As first announced in March, and with his Chicago Blackhawks ending their season with a Stanley Cup victory, Finnish defenceman Kimmo Timonen has retired from his professional career after sixteen NHL seasons with Nashville, Philadelphia and Chicago, and eight Liiga seasons with KalPa, TPS and HIFK, in addition to 20+ years representing the Leijonat internationally.

A strong offensive defenceman who was originally drafted in the 10th round of the 1993 draft by the Los Angeles Kings, Timonen retires as a Stanley Cup champion and five-time NHL All Star, tallying 117 goals and 571 points in 1,108 career regular season games. Timonen, who ends his career after just one season in Chicago due to a myriad of health issues, was also named the Flyers’ top defenceman five times, and retires holding a number of Philadelphia records for defencemen.

Timonen first came to the world’s attention, however, in a Finland jersey, being named to the World Juniors First All Star Team in 1994. Playing for the senior team, Timonen played in 7 World Championships, 5 Olympic Games and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, winning silver at the 1998, 1999 and 2001 Worlds, the 2004 World Cup, and at the 2006 Turin Olympics, adding three bronzes from the 1998, 2010 and 2014 Games.

Timonen first won the International Hockey Lineal Championship as the incumbent champs at the 1996 World Championships in Vienna, winning the IHLC again with Finland at two World Championships (2001 and 2003), as well as at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. We wish Kimmo and his family the very best for his retirement and the things to come!

Photo Credit: YLE.fi – IIHF – HHOF – IOC