Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Kimmo Timonen has announced this current NHL season will be his last.
The 39-year-old told reporters Thursday he will be hanging up his skates and won’t return to the league next fall, at least on the ice.
Kimmo Timonen said he is definitely retiring after season. Could get into coaching. “I have little tips for a lot of players.” #Blackhawks
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) March 5, 2015
The former Philadelphia Flyers blue-liner missed most of the season with blood clots in his leg and lungs before he was traded to Chicago for a pair of draft picks last week. He’s still searching for his first Stanley Cup, and should get one final shot this spring with the ‘Hawks.
Timonen made his season debut Monday in a 5-2 Chicago home win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
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 over 16 NHL seasons.
He has skated in 87 playoff games, including one Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2010 with Philadelphia.
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