Zawaski: Breaking Down The Timonen Trade
(CBS) -- Late in the first period of Friday night's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Blackhawks announced that they had acquired veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen from the Philadephia Flyers.
From the Hawks' press release:
The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have acquired defenseman Kimmo Timonen from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a second-round choice in the 2015 National Hockey League Draft and a conditional fourth-round choice in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Timonen, who has not appeared in any games this season, registered 35 points (6G, 29A) in 77 regular-season games with the Flyers last year, in addition to one assist in seven 2014 postseason contests. The Kuopio, Finland, native ranks third among active NHL defensemen with 571 points (117G, 454A) in 1,092 career NHL games across 15 seasons with Philadelphia and Nashville, in addition to 35 points (4G, 31A) in 87 career Stanley Cup Playoff appearances. The 39-year-old five-time Olympian has registered 13 points (3G, 10A) in 30 games, winning bronze medals in 1998, 2010 and 2014 and a silver medal in 2006 with Finland; he was named to the 2006 Olympic All-Star Team after posting five points (1G, 4A) in eight tilts. Timonen has also appeared in four NHL All-Star Games.
TSN's Pierre Lebrun had the breakdown of the conditional fourth-round pick:
"If the Hawks win two rounds, and Timonen plays in 50 percent or more games, (the pick) goes to a third-rounder in 2016. If the Hawks win three rounds and Timonen plays in 50 percent or more games, then it goes to a second-round pick in 2016."
Like it says in the Blackhawks' release, Timonen hasn't appeared in a game this season. His career was in danger earlier this season when doctors discovered blood clots in his lungs and legs. From all reports, Timonen was poised to make his return to the Flyers' lineup this weekend. He will practice with the Hawks on Sunday and could play Monday against Carolina.
Assuming (and hoping) Timonen is healthy, the Hawks have acquired exactly what they needed to acquire. Despite his age, Timonen is still a very strong skater and puck mover. He is a possession driver.
Much has been made of the Hawks' offensive struggles, but as I've said over the past few weeks, the offense is suffering because the defense is struggling. Everything the Hawks do offensively starts from the defense. When they're right, the Hawks exit the defensive zone with possession or long stretch passes. Last season, the Hawks had a speedy puck mover on every pair. Now, with Nick Leddy gone and Johnny Oduya regressing (and injured), Duncan Keith is the only defenseman on the roster with the speed to skate the puck out of the zone and out of trouble.
The addition of Timonen helps fix that problem. Combine that with Trevor van Riemsdyk's imminent return, and suddenly the defense looks like a strength again.
The NHL's trade deadline is Monday. After Friday's trade, Hawks general manager Stan Bowman admitted he'd still like to add a forward and will remain active until he does or the deadline expires. He's one-for-one on his trade targets so far.
"We've been working on this one for a while," Bowman said. "(Timonen) was the defenseman we really wanted."
Jay Zawaski is the executive producer of the Spiegel and Goff Show on 670 The Score and the Blackhawks columnist for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayZawaski670.