Kimmo Timonen listed the best defense pairings of his career - special mention for two Finns

In the latest episode of the Kimanttia podcast, Kimmo Timonen, who had a wonderful career in the Lions, Liiga, and NHL, answered listeners’ questions.

The Stanley Cup winner and long-time star defenseman of the Lions was asked about the best defensive pairs of his career. Timonen highlighted five names.

– If we start from Finland, I played a lot with Jere Karalahti in the national team, HIFK, and junior national teams, Timonen began.

From his long NHL career, Timonen mentioned three different defensemen with whom he had particularly good chemistry.

– Then when we come here to America, Shea Weber was my partner for a while in Nashville. Marek Zidlicky should also be mentioned.

As the third name from his NHL career, Timonen brings up a somewhat surprising name from his years with the Philadelphia Flyers.

– Brayden Coburn, with whom I played in Philadelphia for probably six years out of eight. He was a good partner for me. Mobile, big-sized, maybe not so skilled. We played together for so long that I knew what he could do and he knew what I could do, Timonen praises the Canadian who rarely made headlines.

From the Lions, Timonen gives a special mention to one legend.

– I could say Teppo Numminen, we played a few Olympics together. There are certainly many good defensemen, Timonen concluded.

Timonen played a total of 16 seasons in the NHL. The now 50-year-old from Kuopio ended his career with a Stanley Cup victory in the Chicago Blackhawks jersey in the summer of 2015.