Flyers get Timonen, Hartnell from Preds

Instead of letting two unrestricted free agents from Nashville sign with other clubs on July 1, the Flyers took matters into their own hands yesterday afternoon by trading for defenseman Kimmo Timonen and left winger Scott Hartnell.

Both players and the Flyers agreed to six-year contracts that had not been filed with the league because they had not been completed. Timonen's $37.8 million deal will average $6.3 million against the salary cap, while Hartnell's $25.2 million deal will average $4.2 million.

In exchange, the Predators retrieved the first-round pick in the 2007 draft (the 23d overall) that went to the Flyers last season in the Peter Forsberg deal.

The trade represented a coup for Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Timonen was considered the best free agent among the mobile defensemen who would have been available this summer. At 32, he becomes the club's No. 1 blue liner. His younger brother, Jussi, plays for the Flyers as well.

"He gets the puck out of his own end; he helps out offensively," Holmgren said.  "He is one of the better two-way defensemen in the game.  He is not a very big man, but he is smart."

Although the contract would take Timonen to age 38, it is front-loaded so he will earn $8 million in each of the first two years, when he will still be in his prime.

"It has been an awesome day for me and my family," said Timonen, a native of Finland. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I'm really excited about this opportunity and to have this chance to be part of the Flyers."

Hartnell, 25, will get $5.2 million and $4.7 million in his first two years.

"It was a surprise to me with all the stuff going on right now, especially a couple of weeks before free agency," Hartnell said.  ". . . To be in an organization like Philadelphia is going to be an awesome time."

The 6-2, 208-pound Hartnell is a 20-goal scorer who can play either wing. He gives the Flyers more options in their lineup, which already includes the fleet Scotty Upshall, who also came here in the Forsberg deal.

"He's a hard-nosed kid," Holmgren said of Hartnell. "He moves good - a very aggressive, tough player."

The Flyers got quicker up front and on the back end, and all they lost was a late first-round pick in the draft, to be held Friday and Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

The Predators, who are being sold by Craig Leipold to Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie, conceded that they could not re-sign either Timonen or Hartnell. The Predators appear to be lightening their payroll; Balsillie has informed the NHL that he wants to move the club to Hamilton, Ontario.

Two sources involved in yesterday's deal said Holmgren was given 72 hours since Friday to make the trade before Predators general manager David Poile moved both players elsewhere rather than lose them for nothing in free agency.

"We were surprised to get a call from David on Friday asking us if we'd be willing to go to Philly," said Timonen's agent, Bill Zito Jr. "We had nothing to lose. We were preparing for July 1."

The Flyers' payroll is nearly $40.73 million for next season. If the salary cap goes up to $49 million from $44 million (it could go higher), that would leave $8.2 million to spend in free agency - and the club still lacks a No. 1 center.

Is that enough money?

"We've got to get creative," Peter Luukko, president of Comcast-Spectacor, said.

Among the players the Flyers are looking at are New Jersey center Scott Gomez and Buffalo centers Daniel Briere and Chris Drury. The Sabres are expected to re-sign Briere, and Drury seems headed for San Jose.

Holmgren conceded that the Flyers needed to trim salary.

The club announced that it had filed for salary arbitration with restricted free-agent defenseman Joni Pitkanen. The Flyers want to lower his $2 million salary. Pitkanen had a poor season in 2006-07, with a minus-25 rating.

Do you like yesterday's trade? Have your say on The Inquirer's Flyers discussion board at http://go.philly.

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