In early August, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall announced that Timonen was receiving treatment for blood clots in both lungs and his right leg. This is a huge blow for the team, as the big Finn was a pivotal member of the Philadelphia blue line and was expected to not only be a key offensive contributor as the highest-scoring defenseman, but also as one-half of the team's top pairing and quarterback of the power play. As it appears likely that this illness will put him on the shelf for the foreseeable future -- and perhaps end his career -- the team took immediate action, signing Michael Del Zotto to a one-year contract in the hopes the young underachiever may be able to backfill some of the void Timonen will leave this season.
Even at 38, Timonen still figures to have significant fantasy value if he can stay healthy. Last season he was a top-10 defensive points-getter, despite fracturing his foot and missing the final 3 games of the season. With a healthy foot and fewer distractions behind him in goal, he could continue collecting elite-level points.
Expect Timonen to be the elite blue-liner he’s been for the last seven seasons. Last year, he posted an impressive 43 points with all four of his goals coming on the man-advantage. This skilled defenseman knows how to make his way onto the scoresheet with 30-plus assists every year since 2005-06 and, with an incredibly capable group of forwards in front of him, Timonen should do well in 2012-13. Don't count on him for big shots or goals totals, but you could do much worse than taking Timonen to round out your blue line corps.
Timonen has been the model of consistency for the better part of the decade, but he may be showing signs of slowing down at age 36. His numbers have taken a modest dip in the past four years, though he's been able to play in at least 77 games for the past seven years, including a full 82 games the last two campaigns. He's a safe bet to produce right around 40 points from the Flyers' blue line.
Timonen is a steadfast rearguard for the Flyers who will add his fare share of points to the credit of your fantasy squad. As an added bonus, he's stayed healthy for most of his 11-year career, and has averaged better than 22 minutes of ice time over the past five years. Futher, with 19 assists on the man advantage last season, he's a great playmaker on the power play. Consider drafting Timonen just after the elite blueliners are off the board.
Kimmo will play huge minutes for Philadelphia and be extremely important to their playoff and Cup winning chances. He has been an invaluable defender for the Flyers for two years now, and with the signing of Pronger he will most likely be paired at the top, logging close to 30 minutes per game, with the newcomer Pronger. Timonen should put up near 50 points with 10 goals.
Timonen proved to be a vital member of the Flyers defense and power play unit in his first season in a Flyers uniform. He will serve as the Flyers top defenseman and will undoubtedly be a key to their success on the power play. Timonen has been remarkably durable during his nine-year career. He has averaged nearly 80 games played the past seven years, but missed last season’s Eastern Conference Championship series with a blood clot. He doesn’t shoot as much as other top-scoring defensemen, as he looks to make passes from the point to set up teammates down low. Timonen should log plenty of ice time, and once again be a top-15 scorer among defensemen. He is a borderline number one defenseman in all fantasy formats and is a great number two or number three.
Timonen will give the Flyers a major leadership presence offensively and defensively on the blue line. Timonen figures to lead the Flyers in ice time nearly every night and he should be an even better fantasy option than he has been the last several years in Nashville. Timonen, set career-highs last season with 42 assists, 55 points and a plus-20 rating.
Timonen has been the cornerstone of the Predators’ power play unit and defense corps for seven seasons now. No longer does he have sophomore status among NHL blue-liners after posting a career-high 50-point campaign last season ranking him 13th among NHL defensemen in points. Timonen may have not reached his full potential just yet. With the off-season moves that the Predators have made, the power-play unit could be even more lethal this season. Fantasy owners should keep in mind Tomas Kaberle’s break-out season last year, and look at Timonen as having that potential this year.
Marek Zidlicky's emergence stole some of Timonen's thunder as the Predators' #1 offensive defenseman, but he still posted his usual 40+ points (in fact he scored a career best 44). Like his partner on the blue line, if all the parts mesh on the Nashville power play Timonen could hit for another career high in points, but he could also lose PP shifts if Kariya mans the point opposite Zidlicky. Play it safe and draft him for another 40 points.
