Stars acquire goalie Lehtonen
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page
Dallas Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk made a move Tuesday he hopes will solidify the team's goaltending of the future, acquiring Kari Lehtonen from the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth round pick in 2010.
"Kari Lehtonen is a proven elite goaltender,” said Nieuwendyk. “We are very excited to add him to our hockey club."
With both Marty Turco and Alex Auld scheduled to be unrestricted free agents this summer, Lehtonen, a restricted free agent who is making $3 million this season, will give the Stars an experienced NHL goaltender in the bank.
The 26-year-old Finn is Atlanta's all-time leader in games played (204), wins (94), shutouts (14), and save percentage (.912).
Lehtonen, the second overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, hasn't played in the NHL this season because of offseason back surgery. He had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back in July. In October he had a second surgery to deal with edges of bone that were applying pressure to nerve roots in his back.
Lehtonen, who hasn't played an NHL game since last April, is coming off a four-game conditioning stint with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. He went 1-1-2 with a 2.67 goals against average and a .899 save percentage.
Lehtonen has had his share of injury issues during his NHL career, but he's performed well when healthy, posting a 94-83-17 record with a 2.87 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.
His best season came in 2006-07 when he set single-season team records and career-highs in games played (68), starts (66), wins (34), shutouts (four), save percentage (.912), minutes (3,934), shots (2,075) and saves (1,892).
"He was picked second overall for a reason," said Nieuwendyk. "When healthy, he is a world-class goaltender. He is 26, and is entering the prime of his career.”
Lehtonen is not expected to join the team immediately nor is he expected to play before the Olympic break. He will come to Texas for a physical. For now the Stars will carry three goaltenders. How that will all work out will be determined at a later time.
"Those are things we'll deal with as we move forward," Crawford said. "That gives us three now, so that's a situation that we'll have to deal with."
The highly skilled Vishnevskiy, the team's first round pick (27th) overall in 2006, has two assists in five career NHL games. He's spent most of this season in the AHL with the Texas Stars, where he has eight goals and 16 assists in 51 games.
"He’s got great upside, plus we have another draft pick in the basket,” Thrashers GM Don Waddell told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Lehtonen profile
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