I remember when Kari Lehtonen was the next great Finish goaltender. With the emergence of Miika Kiprusoff in the 2004 playoffs and Vesa Toskala in San Jose and Antero Niittymaki winning the Calder Cup MVP, the Finnish goaltender had replaced the Quebec goaltender as the next fad.When Lehtonen was drafted 2nd overall in 2002 they hype had him projected as the next superstar goaltender, being Finnish just intensified the hype. When he made his 4 game debut in 2004 those in the know rushed to the waiver wire to acquire his rights.
A chance to acquire the next great goaltender for nothing? In a keeper league this was a golden opportunity. 4 games, 5 goals against and a shutout and the hype had intensified.
Lehtonen followed that debut with an outstanding performance during the 2005 AHL season with the Wolves. With the return of NHL hockey he was handed the Thrashers number one job and immediately injured his groin in the first game of the season. Upon his return his performance was not as dynamic as his debut but a solid rookie performance was once again undermined by a late season ankle injury. At this point the injuries were overlooked and Lehtonen looked to be a fixture in goal on a rising Thrashers squad. In a keeper league he remained a hot commodity.
For all the patient owners Lehtonen rewarded them with 34 wins and a .912 SV%. His goals against average was in the high two's, but he had finally begun to scratch the surface on his TUP (tremendous upside potential).
Well, the next season the injury bug raised it's ugly head again and the disastrous move of trading Braydon Coburn for Alexei Zhitnik and the loss of Marian Hossa wiped the lustre of the potential powerhouse in Atlanta. So now Lehtonen owners were left with a charter member of the Marian Havorik All-Stars on a team that was closer to the lottery than the playoffs, a far cry from the potential All-Star on the Cup contender.
Now 14 games into the 2009 season Lehtonen has already hit the IL and has Ondrej Pavelec nipping on his heels. So the big question is, can Lehtonen ever reach that untapped potential or was he the product of Justin Pogge type hype?
My guess would be a change of scenery is the most likely scenario to recessitate his career, and your only option if you are a Lehtonen owner is to hold onto him until he can regain some of his previous lofty ranking. Anything outside trading him to a Thrashers fan will most likely result in you getting burnt.
With thanks to the Goalie Post, on to tonight's starters.
Atlanta Thrashers @ Carolina Hurricanes
K. Lehtonen (vs Hurricanes, 3-9-1, 3.87 GAA, .880 SV%) probable
C. Ward (vs Thrashers, 10-4-2, 3.33 GAA, .887 SV%) probable
Following the 2006 season these two goalies could have returned you a boatload in trade. Today? Essentially nothing.
Calgary Flames @ Chicago Blackhawks
M. Kiprusoff (vs Hawks, 8-4-3, 2.23 GAA, .923 SV%) likely
C. Huet (vs Flames, 1-4-1, 2.96 GAA, .890 SV%)) firm
You think this is what Cristobal Huet had in mind when he left Washington? You have to love professional sports. The Capitals are happy as hell with Huet after his strong stretch run last season, Huet is happy with being the undisputed starter in DC, and the Caps lowball him, Huet goes looking for the money and now they are both unhappy.
Edmonton Oilers @ New Jersey Devils
D. Roloson (vs Devils, 0-6-2, 2.97 GAA, .889 SV%) probable
K. Weekes (vs Oilers, 1-2-0, 3.62 GAA, .880 SV%) probable
The battle of the journeymen, how exciting.
San Jose Sharks @ Phoenix Coyotes
B. Boucher (vs Coyotes, 1-2-2, 3.95 GAA, .870 SV%) probable
I. Bryzgalov (vs Shark, 5-4-1, 2.35 GAA, .922 SV%)) firm
Boucher seems to have caught fire again, ride him while he is hot, because when he cools down, he cools all the way down to Worcester.
Florida Panthers @ Anaheim Ducks
C. Anderson (vs Ducks, 0-2-0, 3.55 GAA, .863 SV%) probable
JS Giguere (vs Panthers, 4-3-1, 2.73 GAA, .911 SV%) probable
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