Good post. I like the optimism on Timmins.
Curious what you think about Timmins as a long-term partner for Girard on the 2nd pair?
Girard and Timmins played together in the 1st game against St. Louis and at times they had serious problems against the cycle in their own zone. It wasn't a surprise then that Graves got paired with Girard for the next game and it seemed to have helped a lot as that pair didn't struggle against St. Louis' cycle game and were again paired together against LAK.
It's admittedly a small sample size, and I'm not sure much should be taken from the first game of the season after no pre-season, but it did seem to me that Girard really benefits from having a big RHD next to him to help counter the size mismatch on the cycle. Can Timmins be that guy?
Just to be clear, I'm not questioning whether Timmins is good enough to be on the 2nd pair. I'm specifically referring to if he has the attributes to form a solid pairing with Girard, given the physical limitation Girard has against the cycle.
I think it could work.
But, its weird. The Avs are in a weird spot right now that could get even more awkward going forward.
If Timmins clicks like I think he will, and stays healthy... To me he is the ling term #2RHD behind Makar. And a damn good one. He brings a real strong two way element to his play where he always makes the safe but correct play. That's how he was so great at those 2018 WJCs was from just always making the best play available.
So... If he does earn that spot, all of a sudden you have 3 LHD that should be very well deserving of Top 4 Minutes. Toews is every bit the part of a Top pairing Defender for us so far and I expect that to continue with him and Makar together. Then you have G and Byram after that. G is already a high end Top 4D who plays more and more like a Top pairing guy himself seemingly every game.
So, where does Byram fit into all of this? For now it isn't an issue because this is a condensed season, and Timmins nor Byram has so far truly established themselves as Top 4 guys so they should still be having healthy battles for ice time moving forward.
But in a couple of months from now or especially next year things could take a very different look.
I think we are going to come a time where we simply have too many high end Defenders, and just not enough roster spots or minutes to go around for everyone. And then the difficult decision is going to be about who gets traded, and what do they get traded for?
It's a very welcomed problem to have, and it isn't even a problem yet. But I think give it a year, and it could be a problem.
Personally... I like the idea of a G/Timmins long term 2nd pairing. They compliment each others strengths and weaknesses quite well, and they fill that Left/Right shot which personally I consider to be important especially in your Top 4 Defense.