One of the main reasons for the success of the Philadelphia Flyers over the past two seasons has been the play of the defense. As a unit, the defense keeps the offensive opponents towards the boards, thus allowing the goaltender to face low percentage shots. Most of the credit for the resurgence of the defense has been given to Chris Pronger for his physical play, leadership qualities, and significant ice time. While much credit should be given to Pronger, I think Kimmo Timonen deserves a great deal of respect for his consistent play that may at times be forgotten in the shadow of other stars.
Since he arrived in Philadelphia in 2007, Timonen has been an integral part of the defense. What he lacks in size, as he is only 5′ 10″, he makes up for in skill, intelligence, and hard work. Using his body to shield the offensive opponent, Timonen is often in complete control of the puck and ready to make the best move to get it out of the defensive zone. Whether that be kicking the puck along with his skates, clearing it up the boards, or passing it to a teammate, Timonen is certainly a reliable defender. Most importantly, Kimmo Timonen is not afraid to get down and block shots for his team. Currently, he is the team leader as well as 12th in the NHL for blocked shots with 151. Blocking shots has been a major reason for the success of the defense and has allowed the goaltender to face less shots. Furthermore, when the team sees that a teammate is willing to sacrifice his body, players will be more willing to sacrifice their own.
While he may not always be a league leader in goals, Timonen’s stick-handling ability and vision on the ice has allowed him to remain among the team leaders in assists. Through 71 games, he has 27 assists, which leads all Flyers defensemen. The power-play unit has also improved with the addition of Kimmo Timonen. When the Flyers have had success on the power-play, it is often the work of Kimmo Timonen at the point that has helped lead the way. The Flyers have even turned to Timonen during their struggles in the shootout. The fact that the Flyers have used him several times in the shootout situation is a testament to his offensive abilities.
The part that is sometimes forgotten about Kimmo Timonen is his veteran leadership. Most people may not see him as a leader because he is a soft-spoken individual; however, his play on the ice speaks for itself. His consistent effort on a day to day basis provides an example for all the other players on the team, and the younger players know they can turn to him for advice. The Flyers’ success in the past few years can be attributed to multiple factors, including balanced scoring, the development of younger players, hot goaltending, and strong defensive play. Chris Pronger deserves a great deal of credit for solidifying the defense, logging incredible ice time, and becoming a vocal leader. Yet Kimmo Timonen has been a major contributor as well, and with the recent injury to Pronger, Kimmo will need to continue to play well to lead the defensive unit. The Flyers will need this leadership to stay near the top of NHL standings and to make another run in the playoffs.