Lehtonen traded to Columbus

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1370477233396183042

Sorta-called it.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Re-upping this post from yesterday, which I think at least partially explains why Dubas might have moved him:

Could the Leafs trade Lehtonen? If so would it hurt there chances of landing other Russian hopefuls?

Leaving aside questions like "is Lehtonen a NHLer" (my answer: maybe) and "should he get more playing time here" (my answer: maybe), I think you could potentially make the argument that trading Lehtonen could actually improve their attractiveness to future European players.

Lehtonen came over here for a shot at a NHL career. Things didn't start off great, and he hasn't really been able to establish himself as a NHLer halfway through the season like both sides hoped he would. A lot of teams in Toronto's position might just say "thanks but we're done" and bury him in the AHL for the rest of the year and let his contract expire. If the Leafs went to him and said "Listen, you're going to be our 7D for the rest of the year and we still have Sandin, Liljegren, and maybe another potential veteran we pick up as depth. Realistically speaking, we aren't going to give you the opportunity that you're looking for in the 2nd half of the season. Instead of getting buried here, how would you feel about getting traded to a team that could actually use a defenceman like you for the rest of the season", I think he would actually be very appreciative of that and future UFAs would feel safe knowing that the Leafs will try to do right by them even if things don't work out.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Re-upping this post from yesterday, which I think at least partially explains why Dubas might have moved him:

Could the Leafs trade Lehtonen? If so would it hurt there chances of landing other Russian hopefuls?

Leaving aside questions like "is Lehtonen a NHLer" (my answer: maybe) and "should he get more playing time here" (my answer: maybe), I think you could potentially make the argument that trading Lehtonen could actually improve their attractiveness to future European players.

Lehtonen came over here for a shot at a NHL career. Things didn't start off great, and he hasn't really been able to establish himself as a NHLer halfway through the season like both sides hoped he would. A lot of teams in Toronto's position might just say "thanks but we're done" and bury him in the AHL for the rest of the year and let his contract expire. If the Leafs went to him and said "Listen, you're going to be our 7D for the rest of the year and we still have Sandin, Liljegren, and maybe another potential veteran we pick up as depth. Realistically speaking, we aren't going to give you the opportunity that you're looking for in the 2nd half of the season. Instead of getting buried here, how would you feel about getting traded to a team that could actually use a defenceman like you for the rest of the season", I think he would actually be very appreciative of that and future UFAs would feel safe knowing that the Leafs will try to do right by them even if things don't work out.

Good call!

 

[Kin]

Trading Lehtonen makes sense and I guess this adds to the G depth in the organization so...ok?

 

[bustaheims]

The guy they picked up had mostly decent numbers in Finland, though his North American numbers aren?t super. Never know with goalies, though, and Lehtonen didn?t really have a future here.

 

[Bender]

The guy they picked up had mostly decent numbers in Finland, though his North American numbers aren?t super. Never know with goalies, though, and Lehtonen didn?t really have a future here.

Hooray for Veeti Veitneonnenninnen. I can never pronounce Finnish names right  ;D

 

[L K]

The one thing I will say is I kind of feel bad for a guy who will probably need to adjust to NHL defense and plying under Torts

 

[CatScratchFever]

The guy they picked up had mostly decent numbers in Finland, though his North American numbers aren?t super. Never know with goalies, though, and Lehtonen didn?t really have a future here.

Hooray for Veeti Veitneonnenninnen. I can never pronounce Finnish names right  ;D

Haha! I propose we call him Veni Vidi Vivi.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/scottcwheeler/status/1370482737216417795

 

[azzurri63]

Got to be more coming from Dubas but my thoughts dumb trade. Lehtonen I think wasn't given much of an opportunity. What's the point of trying to find these players overseas when you don't give them an opportunity. Mark my words he'll eventually be a starter on Columbus and will do well. Thumbs down on this one.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Got to be more coming from Dubas but my thoughts dumb trade. Lehtonen I think wasn't given much of an opportunity. What's the point of trying to find these players overseas when you don't give them an opportunity. Mark my words he'll eventually be a starter on Columbus and will do well. Thumbs down on this one.

I think it was Dubas doing a good thing for him and probably asked him if he would like to be traded for a chance somewhere else. I think without covid he would have had a better chance.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/Kyle_Cush/status/1370481589277360130

 

[Kin]

Lehtonen got a fair chance here, didn't impress and so they moved on. Unless you're advocating the Leafs bench someone else in the lineup, nothing was going to change about Lehtonen's situation here and he wouldn't have come back for a second year. Saying he'll play more in Columbus than the goalie will here is sort of the point of the trade.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Lehtonen got a fair chance here, didn't impress and so they moved on. Unless you're advocating the Leafs bench someone else in the lineup, nothing was going to change about Lehtonen's situation here and he wouldn't have come back for a second year. Saying he'll play more in Columbus than the goalie will here is sort of the point of the trade.

Agree...Good point.

 

[Zee]

The one thing I will say is I kind of feel bad for a guy who will probably need to adjust to NHL defense and plying under Torts

Doubt Torts lasts much longer in Columbus so maybe he has a future after all

 

[herman]

I was really hoping Lehtonen would get more runway to prove his game, but the circumstances here just didn?t line up. He was a very surprising pickup to begin with and I hope he does well in Flavortown.

Now to learn how to spell this goalie?s name

 

[azzurri63]

Lehtonen got a fair chance here, didn't impress and so they moved on. Unless you're advocating the Leafs bench someone else in the lineup, nothing was going to change about Lehtonen's situation here and he wouldn't have come back for a second year. Saying he'll play more in Columbus than the goalie will here is sort of the point of the trade.

Got a fair chance here really. Played in 9 games and averaged about 11 mins of ice time. Time he played he didn't look awful but again small sample. Thought they would give him more time to get accustomed to the ice size etc. Think Keefe had different opinion in him than Dubas. If it was to grant him some playing time elsewhere good on Dubas but again unless it's the start of some moves I think we gave him away.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Now to learn how to spell this goalie?s name

Quite a few dots going on there.

 

[ZBBM]

Lehtonen got a fair chance here, didn't impress and so they moved on. Unless you're advocating the Leafs bench someone else in the lineup, nothing was going to change about Lehtonen's situation here and he wouldn't have come back for a second year. Saying he'll play more in Columbus than the goalie will here is sort of the point of the trade.

I don't agree.  They could have given him more of a look at Dermott's expense.

 

[ZBBM]

I was really hoping Lehtonen would get more runway to prove his game, but the circumstances here just didn?t line up. He was a very surprising pickup to begin with and I hope he does well in Flavortown.

Now to learn how to spell this goalie?s name

That's what I say.

As for the name, not necessary. VV.  Busted W.  V-Squared.  Twovee.  Vivid.

But if you do want to try to say it, in Finnish the accent is always on the first syllable.  The way they pronounce Virtanen is, in terms of authentic Finnish, wrong.  But of course if that's how Jake does it, then you have to honor that.  Though I refuse to honor Rielly's spelling.  8) : :