Through the years, the Philadelphia Flyers have had some super defensemen. However none have been fairly like Kimmo Timonen. He was a participant who defied the getting old curve so tremendously that we could not see something like him for a really very long time.
Timonen’s Late-Age Dominance
Timonen was traded to the Flyers within the 2007 offseason together with Scott Hartnell for a late first-round decide following a disastrous marketing campaign for the Orange and Black—they’d the worst document within the NHL. Eager to return to playoff success, basic supervisor (GM) Paul Holmgren made a low-risk splash right here. Hartnell was nice in his personal proper, making the All-Star Workforce in 2011-12, however we’ll give attention to the defenseman right here. Acquired at 32 years of age, the percentages of long-term success have been low—he broke the mannequin anyway.
From 2008-2014, Timonen performed in 519 video games for the Flyers, scoring 38 objectives and 232 assists for 270 factors and plus-44 score. He was a wonderful small, offensively-minded defender who was additionally nice in his personal zone. Quarterbacking Philadelphia’s energy play each season throughout that span, they’d a median end of between sixth and seventh within the league in energy play proportion (PP%). Since his departure, the group has had only one end within the high 10 in PP% over 10 seasons.
Timonen was important to the Flyers’ postseason success throughout his time, being arguably the very best defenseman on the group over six runs to the playoffs and two appearances within the Japanese Convention Closing. The good half about his arrival is that the timing was excellent for the analytics period—it coincided together with his debut with the Orange and Black in 2007-08. Due to this, we will higher quantify how good the veteran was.
Timonen’s finest numbers have been from 2011-2014, in order that’s what we’ll listing. However the necessary factor to notice right here is his age. Beginning out at 36 and ending at 39 years outdated, to say the Finnish defender aged gracefully is an understatement.
Beneath, we’ll check out the place Timonen ranked at even energy (EV) amongst defenders with 1,000 minutes of time on ice (TOI) from 2011-2014. The stats we’ll use are factors per 60 (P/60), relative anticipated objectives proportion (xGF% Rel), relative Corsi proportion (CF% Rel), relative objectives proportion (GF% Rel), and common TOI (ATOI).
A glossary for the superior stats is included right here. Mainly, the center three numbers measure a participant’s impression on their very own group for likelihood creation and precise objectives scored. There have been few defensemen, if any, extra worthwhile than him over the last three seasons of his tenure with the Orange and Black.
| Stat | Timonen (2011-2014) | Percentile (Defensemen with 1,000 TOI) |
| P/60 | 1.54 | ninety fifth |
| xGF% Rel (EV) | 7.44 | 99th |
| CF% Rel (EV) | 4.91 | 96th |
| GF% Rel (EV) | 5.89 | 88th |
| ATOI | 21:00 | 67th |
Within the top-end percentile for all the pieces apart from ice time throughout this span, it’s protected to say that Timonen was a monster. He had a profound offensive impression for the Flyers by way of anticipated objectives and his particular person scoring outcomes. This was an period the place Philadelphia’s protection began to sink as a result of losses of Chris Pronger and finally Matt Carle, however the ageless marvel held robust.
To place into perspective how spectacular a 7.44 xGF% Rel throughout a three-year span is, we will have a look at each single defenseman who had an xGF% Rel of a minimum of 7.0 over that lengthy of a span within the analytics period. From 2007-08 via 2023-24, that listing is just 9 gamers if we solely embrace athletes who appeared in all three campaigns:
- Chris Tanev
- Devon Toews
- Adam Pelech
- Adam Fox
- Mackenzie Weegar
- Marc-Edouard Vlasic
- Timonen
- Ryan Ellis
- Charlie McAvoy
The truth that Timonen is amongst this group of defensemen is exceptional alone, as all of them have been notable analytical darlings. However the superb half? The age distinction is staggering. The common age vary of those 9 defensemen from after they began their reign till they ended it was 26 to 29. Timonen was a whole decade older.
This type of age-defiance is one thing that we virtually by no means see out of defensemen. Nicklas Lidstrom was nonetheless the “excellent human” whilst he was creeping into his 40s, however that’s anticipated from a participant who received seven of the ten Norris Trophies handed out from 2000-2011. For Timonen to rival the longevity of a participant like that is most undoubtedly an honor. We’ve not seen a defenseman match this degree of late-age dominance within the 9 seasons following the latter’s retirement.
Timonen’s Postseason Excellence
Timonen wasn’t only a regular-season service provider, both. He was arguably even higher within the playoffs when the Flyers have been nonetheless competing. From their 2010 run to the Stanley Cup Closing to their second-round exit in 2012, beneath are his numbers:
| Stat | Timonen’s Playoffs (2010-2012) | Percentile (Defensemen with 100 TOI) |
| P/60 | 1.14 | 73rd |
| xGF% Rel (EV) | 9.87 | ninety fifth |
| CF% Rel (EV) | 4.82 | 88th |
| GF% Rel (EV) | 11.0 | 83rd |
| ATOI | 24:37 | 83rd |
Timonen’s utilization was rather a lot heavier throughout this time, which is smart contemplating ice time tends to favor star gamers within the postseason and the truth that he was two years youthful. His percentiles don’t stick out as a lot as a result of there’s a smaller pattern dimension, however don’t get it twisted: the veteran was sensational.
Simply to reference how worthwhile Timonen was to the Flyers, solely he and Braydon Coburn had a constructive xGF% Rel throughout that span among the many 11 defensemen with 100 minutes of ice time at even energy. When the Flyers went to the Closing in 2010, Timonen’s 10.2 xGF% Rel was far and away the very best on the group in that very same share of ice time. Pronger had the one different constructive charge at 1.38. Towards the Chicago Blackhawks within the Stanley Cup Closing, these two have been actually the one ones with a pulse.
Ought to Timonen Make the Flyers’ Corridor of Fame?
Getting into the 2024-25 season, there are solely six defensemen within the Flyers’ group Corridor of Fame. These embrace Joe Watson, Eric Desjardins, Ed Van Impe, Jim Watson, Mark Howe, and Barry Ashbee. Timonen’s 519 video games performed throughout his tenure in Philadelphia could be second-last on this listing (and by a 75-game margin), which is notable however most likely shouldn’t damage his odds an excessive amount of.
Simply evaluating these gamers and seeing their impression on the Flyers, Timonen has a good case. Whereas he wasn’t fairly on the extent of Desjardins or Howe, he was arguably in the identical tier as the remaining. Profitable the Stanley Cup in 2010 would have definitely cemented his standing, however he can presumably do with out it.
Associated: Flyers’ 5 Greatest Drafted Defensemen in Franchise Historical past
Regardless of his age limitations, Timonen performed at an elite degree in Philadelphia longer than anybody might have guessed. For seven seasons, he was actually considered one of a form.
Stats courtesy of Pure Stat Trick
