A light Friday schedule is highlighted by a big inter-conference game at Amalie Arena.
After missing the entirety of this season thus far, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen was set to make his return to action on Saturday. He could very well suit up this weekend, but if that happens then it will be in red rather than orange.
On Friday, Timonen was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2015 and a conditional pick in 2016. The veteran defenseman has been recovering from blood clots that recently put his career in doubt. Now healthy, he will join the 'Hawks for a Stanley Cup run.
Philly locals will be heartbroken to lose Timonen, a fan favorite, but this move makes a lot of sense for the Flyers. They remain far, far away from contention, and at 39 years old Timonen simply wasn't going to be in the organization's long-term plans. From a purely logistical standpoint, the best course of action was to deal him for assets that can help down the road.
It's unclear what Timonen is capable of at this point, but given what he accomplished in 2013-14, this is likely worth the gamble for Chicago. The Blackhawks' shot suppression numbers have been lagging of late -- at least by their standards -- and the Finnish blue liner could go a long way towards improving things in that area.
Timonen spent seven seasons in Philadelphia. He is a five-time recipient of the Barry Ashbee Trophy, awarded annually to the Flyers' best defenseman.
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