The Flyers have signed 39 year-old defenseman Kimmo Timonen to a one year contract extension, according to GM Ron Hextall. This will be his 8th season with the Flyers and 15th in the NHL.
No word yet on the monetary terms of the contract, but early reports indicate it is within the $2 million range and could be as much as $4 million with bonuses.
If this is the case, Kimmo deserves a standing ovation. The aging vet may have lost a bit of a step over the years, but is still better than most of the Flyers' younger defensemen. Timonen appeared in 77 games last year and is still capable of playing top-pairing minutes. His services as a mentor to younger players like Ghostisbehere will also be invaluable.
Timonen made $6 million last season, so by agreeing to take less money he opens up more options for the Flyers in free agency. Many players talk about taking less money to stay loyal to a team, but few actually do it. Once again, a tip of the hat to Kimmo Timonen. We look forward to having you back in orange and black for another year.
-Ben Lebo