BREAKING- Kimmo Timonen traded to Blackhawks

The Philadelphia Flyers have just announced on their website and twitter feed that defenseman Kimmo Timonen has been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a second round draft pick in 2015 and a conditional draft pick the following year.

The veteran Defenceman was diagnosed with blood clots last summer and has missed the duration of the 2014 season because of it. The move comes as a huge shock to Flyers fans, who were hoping to see the 39 year old Stanley Cup Finals - Chicago Blackhawks v Philadelphia Flyers - Game Fourin action on Saturday against the Rangers.

Last year was his seventh in Broadstreet, playing over 500 games and scoring 270 total points. He also won the Barry Ashbee trophy a whopping five times..three of which came in his last three consecutive seasons sending him among some of the few elite to win the trophy more than once.

With Timonen gone at such a vital stage in the season, what will this mean for the Flyers playoffs hopes? The gap stood at 13 points at the beginning of the year and has since crumbled down to four. But after a loss against Toronto and the trading away of one of their most missed assets, can they get the job done?