Timmins Focused on Continuous Improvement as Regular Season Nears

Conor Timmins has never been more ready for an NHL season to start.
The 24-year-old defenseman has been limited to just 39 games over his three-year NHL career, and 31 of those were in the 2020-21 season with the Colorado Avalanche. He
signed a two-year deal
with Arizona after he was acquired from the Avalanche as part of the Darcy Kuemper trade in July 2021.
Timmins suffered a knee injury that ended his season just six games into his tenure with the Coyotes, and he's been working on his recovery ever since.

The St. Catharines, Ontario native spent his offseason working out in Arizona, first focusing on rehabbing his knee before eventually moving into hockey-specific routines. He said he's spent the last month working to get into proper shape for both the pace of the game, as well as the level of physicality that comes with playing in the NHL, and has two assists this preseason while appearing in three of the Coyotes' four games.
Though he is excited to get back into gameplay, Timmins is also well aware of the what lies ahead following months of recovery.
"I think I came into camp with realistic expectations," Timmins said. "Obviously no one expects me to come back and be 100 percent right away, but I think my work ethic and my compete level can be at 100 percent every day. The things I can control, I've been trying to really work at, and the rest will come with time."

Timmins was a standout defenseman with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds, recording 61 points in 67 games in 2016-17 and 41 points in 36 games as an alternate captain in 2017-18. He followed that performance up with three goals and 24 assists with the AHL's Colorado Eagles in 2020-21.
The former second-round draft pick (No, 32, 2017) has a high ceiling, but Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said the club is taking its time with him this preseason considering the injury that he had to work through.
"We trust the process with him; We want him to play every game and have the opportunity to have touches, read the play, get more and more confident, and get his legs under himself," Tourigny said. "We're trying to lay back on the evaluation. It's more for him, it's a process. He's a good kid, he works hard, and he's fun to work with."
Tourigny has seen the toll that injuries can take on players - not just physically, but also mentally. Timmins has played just 85 combined AHL and NHL games since the 2018-19 season, and the Coyotes' coaching staff wants to ensure he's comfortable heading into the upcoming year.
Spending so much time away from the game can be trying for even the most seasoned players.
"If that doesn't affect him, he's not human," Tourigny said. "It's impossible."
His injury occurred after he was checked by Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas while corralling a puck near the blue line on Oct. 25, 2021. Though it would be easy to let that impact the way he plays moving forward, Timmins said he's completely moved past it.
He's just ready to get back into regular season games.

"I've had a lot of time to think about the injury and come to terms with it," Timmins said. "By the time I got back I was just itching to play hockey again, and that's all that's been on my mind."
He's not focused on his individual statistical output this season, but instead his own development. Timmins said he wants to set an example for his teammates around not only how he performs, but how he approaches every game.
"Coming from a place where I missed a year, I just want to keep on improving every day," he said. "I really want to build my game and get to a place where I'm an everyday impact player in this league."
In terms of doing the little things right, such as coachability and attention to detail, Tourigny said Timmins is a model player.
"He's an easy guy to coach," Tourigny said. "Timmy is one of the best guys."
There are still three preseason games left in the Coyotes' exhibition slate, and Timmins said he'll remain focused on his continuous improvement as that rolls into the regular season. Through camp so far he's been impressed with the level of intensity, and said he's gelling quite well with
Arizona's newest blue liners
.
He knows all of the hard work will make a difference when the regular season opens against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 13.
"It's been hard, but that's how we like it here," Timmins said. "I think the team's coming together each day, really working hard and trying to be one percent better every day. We've got a good group here -- everyone knows that you have to put in the work."