Kari Lehtonen
Template:Short description Template:Infobox ice hockey player
Kari Lehtonen (born November 16, 1983) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Thrashers and Dallas Stars. He was selected second overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Thrashers, becoming the highest-drafted European goaltender, as well as being tied with Patrik Laine, Alexander Barkov and Kaapo Kakko for the highest-drafted Finnish player in NHL history.
Early life
Lehtonen was born on November 16, 1983, in Helsinki, Finland.<ref name="Stats">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is the son to parents Martti and Marja Lehtonen. He also has a sister, Kirsi, and an older brother, Kimmo.<ref name="Future">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His father owns a tire dealership and his mother is a nurse.<ref name="Future"/> Lehtonen began picking up an interest in hockey at the age of five, following his brother to his team practices,<ref name="Future"/> before he started playing goalie at seven years old, with the help of his personal goalie coach helping him learn the position.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Playing career
Early years
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Lehtonen was drafted second overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers after an outstanding 2001–02 season in the Finnish SM-liiga and became the highest-drafted European goaltender.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lehtonen was the backup goalie for Jokerit,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but captured the starting position and won the Urpo Ylönen trophy, given to the best goalie of the season,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the league's playoff MVP award, the Jari Kurri trophy.<ref name="MTV Uutiset">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lehtonen stayed with Jokerit for one more season before moving to North America.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was awarded the Urpo Ylönen trophy again in the 2002–03 season.<ref name="MTV Uutiset"/>
Atlanta Thrashers
During the 2003–04 season, Lehtonen mostly spent his time with the Chicago Wolves, the Thrashers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, but he was called up for a number of occasions and played four games for the Thrashers, winning all four of them and posting one shutout. In the four games with the Thrashers, he posted a .953 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average (GAA).<ref name="Stats"/> He earned his first shutout in the NHL on March 27, 2004, against the Florida Panthers, making 30 saves.<ref name="Future"/>
Lehtonen spent the 2004–05 NHL lockout season with the Wolves, adjusting to the North American playing style. He earned the AHL Second All-Star Team recognition that season and was the 2005 Calder Cup finalist.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After playing 57 games for the Wolves, of which he won 38, posting .929 save percentage and 2.27 GAA,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Thrashers called him up, and Lehtonen started the 2005–06 season as the starting goalie for Atlanta.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, he failed to stay healthy for most of the season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On the opening night of the 2005–06 season, Lehtonen suffered a serious groin injury when Florida Panthers centre Nathan Horton collided with him.<ref name="AJC"/> The injury sidelined him for the first half of the season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lehtonen was once again injured on April 6, 2006, when Tampa Bay Lightning forward Chris Dingman collided with him; Lehtonen tried to get to his feet, but sprained his ankle in the process.
Shortly into the 2006–07 season, Lehtonen broke the Atlanta Thrashers shutout streak record previously held by Michael Garnett.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The streak lasted 167 minutes and 56 seconds, before it was snapped by P.J. Axelsson of the Boston Bruins.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also set his career highs in every category.<ref name="Bleacher Report"/> AirTran Airways, a low-cost airline, signed Lehtonen as an endorser for the 2006–07 season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On February 8, 2007, Lehtonen became the Thrashers franchise leader for wins by a goaltender with 49, surpassing Pasi Nurminen's record of 48. On April 12, 2007, Lehtonen was the starting goaltender for the Thrashers in their first Stanley Cup playoff game. He played two games in the playoffs losing both of them, where he allowed four goals in the first and allowed seven goals on 35 shots in the second.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
After a rough start to the 2007–08 season, Lehtonen suffered another groin injury on October 18, 2007. He would miss 16 games before returning on December 5, 2007.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He finished the season with a respectable save percentage of .916 to go along with four shutouts as the Thrashers failed to qualify for the 2008 playoffs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2009, Lehtonen re-signed with the Atlanta Thrashers to a one-year, $3 million deal, after posting a 19–22–3 record with three shutouts, a 3.06 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage in 46 games for the Thrashers in the 2008–09 season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dallas Stars
Lehtonen re-joined the Thrashers on February 7, 2010, following a condition stint with the Chicago Wolves in January.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, on February 9, Lehtonen was traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth-round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft (Ivan Telegin).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He spent the remainder of the season backing up Marty Turco and won six of the twelve games he played with the team.<ref name="Lehtonen FA"/>
Prior to the start of the 2010–11 season, the Stars signed Lehtonen to a three-year, $10.65 million extension.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In his first full season in Dallas, Lehtonen compiled a 34–24–11 record with a 2.55 GAA in 69 games played.<ref name="Stats"/> He led the league in wins within his first twelve starts, recording an 11–1–0 record and landing him a potential Vezina Trophy nomination.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lehtonen received his 17th career shutout against the Columbus Blue Jackets, pulling the team closer to a playoff spot.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lehtonen and the Stars narrowly missed the 2011 playoffs after losing to the Minnesota Wild on the final day of the season to eliminate them from playoff contention, finishing the season only two points behind the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks for the last playoff spot.<ref name="Lehtonen FA"/> In the 2011–12 NHL season, Lehtonen posted a 32–22–4 record, 4 shutouts, a 2.33 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.<ref name="Stats"/>
On September 4, 2012, the day before an impending lockout, Lehtonen signed a five-year, $29.5 million contract.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The contract included a no-trade clause.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Early on in the 2012–13 NHL season, Lehtonen was considered a potential Vezina Trophy candidate, recording a .934 save percentage, ranked third in the league at that time and a 2.12 goals against average.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was 7–2–1 in the season, before he suffered a lower-body injury against the Vancouver Canucks on February 15, 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He returned to the team on February 27,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> however, was once again injured on April 9, against the Los Angeles Kings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Lehtonen led the NHL in minutes played during the 2013–14 season.<ref name="Rusty or Refreshed">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He left a game against the Minnesota Wild after suffering a head injury in March 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He made the playoffs with the Stars for the first time in 2014 as the team finished as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference where they would eventually be defeated in six games by the top seeded Anaheim Ducks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He earned his first career shutout in the playoffs in Game 1, making 37 saves.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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By the 2014–15 NHL season, Lehtonen's number began to falter. During a game against the Florida Panthers on March 5, 2015, he allowed three goals on eleven shots and was pulled.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, he did earn a 27 save shutout against the Los Angeles Kings back in November 2014, making an acrobatic glove save diving across the crease to rob Jarret Stoll at the edge of the crease of the second period.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He finished the season with a record of 34–17–10, a goals against average of 2.94 and a .903 save percentage.<ref name="Stats"/> The following season, Lehtonen continued to struggle.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Prior to the 2015–16 season, the Stars acquired fellow Finnish goaltender Antti Niemi from the San Jose Sharks to compete with Lehtonen. They alternated regularly the next two seasons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He finished that season with a record of 25–10–2, a goals against average of 2.76 and a .906 save percentage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2016 playoffs, Lehtonen established himself as the primary goalie.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He earned his second career shutout in the playoffs in Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Stars went on to beat the Wild in a six game series, winning Game 6, with a score of 5–4 and earned Lehtonen his first career playoff series win.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, in Game 7 of the second round, he was pulled after giving up three goals in the first period as the Stars' season ended with a 6–1 loss to the St. Louis Blues for a 4–3 defeat in the series.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Lehtonen finished the 2016–17 NHL season with a record of 22–25–7, a 2.85 goals against average and .902 save percentage.<ref name="Move On Lehtonen"/> Lehtonen and the Stars snapped the Washington Capitals' home win streak at 15 games, where he made 42 saves.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He earned his 30th career shutout in a 1–0 victory against the San Jose Sharks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Stars ultimately missed the 2017 NHL playoffs.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Following the 2016–17 NHL season, the Dallas Stars signed Ben Bishop as the team's new starter and Lehtonen transitioned into the team's backup goalie.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Rusty or Refreshed"/> He earned his 300th win on December 13, 2017, in a game against the New York Islanders by making 32 saves to clinch a 5–2 win.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bishop and Lehtonen became a solid goaltending tandem, as they were fifth in goals against average in the NHL by February 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In March 2018, Lehtonen became the team's starting goalie again after Bishop suffered a knee injury and would be out for an undisclosed period of time.<ref name="Goalie No. 1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Up until that point, he had a record of 12–10–3, with a 2.46 GAA and .913 save percentage.<ref name="Rusty or Refreshed"/> However, with the NHL playoffs on the line, he went 5–9–2, as the team ultimately missed the playoffs. Lehtonen finished the 2017–18 NHL season with a record of 15–14–3, a goals against average of 2.56 and a .912 save percentage.<ref name="Move On Lehtonen">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played his last game with the Dallas Stars on April 7, 2018, against the Los Angeles Kings picking up a win and made 34 saves.<ref name="Lehtonen FA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He entered free agency in the summer of 2018.<ref name="Lehtonen FA"/> Lehtonen was left unsigned prior to the start of the 2018–19 NHL season, and though he never officially announced a retirement, he went one year remaining unsigned and decided to "close that door" on hockey.<ref name="Lehtonen Retirement">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
International play
Lehtonen has been selected to play for Finland's youth and national teams on many occasions. He won gold with Finland at the 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships.<ref name="MTV Uutiset"/> He finished the tournament possessing a 5-0-1 record with a 1.76 goals-against average and a .963 save percentage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also competed in the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2001, backing up Ari Ahonen, and in 2002, where he led the team to a bronze medal and was named the top goaltender in the tournament that year.<ref name="HC"/> He represented Finland at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey where they placed second.<ref name="2004 WCOH">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played at the 2007 IIHF World Championship tournament, where the team won silver. He was named that tournament's Top Goaltender.<ref name="IIHF 2007">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also participated at the 2012 IIHF World Championship tournament, however, he suffered an injury during a game.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He won a bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.<ref name="2014 Olympics">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played in two games, one victory in the preliminary round and a loss in the semi-finals.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He finished with a 1-1-0 record with a 1.51 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Playing style
Lehtonen was a big goaltender who used his size to his advantage having good net coverage and has lightning-quick reflexes. With his calm and cool demeanour, he has the ability to anticipate plays and have an excellent sense of timing.<ref name="HC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Central Scouting describes him as a tall goaltender with impressive quickness and excellent reflexes.<ref name="Future"/> Lehtonen's childhood idol was iconic Finnish goaltender Jarmo Myllys. He also cites inspiration from Patrick Roy, admiring his playing style.<ref name="HC"/>
Personal life
On July 2, 2011, Kari married longtime girlfriend Abbe Schutter in a private ceremony at the Club at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Florida. Kari met Abbe while playing in Atlanta.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kari and Abbe welcomed their first child, a son, in September 2012.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They welcomed their second child and son in November 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since 2018, Lehtonen spends his time coaching for his son's youth hockey team.<ref name="Lehtonen Retirement"/>
He spent a couple of years being a guest instructor at a summer hockey program ran by Jarmo Myllys.<ref name="Future"/> Prior to entering the United States, he was able to work on his English with the help of former New York Rangers goalie Jamie Ram, as well as watching television shows like The Simpsons and American Idol.<ref name="Future"/>
Lehtonen was featured on numerous commercials for PM Standley Motorcars, under the video series Cars with Kari.<ref name="Lehtonen Retirement"/>
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1999–2000 | Jokerit | FIN U20 | 33 | 21 | 9 | 3 | — | 1974 | 86 | 2 | 2.61 | .904 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 758 | 14 | 4 | 1.11 | .952 | ||
| 2000–01 | Jokerit | FIN U20 | 31 | 20 | 9 | 1 | — | 1799 | 71 | 3 | 2.37 | .911 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 4 | 4.44 | 0 | .857 | ||
| 2000–01 | Jokerit | SM-l | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 190 | 6 | 0 | 1.90 | .937 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Jokerit | FIN U20 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 360 | 11 | 1 | 1.83 | .944 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Jokerit | SM-l | 23 | 13 | 5 | 2 | — | 1242 | 37 | 4 | 1.79 | .941 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 623 | 18 | 3 | 1.73 | .940 | ||
| 2002–03 | Jokerit | SM-l | 45 | 23 | 14 | 6 | — | 2634 | 87 | 5 | 1.98 | .928 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 626 | 17 | 2 | 1.63 | .941 | ||
| 2003–04 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 39 | 20 | 14 | 2 | — | 2192 | 88 | 3 | 2.41 | .926 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 663 | 23 | 1 | 2.08 | .942 | ||
| 2003–04 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 239 | 5 | 1 | 1.25 | .953 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 57 | 38 | 17 | 2 | — | 3378 | 128 | 5 | 2.27 | .929 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 983 | 28 | 2 | 1.71 | .939 | ||
| 2005–06 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 38 | 20 | 15 | — | 0 | 2166 | 106 | 2 | 2.94 | .906 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 68 | 34 | 24 | — | 9 | 3934 | 183 | 4 | 2.79 | .912 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 118 | 11 | 0 | 5.59 | .849 | ||
| 2007–08 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 48 | 17 | 22 | — | 5 | 2707 | 131 | 4 | 2.90 | .916 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 124 | 4 | 0 | 1.93 | .934 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 46 | 19 | 22 | — | 3 | 2624 | 134 | 3 | 3.06 | .911 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 247 | 11 | 0 | 2.67 | .899 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 12 | 6 | 4 | — | 0 | 663 | 31 | 0 | 2.81 | .911 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 69 | 34 | 24 | — | 11 | 4119 | 175 | 3 | 2.55 | .914 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 59 | 32 | 22 | — | 4 | 3497 | 136 | 4 | 2.33 | .922 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 36 | 15 | 14 | — | 3 | 1986 | 88 | 1 | 2.66 | .916 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 65 | 33 | 20 | — | 10 | 3804 | 153 | 5 | 2.41 | .919 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 346 | 19 | 1 | 3.29 | .885 | ||
| 2014–15 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 65 | 34 | 17 | — | 10 | 3698 | 181 | 5 | 2.94 | .903 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 43 | 25 | 10 | — | 2 | 2280 | 105 | 2 | 2.76 | .906 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 555 | 26 | 1 | 2.81 | .899 | ||
| 2016–17 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 59 | 22 | 25 | — | 7 | 3178 | 151 | 3 | 2.85 | .902 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 37 | 15 | 14 | — | 3 | 1945 | 83 | 1 | 2.56 | .912 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| SM-l totals | 72 | 39 | 20 | 8 | — | 4,066 | 130 | 9 | 1.92 | .933 | 21 | 14 | 6 | 1,249 | 35 | 5 | 1.68 | .941 | ||||
| NHL totals | 649 | 310 | 233 | 0 | 67 | 36,838 | 1,662 | 38 | 2.71 | .912 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 1,019 | 56 | 2 | 3.30 | .887 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Finland | U18 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 307 | 9 | 1 | 1.76 | .963 | |
| 2001 | Finland | WJC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 | .920 | |
| 2001 | Finland | U18 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 239 | 7 | 2 | 1.76 | .935 | |
| 2002 | Finland | WJC | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 360 | 7 | 1 | 1.17 | .943 | |
| 2002 | Finland | WC | DNP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2003 | Finland | WJC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 357 | 13 | 2 | 2.19 | .923 | |
| 2003 | Finland | WC | DNP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2004 | Finland | WCH | DNP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2007 | Finland | WC | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | 374 | 12 | 1 | 1.93 | .913 | |
| 2012 | Finland | WC | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | 232 | 11 | 1 | 2.85 | .894 | |
| 2014 | Finland | OG | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 119 | 3 | 0 | 1.51 | .935 | |
| Junior totals | 23 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 1323 | 38 | 6 | 1.72 | — | |||
| Senior totals | 12 | 7 | 5 | — | 725 | 26 | 2 | 2.15 | .909 | |||
Awards and honours
Template:MedalTableTop Template:MedalSport Template:MedalCountry Template:MedalCompetition Template:MedalBronze Template:MedalCompetition Template:MedalSilver Template:MedalCompetition Template:MedalSilver Template:MedalCompetition Template:MedalSilver Template:MedalBronze Template:MedalBronze Template:MedalCompetition Template:MedalGold Template:MedalSilver Template:MedalBottom
- Urpo Ylönen trophy for best SM-liiga goaltender — 2002 and 2003<ref name="MTV Uutiset"/>
- Jari Kurri trophy for best player during the playoffs — 2002<ref name="MTV Uutiset"/>
- SM-liiga champion 2002
- 2004 World Cup of Hockey (runner-up)<ref name="2004 WCOH"/>
- Silver Medal in the 2007 IIHF World Championship<ref name="IIHF 2007"/>
- Best Goaltender in the 2007 IIHF World Championship<ref name="IIHF 2007"/>
- Bronze Medal in the 2014 Winter Olympics<ref name="2014 Olympics"/>
Records
- Atlanta Thrashers franchise leader for games played by a goaltender (204).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Atlanta Thrashers franchise leader for victories (94).<ref name="Bleacher Report">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Atlanta Thrashers franchise leader shutouts (14).<ref name="Bleacher Report"/>
- Atlanta Thrashers franchise leader for games played by a goaltender in a single season (68).<ref name="Bleacher Report"/>
- Atlanta Thrashers franchise leader for saves in a single season (1,892).<ref name="UPI">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Atlanta Thrashers franchise leader for shutouts in a single season (4).<ref name="Bleacher Report"/>
- Atlanta Thrashers franchise leader for starts in a single season (66).<ref name="UPI"/>
- Atlanta Thrashers franchise leader for minutes played in a single season (3,934).
- Dallas Stars franchise leader for points in a season as a goaltender (6).
- Dallas Stars franchise leader for most career points as a goaltender (23).
- Dallas Stars franchise leader for assists as a goaltender (28).<ref name="Goalie No. 1"/>
- Dallas Stars franchise leader for most saves as a goaltender (11,455).<ref name="Lehtonen FA"/>
Mask history
- While playing for the AHL's Chicago Wolves, the Hamburglar was featured on Lehtonen's mask, an homage to the nickname he received shortly after arriving from Finland and becoming enamoured with McDonald's hamburgers.<ref>Supersize meTemplate:Dead link</ref>
- He had a depiction of rapper Lil Jon, who is an avid Thrashers fan, on his mask.<ref name="Masks">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- In the past, Lehtonen has worn helmets featuring characters Yuna and Rikku from the video game Final Fantasy X-2, as well as Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu's characters from Kill Bill. Lehtonen, however, is not a video game fanatic; "I've never played it, but I saw a couple of commercials about the game and just thought it looked awesome."<ref name="AJC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- He also had a mask made featuring Optimus Prime from Transformers, which was never worn in a game, only in pre-game warm ups.<ref name="Masks"/>
- He also wore a mask that showed a depiction of Heath Ledger's Joker character from The Dark Knight, with a stylized ATL featured on the other side.<ref name="Masks"/>
- His first mask for the Dallas Stars depicted Clint Eastwood's character from the movie The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.<ref name="Masks"/>
- His second mask for the Stars featured Chuck Norris.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- His former mask for Dallas Stars featured characters and scenes from the movie Tombstone.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- For the 2013-14 NHL season, his mask was designed by former teammate Joni Hallikainen. The mask includes longhorns morphing into two points of the star, as well as some car tire marks as Lehtonen is a car enthusiast.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- For the 2014 Winter Olympics, his mask featured the word "Suomi" on both sides of the mask and incorporated a couple of snowflakes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
References
External links
Template:S-start Template:S-ach Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:S-end
- Pages with broken file links
- 1983 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Finnish sportsmen
- Atlanta Thrashers draft picks
- Atlanta Thrashers players
- Chicago Wolves players
- Dallas Stars players
- Finnish ice hockey goaltenders
- Ice hockey people from Helsinki
- Ice hockey players at the 2014 Winter Olympics
- Jokerit players
- Medalists at the 2014 Winter Olympics
- NHL first-round draft picks
- Olympic bronze medalists for Finland
- Olympic ice hockey players for Finland
- Olympic medalists in ice hockey