before taking the Flyers beat.

Carchidi has written three books _ the nationally acclaimed Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story, which he co-authored with Scott Brown; Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports; and Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He also contributed to a 1993 Inquirer book on the Phillies.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Carchidi lives in Wenonah with his wife, JoAnn, and their two children, Sara and Sammy.

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