Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.blues.fi
- Name: Mikko Lehtonen
- Position: RW
- Shoots: Right
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 205 lbs
- Birthdate: 1987-04-01
- Eligible for Draft: 2005
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Espoo, Finland
- Acquired: 3rd round (83rd overall), 2005
- Playing In: Pro
Mikko Lehtonen
Prospect Grade: 6.5 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
Scouts needed just one look at the 6'4 winger moving swiftly around the ice while performing difficult tricks with the puck to draw several circles around Lehtonen's name in their notebooks. He has displayed his talent in many international tournament in the years before his draft. The results have been varying all the way down to benchings, but he delivered at the first milestone in the U18 World Championships. In the meantime with his club team Espoo Blues, stardom is still ahead for Lehtonen in Jr A, although he did get his pro debut out of the way before the draft.
2005-06: Lehtonen split the season between the Finland Junior-A level and the elite league for the Espoo Blues. He put up respectable numbers at the junior level, collecting a total of seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 15 games, but he failed to make a significant impact at the elite level. In 25 games with the SM-Liga, Lehtonen scored four goals and had no assists. Lehtonen also represented Finland in the WJC, finishing with an assist and two penalty minutes in seven games.
2006-07: Lehtonen played steady hockey most of the season. His season was interrupted by the WJC and later by a shoulder injury. He tallied most of his goals on the power play, as his even-strength ice time fluctuated a lot. As the lines were shuffled, Lehtonen at times found himself on the fourth line even though he was consistently worthy of a spot on a scoring line. Nonetheless, Lehtonen developed greatly from the previous season and is now ready for AHL hockey.
Lehtonen was signed to an entry level contract in May of 2007
2007-08: While fulfilling a military obligation that kept him in Finland for another season, Lehtonen had a slight increase in production for the Blues.
Talent Analysis
Lehtonen is big, fast and skilled. Unfortunately he is mostly just that. He has been spotted on ice as a dangerous sniper, brilliant passer and a disciplined checker. Based on a sample of games, one would say that he is far less perfect than that. Lehtonen is still trying to put it all together, neither quite conforming to offensive tactics nor playing two-way hockey more than one way at a time. He is making steady progress, though - and he should, as he is known to work hard in practice. Following Lehtonen's development to his final form will be intriguing to say the least.
Future
Lanky by nature, Lehtonen still looks a lot like a junior player. He won't be seen in the NHL until at least near the end of the decade, but he has made steady progress and his stock appears to be on the rise. Lehtonen will play his rookie pro season in North America in 2008-09.
Stats
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM |
| 2005 | Team Finland (WJC U18) | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | +1 | 2 |
| 2005-06 | Team Finland (U20/Mestis) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2005-06 | Espoo Blues (Jr. A SM-Sarja/FNL) | 15 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 12 |
| 2005-06 | Espoo Blues (SM-Liiga/FNL) | 25 | 4 | 0 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
| 2006 | Team Finland (WJC) | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2006-07 | Espoo Blues (SM-Liiga/FNL) | 39 | 6 | 9 | 15 | -2 | 24 |
| 2007 | Espoo Blues (SM-Liiga/FNL) | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2006-07 | Team Finland (U20 Mestis) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +1 | 0 |
| 2007 | Team Finland (WJC) | 6 | 4 | 6 | 10 | +1 | 0 |
Profile Last Updated: March, 18th 2009
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