Flyers hope to see Timonen return to good health

PINE HILL, N.J. -- The Philadelphia Flyers acknowledge there will be a sizable deficit to cover if defenseman Kimmo Timonen is out for a significant amount of time this season.

However, Timonen's teammates will trade his on-ice absence for knowing the 39-year-old will at least be healthy.

The Flyers announced Aug. 5 that Timonen had been diagnosed with blood clots in his lower right leg and both lungs. He spent time in a hospital in his native Finland receiving treatment, but has been in the Philadelphia area for about two weeks.

"Just good to see him around and in good spirits," defenseman Nicklas Grossmann said. "When things happen to people like that, you're always worried about the person. You don't really think much about the hockey player Kimmo, but about the person and his family and all that. You want him to get healthy quick."

For Flyers' Voracek, thinner is better

Jakub Voracek said he never felt better in his NHL career than he did last season. So why did the Philadelphia Flyers forward spend the summer losing 10 pounds?

Because he thinks he can be even better.

Voracek set personal bests last season in goals (23), assists (39), points (62) and power-play goals (eight). He also represented the Czech Republic at the Olympics for the first time.

"I had the best season of my life last year," Voracek said Tuesday before teeing off at the Flyers' charity golf outing at Trump National Golf Club. "I was very strong at the end of the season. From January on I felt the best I've felt in my entire life. I don't think there was a problem with my conditioning. Just something I could change so I could be even better than I was last year."

Voracek said he didn't change any element of his summer workout plans. Instead, he paid more attention to what he was eating; he said he's started past seasons at 219 pounds but will be 209 when training camp opens.

"I feel lighter, I feel quicker," he said. "Now it's a question of how will I feel in a board battle … hitting, a lot of the physical stuff. I haven't played any [preseason] games. But I feel faster and I feel quicker.

"Now I feel great. Hopefully I will feel like that all season long."

-- Adam Kimelman

Timonen played in the team's charity golf outing Tuesday at Trump National Golf Club, but when, or if, he is allowed to return to the ice is unknown.

Timonen is the closest thing the Flyers have to a No. 1 defenseman; he was second among Philadelphia defensemen last season with six goals, 35 points and a plus-5 rating while averaging 20:19 per game. He also played the point on the top power-play unit and was a primary penalty killer.

Off the ice Timonen is a respected voice of experience.

"Any time a guy like Kimmo Timonen is not in the lineup, it's not going to help you," captain Claude Giroux said. "At the same time, it's a good opportunity for other defensemen to step in and get a chance, play more minutes and prove themselves."

No one player on the Philadelphia defense is equipped to replace all the things Timonen does, but veteran Mark Streit could see his role expanded.

Streit had 10 goals and 44 points last season, his first with the Flyers, and was one of two Philadelphia defenseman to play all 82 games. He averaged 20:38 per game and said he could play more if needed.

"I think I can take a bigger leadership role with the team, on and off the ice," Streit said. "I want to help the team however I can. If its 20 minutes, it's 20 minutes; if it's a little bit more or less, that doesn't matter. I just want to help the team. At the end of the day everyone wants to be successful."

Streit played most of last season paired with Grossmann, while Timonen skated with Braydon Coburn; Luke Schenn and Andrew MacDonald were a consistent third pairing after MacDonald was acquired from the New York Islanders in March.

Some or all of those pairings could change, depending on how long Timonen is out. There also were the additions of veteran Nick Schultz and Michael Del Zotto, who signed the same day Timonen's blood clots were announced.

Of that group Schenn is the only right-shot defenseman. However, Coburn always played the right side when he was partnered with Timonen, and Streit said he played on the right side when paired with Grossmann.

"I've played on the right side most of my professional career," Coburn said. "It is easier to play on the left side being left-handed, but that's something you adjust to. I feel probably just as comfortable on either side."

However the defense pairs shake out in Timonen's absence, the key will be having each defender playing to his strengths, rather than trying to replace Timonen.

"If you try to do too much, you get into trouble," Coburn said. "Every year you're going to have injuries and things you deal with. Every year I've been here we've always had to deal with stuff like that, whether it's Prongs [Chris Pronger], Kimmo, Hatch [Derian Hatcher]. Whoever it is, it's just part of the game. And if you're not prepared to deal with that reality, then you're in the wrong sport."

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