Timo Helbling

Timo Helbling (born July 21, 1981) is a Swiss former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National League (NL) for HC Davos, Kloten Flyers, HC Lugano, HC Fribourg-Gottéron, SC Bern, EV Zug, SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, Oulun Kärpät of the Finish Liiga, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Helbling was originally drafted 162nd overall by the Nashville Predators in the 1999 NHL entry draft.

Playing career As a youth, Helbling played in the 1995 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Zürich. Helbling was drafted in the 6th round, 162nd overall by the Nashville Predators in the 1999 NHL entry draft. In the 2005–06 season, Helbling played 60 games for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL before he was recalled to the Tampa Bay Lightning to make his NHL debut.

Helbling signed with the Washington Capitals for the 2006–07 season, playing primarily with AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, before he was traded by the Capitals to the Sabres along with Dainius Zubrus for a first round pick and Jiri Novotny on February 27, 2007. Helbling was then assigned to the affiliate of the Sabres, the Rochester Americans.

Following the season, Timo returned to his native Switzerland, signing with HC Lugano. But revoke his deal with HC Lugano and make remaining season contract with Oulun Kärpät contract includes trial period until Christmas brake. Helbling plays his first game in Oulun Kärpät on November 16, 2010. During the World Hockey Championships 2010 Helbling caused confusion by getting in an altercation with Germany's coaches after losing a game against them.

After two seasons with HC Fribourg-Gottéron, Helbling was traded with a year remaining on his contract to fellow NLA club, SC Bern in exchange for Ryan Gardner on April 2, 2015.

On September 11, 2017, Helbling was suspended for 6 games and fined CHF 5,400 for a hit on a referee during a game against HC Davos on September 8, 2017.

On June 18, 2018, Helbling joined freshly promoted SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers on a one-year deal worth CHF 450,000. In the 2018-19 season, Helbling helped the Lakers remain in the NL, posting 1 goal and 4 points in 26 games before concluding his 621-game National League career at the conclusion of the season on April 9, 2019.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1998–99 HC Davos NLA 44 0 0 0 8 4 0 0 0 0 1999–00 HC Davos NLA 44 0 0 0 49 5 0 0 0 0 2000–01 Windsor Spitfires OHL 54 7 14 21 90 7 0 2 2 11 2000–01 Milwaukee Admirals IHL — — — — — 1 0 0 0 0 2001–02 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 67 2 6 8 59 — — — — — 2002–03 Toledo Storm ECHL 35 3 8 11 75 7 0 1 1 2 2002–03 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 23 0 1 1 37 — — — — — 2003–04 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 37 0 2 2 46 — — — — — 2003–04 Utah Grizzlies AHL 23 3 2 5 47 — — — — — 2004–05 EHC Kloten NLA 44 2 9 11 118 — — — — — 2005–06 Springfield Falcons AHL 60 7 14 21 56 — — — — — 2005–06 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 9 0 1 1 6 — — — — — 2006–07 Hershey Bears AHL 49 1 16 17 106 — — — — — 2006–07 Washington Capitals NHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2006–07 Rochester Americans AHL 20 0 8 8 50 6 2 0 2 6 2007–08 HC Lugano NLA 49 3 11 14 127 — — — — — 2008–09 HC Lugano NLA 49 2 9 11 136 7 0 1 1 12 2009–10 HC Lugano NLA 46 1 6 7 168 4 0 0 0 10 2010–11 HC Lugano NLA 17 0 0 0 26 — — — — — 2010–11 Oulun Kärpät SM-l 39 2 3 5 46 3 0 0 0 6 2011–12 EV Zug NLA 45 2 6 8 108 9 0 2 2 16 2012–13 EV Zug NLA 48 3 7 10 68 14 1 2 3 45 2013–14 HC Fribourg-Gottéron NLA 46 3 8 11 116 10 1 2 3 12 2014–15 HC Fribourg-Gottéron NLA 45 2 10 12 86 — — — — — 2015–16 SC Bern NLA 50 4 19 23 54 13 2 1 3 24 2016–17 EV Zug NLA 40 3 3 16 89 4 1 1 2 16 2017–18 EV Zug NL 28 1 2 3 24 5 0 0 0 10 2018–19 SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers NL 26 1 3 4 28 — — — — — NL totals 621 27 101 128 1205 87 5 13 18 173 NHL totals 11 0 1 1 8 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1999 Switzerland WJC18 4th 710135 2000 Switzerland WJC 6th 702216 2001 Switzerland WJC 6th 711210 2006 Switzerland WC 9th 40002 2010 Switzerland WC 5th 701125 2015 Switzerland WC 8th 7 0 0 0 8 Junior totals 2123561 Senior totals 1801135