Timmins makes an unlikely debut
At the start of training camp, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar didn’t expect 21- year- old defenseman Conor Timmins to play in the NHL until Christmas, at least.
Given that Timmins hadn’t played a game for approximately 16 months because of concussionlike symptoms, the coach strongly felt he would play half the season with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League before becoming a potential call- up.
Bednar, along with general manager Joe Sakic and his staff, was wrong. Timmins made his NHL debut Thursday in Colorado’s season opener against the visiting Calgary Flames.
“I try to go into camp and evaluate guys based on what we see,” Bednar said after the Avs’ morning skate at the Pepsi Center. “Joe has his thoughts with his staff and then we get together and it was a unanimous decision ( Timmins) had made our hockey team and that he was real good through exhibition. He’s a real intelligent player. He’s smart with the puck. His first pass is going to the open man. He has the ability to find the middle of the ice, which sets you up for controlled exits.
“We just really liked what we’ve seen from him and I think he’s getting better and better, so he beats out a couple guys on the back end.”
Timmins, who will play with Ryan Graves, 24, on the Avs’ third pairing, beat out veterans Calle Rosen and Kevin Connauton — both offseason additions who were reassigned to the Eagles. Graves, at 6- foot- 5 and 220 pounds, is one of Colorado’s biggest players and seems to be a good fit with Timmins, who is 6- 2 and 187 pounds.
“We’re able to help each other out. I think our playing styles complement each other,” Graves said. “I’m kind of defense- first, a little two- way, and he’s offensefirst and two- way, so we kind of jell together. We have a good DAvalanche corps and hopefully ‘ Timmy’ and I can balance it out.”
Timmins spent time with Graves last season with the Eagles, when he was trying to practice when not feeling lousy.
“Obviously, the last year has been tough but this has been my goal since camp started,” Timmins said of making the team. “I didn’t really want to focus on last year. I wanted to focus on improving and getting better every day. I’m happy to be here and ready to go.”
Footnotes.
The Avs’ healthy scratches Thursday were forwards Colin Wilson and Vladislav Kamenev and defenseman Mark Barberio. Wilson, who signed a one- year, $ 2.6 million extension with the Avs on July 1, is coming off offseason shoulder surgery and saw limited preseason action. … Avs goalie Philipp Grubauer made his first career openingnight start. Grubauer, 27, played his first five seasons with the Washington Capitals and was Semyon Varlamov’s backup to begin last season with the Avs. … Colorado entered Thursday 3- 0 under Bednar in season openers.