CDMSports.com

Player Search

Player name:

Or choose a letter:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M,
N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Team:


Kari Lehtonen	#32 \| Goalie \| Atlanta Thrashers

Height: 6-4 Weight: 195 Shoots: L Born: November 16, 1983, Helsinki, Finland

Player Notes

2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008

Player Notes

November 21, 2006
Coach Bob Hartley said that Johan Hedberg has not replaced Kari Lehtonen as the team's starting goaltender, but that he is merely going with the hot hand, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lehtonen has a paltry .809 save percentage over his last three starts. "... We're in a business to win, so you play the guy who is hot at the time," Hartley said. "I think it all comes down to this: Who is your best card on the moment? Right now Moose is the best card. This doesn't mean the other guy is in the doghouse or we sit him beside the garbage can. Kari Lehtonen is, I want to be very clear on this a very valuable asset for the present and for the future he is our future."

November 11, 2006
Kari Lehtonen was back starting in goal Friday but not particularly effective, allowing five goals on 25 shots against the Rangers. Lehtonen has now allowed four goals or more in four of his last five appearances, though he did stop all 19 shots he faced earlier in the week when he replaced Johan Hedberg against Ottawa. It will be interesting to see how Bob Hartley plays it for Saturday's road game at Tampa Bay.

October 25, 2006
Kari Lehtonen has started every Thrashers game this season and will be in goal tonight and likely their next game, too, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I don't need any rest. Maybe later but not now," he said. "I haven't had to face a lot of shots, and I feel good. I want to keep going."

October 9, 2006
Kari Lehtonen made 34 saves en route to his second consecutive shutout on Monday. Lehtonen, who was coming off a 6-0 win over Florida on Saturday, has five career shutouts. He has allowed two goals in three games this season.

September 9, 2006
The Thrashers signed Kari Lehtonen to a two-year, $3.7 million contract on Thursday, according to the AP.

July 22, 2006
The agent for Kari Lehtonen traveled to Atlanta on Friday to meet with Thrashers general manager Don Waddell about a long-term contract. Both sides said they were pleased with the negotiations.

April 15, 2006
Thrashers coach Bob Hartley confirmed yesterday that Kari Lehtonen will not return from his sprained ankle in time for the final regular season games, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Mike Dunham will continue to start in goal.

April 10, 2006
Kari Lehtonen will have his sprained ankle examined in a few days, but he's expected to miss at least two more games and is questionable for the remainder of the regular season, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

April 8, 2006
Kari Lehtonen will miss at least two games with a sprained ankle that he suffered in a collision with Lightning defensemen Chris Dingman Thursday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This comes as a big blow to the Thrashers, who are desperately trying to keep their playoff hopes alive.

April 6, 2006
Kari Lehtonen left Thursdays game with 3:28 remaining in the first period after spraining his left ankle, according to the AP. The injury occurred when Lehtonen dropped to the ice to make a stop and got his leg tangled with Chris Dingman. Lehtonen was replaced by Mike Dunham.

January 28, 2006
Kari Lehtonen has decided against playing for Finland in the Olympics next month due to continued concerns about his groin injury, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It was the hardest decision of my life," Lehtonen said. "But there wasn't any option. There is no point going there when you're not 100 percent. . . We ran out of time. I was waiting for it to get better, but it really hasn't. There is still pain. I need the rest. I don't feel that great right now." Bad news for Finland -- good news for the Thrashers, fantasy owners and Flyers netminder Antero Niittymaki, who will start in place of Lehtonen.

January 13, 2006
Kari Lehtonen registered a career-best 37 saves in his second NHL shutout on Friday night, according to the AP.

| | | | |