Philly Sports Jabronis
Report From Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers have traded defenseman Kimmo Timonen to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a second round draft pick in 2015 and a conditional draft pick in 2016, according to general manager Ron Hextall.
Timonen, 39 (3/18/1975), was diagnosed with blood clots last summer and has missed the entire season due to the condition, but was recently cleared to play and has been preparing for a return to the ice for the past several weeks.
Timonen has not played since Game 7 of the Flyers’ first-round series-ending loss to the Rangers Apr. 30, a span of 281 days. Photo credit – BuzzOnBroad.com
The 2013-14 season was Timonen’s seventh with the Flyers, over which time he recorded 38 goals and 232 assists for 270 points in 519 games. He is a five-time winner of the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the Flyers’ best defenseman, including the last three consecutive seasons, making him one of just three players (Howe, Desjardins) to win the award in three straight years.
Timonen was acquired by the Flyers from Nashville, along with Scott Hartnell, on June 18, 2007 in exchange for Nashville’s own first-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired). He has played 1,092 NHL games over 15 NHL seasons, recording a total of 117 goals and 454 assists for 571 points. He has also appeared in five Winter Olympics for Team Finland, winning a silver medal in 2006 and bronze medals in 1998, 2010 and 2014.
The Flyers return to action Saturday night when they host the New York Rangers (8PM, NBC, 97.5 FM). It’s the start of a three-game homestand that continues next week vs. Calgary on Tuesday and St. Louis on Thursday, both at 7 PM. Ticket information is available at philadelphiaflyers.com.
