Kimmo Timonen entered the NHL as a Nashville Predator and was an instrumental face during the franchise’s infancy in the late '90s and early 2000s. He exited the league a Stanley Cup champion as a Chicago Blackhawk last fall after vigorously working his way back from a potential career-ending medical diagnosis.
He began his playing career in his native Finland, skating for Kalpa and TPS before coming over to North America. He even won four medals — three bronze and one silver — while representing his country in four separate Winter Olympics.
But if you ask Timonen, he’ll tell you his fondest memories and his best playing years came while he was wearing an orange and black sweater in Philadelphia.
“Yes I do,” Timonen said when asked if he considers himself a Flyer on a conference call Saturday. “Obviously I was in Nashville for eight years and I was the captain there. My kids were born in Nashville. So those memories are really nice.
“Here in Philly, I think my role was so good and playing for the Flyers in front of these fans, it was something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. We like the area here, we like to live here, and that’s why we’re back here. My kids like it here and they like the school. I think the Flyers are my No. 1 team.”
Just a few months into his retirement, the 40-year-old Timonen is enjoying somewhat of a victory tour. He received his championship ring and was present in Chicago for the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup banner raising ceremony last week.
"They did an amazing job, all the presentation, and it was a full house," he said. "It was something I was looking forward to the whole summer, and finally I was able to be there on the ice with the boys and kind of go back a last time with these great memories that I have there. I was a little emotional, but a lot of guys were too, so I wasn’t the only one."
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Up next is a stop at the Wells Fargo Center (see story), a building Timonen called home for seven of his 16 NHL seasons. The Flyers will host a pregame celebration honoring Timonen’s career before Wednesday’s matchup with the Blackhawks at 8 p.m.
"I’ll be emotional, probably," Timonen admitted. "Wednesday is going to be another thing I’m going to really enjoy. I’m really honored to be there. I get to bring my parents to the game. So I’m looking forward to it."
Timonen knew the 2014-15 season was going to be his last, but he felt off during his offseason training and eventually wound up in the doctor’s office. He was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and leg in August, putting his playing career in jeopardy.
That’s not how Timonen wanted to go out, so he worked tirelessly to keep himself in shape.
After months of being on blood thinners, Timonen finally received clearance to get back on the ice in February. He trained by himself and then with the Flyers, whose playoff hopes looked mighty grim with the trade deadline approaching.
Flyers general manager Ron Hextall was able to find a trade partner in Chicago and, with the approval of Timonen, traded the veteran for two draft picks, giving Timonen one final chance at the elusive Stanley Cup.
"You put so many hours into your career and so many games and practices," Timonen said. "Whenever it comes to hockey, you try to get your name on the Cup. I know it was a tough year last year — playing wise, it didn’t go the way I wanted it to go. But at the end of the day, I was with the team that won and I was able to get my name on the Cup. So it’s all good now."
Timonen played a limited role with the Blackhawks. He was eased into their lineup in the regular season after missing five months of game action, averaging just 11:59 in ice time over 16 games.
Then in the playoffs, Timonen hardly heard his number called. He was a healthy scratch five times and averaged under nine minutes per game. But he was in the lineup for the Game 6 clincher over the Tampa Bay Lightning and was the second player to hoist the Cup after Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews handed it over to the veteran in a touching moment.
Though the Flyers failed to qualify for the postseason, the team's fan base kept a watchful eye on Timonen. He was very much aware that many were cheering for Chicago simply because he was on the team and was touched by the amount of support he received even after leaving Philadelphia.
"To be able to hear people are behind you and they wish you to win, it was really cool and made me proud," Timonen said. "That’s probably the right word. It was a tough time being away from the family for four months and to not to be in the role you wanted to be in the team, and everything was kind of new to me. But when I heard people were cheering for me and were behind me, it made me happy."
Timonen's mark on the Flyers, however, will leave a lasting legacy. He anchored the team's blue line for 519 games, played a pivotal role on special teams and will go down as one of the greatest leaders in the franchise's storied history.
There’s a spot waiting for No. 44 in the Flyers’ Hall of Fame. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
"There’s a lot of great names in there, great players," he said. "If that’s the case one of these days, I would be really honored."