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Kimmo TimonenFinnish hockey player (NHL)
Date of Birth: 18.03.1975
Country:  Finland |
Content:
Early Life and Career in Finland
Kimmo Timonen was born in Kuopio, Finland in 1975. He began his hockey career in his native country, playing for KalPa and later TPS. In 1993, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the tenth round, 250th overall. Despite being drafted, Timonen continued to play in Finland, during which time the Kings traded him to the Nashville Predators.
NHL Career
Nashville Predators (1998-2007)Timonen made his NHL debut in the 1998-99 season, splitting time between Nashville and their IHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. The following year, he became a regular on the Predators' defense, establishing himself as a reliable and productive player over the next four seasons.
In 2004-05, during an NHL lockout, Timonen briefly returned to KalPa in Finland, convincing his teammate Adam Hall to join him. He was named captain of the Predators for the 2006-07 season, which proved to be his most successful in Nashville.
Philadelphia Flyers (2007-2015)
After the 2007 season, Timonen was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. His six-year contract made him the highest-paid Finnish player in the NHL at the time. Despite his brother Jassi Timonen also playing for the Philadelphia Phantoms, Jassi was traded to the Dallas Stars for the 2007-08 season.
Timonen's tenure with the Flyers was marked by both success and adversity. He helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010 but was sidelined during the Eastern Conference Finals due to a blood clot in his leg.
International Career
Timonen was a member of the Finnish national team that won a bronze medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano and a silver medal at the 2002 Olympics in Turin. He also competed in the 2010 Olympics alongside fellow Finnish NHL stars such as Joni Pitkanen, Sami Salo, and Toni Lydeman.
Legacy
Kimmo Timonen retired from hockey in 2015 after 15 seasons in the NHL. He was known for his exceptional defensive abilities, leadership, and competitive spirit. He finished his career with 124 goals, 407 assists, and a plus-minus rating of +202, establishing himself as one of the most successful Finnish players in NHL history.
