NHL

Flyers deal Kimmo Timonen to Blackhawks

Flyers deal Kimmo Timonen to Blackhawks

The Flyers found a solution to their salary cap woes. But they did it at the expense of a fan favorite, and one of the best defensemen ever to adorn orange and black.

Kimmo Timonen was traded to the Blackhawks Friday night, netting Philly a 2015 second round pick and a conditional pick in 2016. It also gives the 39-year-old a chance to chase a Stanley Cup title.

Timonen has missed the entire season after blood clots were discovered in his lungs during the offseason.

All things considered, the return for Timonen, who was expected to play against the Rangers at the Wells FarcoCenter Saturday was pretty good. It gives the Flyers nearly $1 million in salary cap relief at a time when things have become pretty tight.

Whether this is a sign that Philly is a true seller as the deadline approaches on March 2 is yet to be seen, but the club does still trail Boston by a handful of points for the last playoff spot in the East.