Kimmo Timonen was not the type of hockey player who drew attention upon himself. He was not a flashy player or a marquee attraction, but was nevertheless an indispensible part of his teams.
For his NHL career, Timonen played 1,108 regular season games (117 goals, 571 points) and 105 playoff games (four goals, 35 points) and was a five-time selection (four-time participant) in the NHL All-Star Game. Timonen also won the Barry Ashbee Trophy five times as the Flyers' top defenseman In his international career for Finland, he was a five-time Olympian (one silver and three bronze medals) and a seven-time participant in the IIHF World Championships (three silver medals).
"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 number one team," said Timonen several days before the Flyers held a special pregame ceremony to honor his retirement.
Timonen overcame long odds even to make the NHL, much less achieving the sort of longevity and universal respect he garnered. Although powerfully built, Timonen stood only 5-foot-10. He was not blessed with blazing speed or overwhelming natural skill. Selected 250th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1993 NHL Draft, Timonen did not make his NHL debut until joining the Nashville Predators in 1999-2000 at age 24.
What was it that made Timonen such a special player? It was his two-way smarts, poise under pressure, fierce competitiveness, attention to detail, commitment to conditioning and an almost legendary pain tolerance that set him apart.
In the dressing room, Timonen was not one to give flowery pep talks or fiery rants. Nevertheless, when he spoke up, all of his teammates paid attention. The Finn had a knack for cutting to the chase, speaking with honesty and confidence. Teammates always knew he'd practice what he preached.
"Kimmo didn't really say a lot but, when he had something to say, everybody listened," said Flyers right winger Jakub Voracek. "It wasn't even what he said, but how he said it."
Last year, Flyers team president Paul Holmgren — who, as general manager, brought Timonen and left winger Scott Hartnell over via trade from the Nashville Predators — explained in a little more detail what it was about Timonen that made him such a commanding figure in the Flyers' dressing room.
"The tone, the body language. Guys would just [take a deep breath]. Their whole demeanor changed," said Holmgren.
"He was such a calming influence. There are those times where no one knows what to say. Or maybe they do but no one speaks up. Sometimes you just need that one older veteran guy who really has his head screwed on right. And that was Kimmo."
Last season, while Timonen battled to come back from blood clots in his lungs and right calf (a condition that will require him to take medication for the rest of his life), the Flyers undoubtedly missed his presence both on and off the ice.
The team missed Timonen on the penalty kill. They missed him in third periods when trying to protect leads. They missed him on puck retrievals and breakouts. Although Mark Streit successfully replaced Timonen on the top power play unit, the team also missed the depth it had the previous year to have two high-quality point men at their disposal to make the second unit a bigger threat. Most of all, they missed the way he held others in the dressing room accountable by holding himself accountable to them.
While most teams keep their analytics proprietary and secretive, former Flyers head coach Craig Berube shared in general terms during his first season as head coach that Timonen's hockey sense and attention to detail — things suspected by the "eye test" of regular observation — were confirmed by data.
The team's current leadership group admits that Timonen's absence and eventual departure left a void last season; one that is still a work in progress to fill.
“I think we miss Kimmo’s complete presence,’’ Wayne Simmonds said. “It probably forced guys into roles that they probably wouldn’t have been in. It’s a learning process and we’re growing in here together."
Even in his short time with the Blackhawks, Timonen made an impact despite his diminished on-ice role. It was a special moment for everyone when he lifted the Stanley Cup after the final game of his playing career.
"Kimmo added much inspiration to our group," Chicago assistant coach Kevin Dineen wrote via email. "Good to see him play his last game and walk with the Cup."
Now that his playing days are done, Timonen has returned to his home in the Delaware Valley. He intends to stay while his children are in school and, after taking some time off to travel and spend time with his wife and children, may return to the Flyers' somewhere within the hockey operations umbrella.
"I met with Hexy [a couple weeks ago] and we talked, had a little meeting. He said do you want to work, and I said I’m not really ready to do anything yet. I put it this way – I’ve done this for 25 years at the professional level. It is a great life to live, but at the same time you follow the program every day pretty much," said Timonen.
"I didn’t get the chance to be with my family that much. I missed a lot of birthdays and a lot of my son’s hockey games. I want to take some time here just to spend some time with my family and not to be told by somebody that you’ve got to be there and got to see these games. So I’m going to try to really enjoy these few months.
"Down the road, I know I need to do something. I’m 40 years old and I can’t sit still. I’m sure at some point in the next two to three months we’re going to have another meeting and see if I get some kind of itch to work. I’m kind of waiting with my wife, she tells me to leave the house every once in a while. So I want to do something."
Bill Meltzer is a columnist for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @billmeltzer.
