Lehtonen, 27, made his NHL debut in 2020-21, finishing with six assists, eight penalty minutes and 33 shots on goal, while averaging 15:53 of ice time in 26 games with the Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs. He collected 0-3-3 and four penalty minutes in 17 contests with the Blue Jackets after being acquired in a trade that sent goaltender Veini Vehvilainen to Toronto on March 12. Originally signed by the Maple Leafs to a one-year, entry level contract on May 4, 2020, he skated in his first career NHL game with the club on January 18 vs. Winnipeg and registered his first career assist and point on January 30 at Edmonton.
The Turku, Finland native recorded 25-41-66, 26 penalty minutes and a cumulative +30 plus/minus rating in 77 contests with Jokerit in the Kontinental Hockey League from 2019-21. He started the 2020-21 campaign on loan with the team and recorded 8-9-17 and six penalty minutes in 17 games. In 2019-20, he led KHL defensemen in goals, assists and points with 17-32-49 in 60 appearances and played in the KHL All-Star Game.
The 6-0, 196-pound blueliner also registered 5-19-24 and 30 penalty minutes in 61 career games with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League from 2016-19, helping the club capture the league title in 2016-17. He had 30-49-79 and 72 penalty minutes in 220 career games over six seasons in Finland's top professional league (Liiga) with Tappara, KooKoo and TPS from 2011-18. The defenseman has represented Finland at several international tournaments, including the 2018 Winter Olympics, 2017 and 2019 (gold) IIHF World Championships and 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships (gold).
FULL MIKKO LEHTONEN STATS
