Conor Timmins Bio
Conor Timmins, born September 18, 1998, is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 32nd overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Timmins developed through the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds before breaking into the NHL in 2019. Standing 188 centimetres tall and weighing 84 kilograms, he has built his career on a blend of offensive instincts and two-way responsibility from the back end.
Across his professional journey, Timmins has suited up for the Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, and now the Buffalo Sabres. He has shown resilience in overcoming multiple injury setbacks while continuing to produce offensively when healthy. Internationally, he represented Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships, where he won a gold medal and led the tournament in plus-minus rating.
Early Life and Background
Conor Timmins was born on September 18, 1998, in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, a city with a deep hockey tradition in the Niagara Region. Growing up in southern Ontario, he was immersed in a competitive minor hockey environment from a young age and developed his game within local youth systems.
He began his organized competitive hockey with the Southern Tier Admirals of the South-Central Triple A Hockey League, where he played minor midget hockey. Timmins also spent a season in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, starting with the Thorold Blackhawks before a midseason trade to the St. Catharines Falcons. These early experiences helped him adjust to faster, more physical competition and prepared him for the next stage of his career.
Path to Hockey
Timmins was selected in the fourth round, 79th overall, of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He made his debut with the Greyhounds during the 2015–16 season, recording 13 points in 60 games and establishing himself as a steady, playmaking defenceman. His development accelerated the following year, when he scored 61 points with seven goals and 54 assists in 2016–17 and earned a spot in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Entering the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, NHL Central Scouting ranked him the 18th best North American skater. The Colorado Avalanche chose him with the first pick of the second round, 32nd overall. After returning to Sault Ste. Marie for the 2017–18 season, Timmins registered 41 points in 36 games and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche on March 2, 2018. That same year, he represented Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships in Buffalo, New York, where he scored five points, recorded an assist on the gold-medal-winning goal, and led the entire tournament with a plus-minus rating of +15.
Conor Timmins Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Following the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Timmins returned to the Greyhounds to continue his development. He capped his junior career with a strong 2017–18 campaign and signed his entry-level contract shortly after. However, his transition to professional hockey was immediately disrupted by a concussion sustained at the end of his final junior season, with symptoms that kept him from playing in any games for the Avalanche or their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, during the 2018–19 season.
After a long recovery process, Timmins earned a place on the Avalanche’s opening-night roster ahead of the 2019–20 season. He made his NHL debut on October 3, 2019, skating on Colorado’s third defensive pairing in a 5–3 win over the Calgary Flames. After appearing in two NHL games, he was reassigned to the Colorado Eagles on October 7, 2019, to continue his development at the AHL level.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2019–2021)
Timmins’ first stint with the Avalanche was brief, as injuries and roster competition limited his NHL opportunities. Despite the setbacks, he remained within the organization and continued refining his two-way game in the AHL. He became a restricted free agent at the conclusion of his entry-level contract.
On July 28, 2021, the Avalanche traded Timmins, along with a first-round pick in 2022 and a conditional third-round pick in 2024, to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper. The move opened a new chapter for Timmins in the desert, where he would have an opportunity to play a more prominent role on the blueline.
Arizona Coyotes Era (2021–2022)
Shortly after his arrival in Arizona, the Coyotes signed Timmins to a two-year, $1.7 million contract extension on August 6, 2021, signalling their confidence in his long-term potential. His time with the Coyotes, however, was cut short by another significant injury. Just six games into his tenure, he suffered a knee injury that required season-ending surgery and forced him to miss the remainder of the 2021–22 campaign.
When healthy to start the 2022–23 season, Timmins appeared in two games for Arizona before another injury struck on October 15, 2022. He was sent to AHL affiliate the Tucson Roadrunners on a conditioning assignment, where he registered three assists in six games. Following the conditioning stint, he was traded by the Coyotes to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Curtis Douglas on November 23, 2022.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2022–2025)
Timmins made his Maple Leafs debut on December 6, 2022, against the Dallas Stars after spending time with Toronto’s development team. He quickly produced offensively, picking up eight assists in his first ten games with the club. On January 8, 2023, he scored his first career NHL goal in a 6–2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, a milestone moment in his professional career.
His strong play prompted the Maple Leafs to sign him to a two-year contract extension on February 9, 2023, ahead of restricted free agency. Later that season, however, following NHL trade-deadline acquisitions of veteran defencemen, Timmins was pushed out of the lineup and did not appear in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. He opened 2023–24 by leading the NHL in pre-season scoring, but an undisclosed injury in a pre-season game against Montreal on September 29, 2023, sent him to injured reserve, delaying his season debut until November 24, 2023, against the Chicago Blackhawks. In 2024–25, Timmins assumed third-pairing duties during his first injury-free professional season, setting a season high with 51 appearances before being traded, alongside Connor Dewar, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fifth-round pick in 2025 on March 7, 2025.
Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres Era (2025–Present)
With the Penguins, Timmins was given an expanded offensive role on the blue line and delivered one goal and seven points in 17 games to close out the 2024–25 season. As a pending restricted free agent, he was traded again at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28, 2025, when Pittsburgh sent him and Isaac Belliveau to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Connor Clifton and a second-round pick. He later signed a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension with the Sabres on July 27, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Timmins is recognized for his smooth skating, effective puck-moving ability, and strong hockey sense from the back end. He excels at transitioning play from defence to offence, using his 188-centimetre frame to win battles along the boards and contribute on the power play. His composure under pressure and accurate first pass have made him a reliable two-way defenceman when healthy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Timmins’ most significant career moments are his first NHL goal on January 8, 2023, against the Philadelphia Flyers and his gold-medal-winning performance at the 2018 World Junior Championships, where he led the tournament in plus-minus at +15. He has also navigated multiple trades and survived several major injuries, including a concussion and a knee injury, returning each time to contribute at the NHL level.
Conor Timmins Career Wins
While individual win totals across professional leagues are not fully verified in available sources, Timmins has recorded notable offensive contributions throughout his NHL career. His most prominent accomplishment is an international gold medal with Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships.
Junior and AHL Highlights
Timmins peaked offensively in junior hockey during the 2016–17 season, scoring 61 points (7 goals, 54 assists) in 62 games for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The following year, he added 41 points in 36 games before turning professional. In the AHL, he posted three assists in six games during a 2022 conditioning assignment with the Tucson Roadrunners.
Other Performances
In the NHL, Timmins opened his Maple Leafs tenure with eight assists in his first ten games and led the league in pre-season scoring entering 2023–24. With the Penguins in 2024–25, he recorded one goal and seven points in 17 games after being given an expanded offensive role on the blue line.
Conor Timmins Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Conor Timmins’ parents and family is not available in verified sources.
Personal Life
Public details about Conor Timmins’ personal relationships, spouse, and children are not available in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marked a period of major transition for Conor Timmins. After a productive stretch with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024–25, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 7, 2025, and immediately slotted into an expanded offensive role on the blue line, finishing the season with one goal and seven points in 17 games.
At the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28, 2025, Timmins was traded again, this time to the Buffalo Sabres as part of a package including Isaac Belliveau. Shortly thereafter, on July 27, 2025, he signed a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension with the Sabres, signalling the organization’s confidence in his long-term fit on the roster.
Heading into the 2025–26 season, Timmins is expected to compete for a regular spot on the Sabres’ back end. With the stability of a multi-year deal and a fresh opportunity in Buffalo, he will look to build on his offensive production and establish himself as a full-time NHL contributor after years of injury setbacks.