The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired Kimmo Timonen from the Philadelphia Flyers for a second-round pick in 2015 and a conditional draft selection in 2016, the team announced Friday.
Timonen, 39, hasn’t played a game this season because of blood clots in his right leg and both lungs. He was recently cleared to play and has been preparing for a return to ice the past month. The Flyers named him the team’s best defenseman the past three seasons, five overall.
Timonen hasn’t played this season due to blood clots. Told reporters in Toronto on Wed. : “I feel better every day. We’re getting there.”
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) February 28, 2015
Timonen signed a one-year deal worth $2 million, plus incentives over the summer, and said he planned to retire with the Flyers after the season. He will join the Blackhawks at practice Sunday, and can play as early as Monday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
With Johnny Oduya, recently placed on the injured reserve list, Michal Rozsival struggling and Trevor van Riemsdyk still working back from a fractured patella, Timonen could very well work his way into the lineup.
Timonen had six goals and 29 assists in 77 games last season, one assist in seven playoff games. The Finnish veteran blue liner is third among active NHL defensemen with 571 points (117 goals, 454 assists) in 1,092 career games with the Flyers and Nashville Predators. He has skated in 87 playoff games, including Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.
But Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman isn’t done. He’s actively pursing a forward to help offset the loss of offensive production from Patrick Kane, who is out approximately 12 weeks recovering from a broken clavicle. Timonen’s contract still leaves the team with cap room to play with.
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