Mikko Lehtonen signs with Leafs

[Andy007]

Give me a break, this is a "Mikko Lehtonen" thread with Lehtonen clips being shown. I don't see how anyone would have a problem with this nor have any superlatives been thrown out.

And FTR, not only was Zaitsev never hyped as much as Lehtonen (Leafs media, fanbase, NHL all included) Zaitsev's top season ever in the KHL was 32 points.

 

[Kin]

The real problem, and I don't want to beat a dead horse here, is that Z became a boat anchor @ 4.5m for 7yrs!

Even that, I think, is overstating things a bit. An ok defensive defenseman at 4.5 isn't a good use of money but as the Leafs showed it's something that can get moved at relatively low cost.

I think the Leafs moved on from him more because A) he wasn't Dubas' sort of player and B) their cap situation made it so they couldn't be as cavalier about small overpayments as other teams.

 

[herman]

Zaitsev also requested a trade and was very happy to beeline for the DJ Smith-led Senators.

 

[Bender]

The real problem, and I don't want to beat a dead horse here, is that Z became a boat anchor @ 4.5m for 7yrs!

Even that, I think, is overstating things a bit. An ok defensive defenseman at 4.5 isn't a good use of money but as the Leafs showed it's something that can get moved at relatively low cost.

I think the Leafs moved on from him more because A) he wasn't Dubas' sort of player and B) their cap situation made it so they couldn't be as cavalier about small overpayments as other teams.

Really? I didn't think he brought commensurate value to his contract. I still do think a 7yr contract on a fairly unproven asset did hamstring the team somewhat. Do you have to trade Connor Brown if it's a more palatable contract? Or if you do trade CB could you trade him on his own for value coming back vs. being used as a sweetener to get from out of a bad contract? He put together a pretty good season on a dreadful team last year.

I have a hard time thinking Dubas' rationale for trading him would be "He's not my guy" which seems very arbitrary vs. he's not very good relative to his contract.

 

[Kin]

Really? I didn't think he brought commensurate value to his contract.

I think he was overpaid a bit but not by a ton. Look at some of the deals signed by defensive defensemen this off-season and I think it's fair to say the term was the issue.

He put together a pretty good season on a dreadful team last year.

I think a pretty good season on a dreadful team is probably the high end of what Brown can do. He was forced down the lineup here to basically being a 3rd/4th line forward and I think that's what he is on a decent team which isn't all that valuable or a big price to pay.

I have a hard time thinking Dubas' rationale for trading him would be "He's not my guy" which seems very arbitrary vs. he's not very good relative to his contract.

Ok but I didn't say Dubas would trade him just for "not being my guy". I said Dubas's rationale would be that he didn't really value Zaitsev's skillset.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Was Z really thought of that way?

Yeah, he was getting his tires pumped pretty nicely at the time.

http://theleafsnation.com/2016/4/30/last-train-to-zaitsev

"Without a shred of exaggeration, Zaitsev is the best combination of talent and age of any defenceman the KHL"

"The eyes will tell you instantaneously that the youngster is an NHL-ready player. At 6?2 and a little under 200 pounds, he?s got a frame that can hold up to the rigors of the big leagues. He?s a crafty skater who has a small ice-capable first step, he can make outlet passes with ease, and has a howitzer from the point. "

Then they go into how impressive his offensive stats are, etc etc.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/mirtle/status/1319238292982857729
Apparently Lehtonen has layered on a few tweaks to his game. They look like Belfry suggestions to me, because guess who has access to the player dev app now?

 

[Bender]

Was Z really thought of that way?

Yeah, he was getting his tires pumped pretty nicely at the time.

http://theleafsnation.com/2016/4/30/last-train-to-zaitsev

"Without a shred of exaggeration, Zaitsev is the best combination of talent and age of any defenceman the KHL"

"The eyes will tell you instantaneously that the youngster is an NHL-ready player. At 6?2 and a little under 200 pounds, he?s got a frame that can hold up to the rigors of the big leagues. He?s a crafty skater who has a small ice-capable first step, he can make outlet passes with ease, and has a howitzer from the point. "

Then they go into how impressive his offensive stats are, etc etc.

TLN is a fansite though and Jeff Veillette can be a Leafs homer at times. That was never going to be a rational look at the player, although a lot of the second paragraph isn't technically wrong.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I don't see the issue of pumping the tires of a prospective player. I also don't see the issue being excited about that player. It's the potential that you're excited about. Much like a draft pick, yes this player is unknown, but no one is planning a parade route.

 

[Zee]

I don't see the issue of pumping the tires of a prospective player. I also don't see the issue being excited about that player. It's the potential that you're excited about. Much like a draft pick, yes this player is unknown, but no one is planning a parade route.

Speak for yourself.  ;D

 

[Redleaf]

I don't see the issue of pumping the tires of a prospective player. I also don't see the issue being excited about that player. It's the potential that you're excited about. Much like a draft pick, yes this player is unknown, but no one is planning a parade route.

Speak for yourself.  ;D

Maybe not the parade route just yet. Can we settle on which bar to catch the game 7 final? ;D

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/mirtle/status/1319238292982857729
Apparently Lehtonen has layered on a few tweaks to his game. They look like Belfry suggestions to me, because guess who has access to the player dev app now?

I like the moves to get out of the zone, or the sift pucks to the net. Not a huge fan of the solo rush into 4 defending players for a shot into the crest, unless he was deliberately trying to buy line changes and a set OZ faceoff.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/khl_eng/status/1319620612868931588

 

[Kaberle15]

Again ?

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/Jokerit_EN/status/1321737749922275329
NHL/AHL probably going to look like this on the regular next season

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/scottcwheeler/status/1322893630047199233

 

[herman]

I take it that means Lehtonen was one of the 12 forwards unfit to play. Jokerit is running 10 forwards today.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/chartinghockey/status/1326575160556662784
Scoring like a forward so far. He was back in action last night after sitting out since Oct 21.

Didn't hit the scoreboard, but still motoring
https://twitter.com/_NickRichard/status/1326230371936182283

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/1329145386703990785

 

[herman]

And now, to answer my question of, why did Mikko do a press circuit with Toronto media in the random middle of November:
https://twitter.com/jokerit_en/status/1329718261328580608