Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen’s hockey career might be finished if the NHL lockout persists for an extended amount of time, Philly.com reported Thursday.
“It’s tough, because this might be my last year. You never know,” Timonen told the site after working out with eight other players on Wednesday. “I feel like I am in great shape. But to be honest, if this thing drags on another two or three months, who knows? I might lose my motivation, and we will see what happens after.”
The 37-year-old Finnish star is in the final season of a six-year, $38 million contract. He scored his 500th career point in 2011-12 and was named an all-star for the third time in his 12-season NHL career.
Timonen said he is deciding on a year-to-year basis whether to continue playing. During the 2004-05 lockout, Timonen bounced around Europe, playing 15 games with three different clubs.
Asked whether he would be returning overseas to skate during the current lockout, Timonen said, “We will see how it goes.”
The Flyers’ first three preseason games were cancelled by the league on Wednesday.