Mikko Lehtonen signs with Leafs
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
I really wish we had a better idea of what this guy could provide at the NHL level.
herman
Well-known member
CarltonTheBear said:
He skates really well, is relied on for every phase of play on a good team in the KHL. Has a good shot (might be an overshooter as he led his team in SOG) but also has a nose for getting into soft ice for those chances. Led their team last season in playoff TOI so that likely means he was matched up against top offenses. Has played RD, but not super much; reads like Rielly in terms of usage and rovery-ness but a more straightfoward style compared to Rielly's dynamic shifts of speed.
In Keefe's activated D system, that makes sense (sort of why Dubas went with Barrie for plan B). High centre and D creeping to the circles on the regular (2Forward/3Back config) means the Lehtonen's style is likely a fit.
Scouting reports are nice and all but I mean I want to know if he's a #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, or #8 NHL defenceman and I want to know now.
herman
Well-known member
https://twitter.com/jokerithc/status/1303737599832588289
https://twitter.com/jokerithc/status/1303734812683927552
I am deliberately only pulling up Finnish/Russian tweets now
Okay fine, I couldn't find this angle in Finnish or Russian
https://twitter.com/khl_eng/status/1303738193909514241
The opposing team and goaltender are ass-butt, but dude just went far post and in with a backhander from the weak side when the goalie gave him all of the short corner.
2G 1A as part of a 6-0 romp so far
https://twitter.com/kyle_cush/status/1303752596428148749
https://twitter.com/jokerithc/status/1303734812683927552
I am deliberately only pulling up Finnish/Russian tweets now
Okay fine, I couldn't find this angle in Finnish or Russian
https://twitter.com/khl_eng/status/1303738193909514241
The opposing team and goaltender are ass-butt, but dude just went far post and in with a backhander from the weak side when the goalie gave him all of the short corner.
2G 1A as part of a 6-0 romp so far
https://twitter.com/kyle_cush/status/1303752596428148749
That sucks, but props to the league for having a mandatory 14 day quarantine for that.
Highlander
Active member
Don't know why there is not more excitement about Lehtonen. Not saying he is going to be the next coming of Jesus but he was just proclaimed the best D-Man in the KHL. Not exactly a slouch league.
I am hoping he is a pleasant surprise.
I am hoping he is a pleasant surprise.
CarltonTheBear said:
It sounds like this is actually the result of Finnish regulations, not the KHL per se.
bustaheims
Active member
Highlander said:
I mean, we've been burned by this a few times before - Ozhiganov, Zaitsev, Frogren, etc. I don't think you can blame people for being a little more guarded about Lehtonen.
Guilt Trip
Active member
I liked Borgman and I think he could have been a 6th or 7th d man. Problem was he's on the left side and there simply wasn't room. He just turned 25 in June. Funny seems like he's been around longer. We'll see how Lehtonen turns out. Looks like he's a player but like always, we'll see how it turns out.Frank E said:
As someone who is trying to be very cautious about Lehtonen's NHL projections I will say none of those defencemen ever scored anywhere near what Lehtonen did last season and none of them were named their leagues top defenceman.
That doesn't mean his play will definitely translate to the NHL level, but he's definitely got a better track record than the other guys we tried plucking out of Europe.
That doesn't mean his play will definitely translate to the NHL level, but he's definitely got a better track record than the other guys we tried plucking out of Europe.
bustaheims
Active member
CarltonTheBear said:
Yeah. That's true. His offensive production has definitely been more prolific. I'm more confident he'll be a viable NHL blueliner. I just don't expect he'll be much more than that.