UPDATED: Flyers, Timonen agree to one-year deal

February 6, 2013

UPDATE: Timonen and the Flyers have agreed to terms on the contract extension, according to the Flyers' website.

ORIGINAL
A veteran leader is close to adding another year in Philadelphia to his tenure.

The Flyers and 37-year old defenseman Kimmo Timonen are close to an agreement on a one-year, $6 million contract extension according to CSNPhilly.com's Tim Panaccio (via Twitter).

CONFIRMED: Flyers are close to re-signing Timomen to a 1-yr deal worth $6 million. Expect an announcement before end of week
— Tim Panaccio (@tpanotchCSN) February 7, 2013

The deal will keep Timonen in orange and black for the 2013-2014 season, as this season was the final year of his six-year, $38 million contract.

The news of Timonen's extension was first reported by HockeyBuzz.com CEO Eklund, who confirmed it through an unnamed Flyers player and a "high-level team source."

Timonen has been an important part to the Flyers' success since arriving from Nashville in a trade following the end of the 2006-2007 season.

The defenseman has provided consistent play on the Flyers' blue line, having yet to average less than 21 minutes of ice time per season since coming to Philadelphia. He also brings veteran leadership to the locker room, which is key now when you consider how much youth is on the team.

In 980 career games and counting, Timonen has a plus 32 rating, complimented by 107 goals and 405 assists for 512 points.

10 games into this season's 48-game schedule, Timonen has a plus 2 rating in 22:46 of average ice time. He also has a goal and four assists.

The $6 million Timonen will make from the extension will keep him as the highest paid defenseman on the Flyers. Braydon Coburn, the longest-tenured Flyer, is second with $5.5 million to be paid to him next season.

This post will be updated as soon as the deal is signed.

(Image from SavonSanomat.fi)