Truth & Rumors > NHL

Thrashers may put Lehtonen on market

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When it comes to goaltenders, the Atlanta Thrashers are discovering that three's a crowd. With Kari Lehtonen, Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg on their roster, the Thrashers have almost as many netminders (three) as victories (five). Many NHL observers think Atlanta general manager Don Waddell wants to deal one of his surplus goaltenders in an attempt to kickstart his floundering team. Pavelec, 21, is a highly regarded prospect and Hedberg has a strong resume as mostly a backup. The player most likely to be dealt is the 24-year-old Lehtonen, who is making $3 million US this season and will be a restricted free agent at the end of 2008-09. There are teams with obvious goaltending issues -- the Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers among them -- but they won't be the only teams that look at Lehtonen. Expect the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers to at least consider trying to acquire him.

Toronto Sun

Kari Lehtonen, AP Kari Lehtonen, AP
November 10, 2008  07:05 AM ET

All aboard the fire sale that is the Atlanta Thrashers!!

November 10, 2008  07:48 AM ET

Why would the Red Wings need him? Howard will be their goalie of the future.

November 10, 2008  09:31 AM ET

Looks like they are giving up on the next 10 years.......if they last that long.

November 10, 2008  09:33 AM ET

A fire sale in that hockey hot bed of Atlanta? Whatwill The P.D. say? (poison dwarf)


Bettman S***S like a Judy Garland Fan Club Convention

November 10, 2008  09:59 AM ET

Was she known for "sucking"?

November 10, 2008  10:36 AM ET

Do people in Atlanta know they have a team?

November 10, 2008  11:00 AM ET

redwings would want him? LOL i think the writer wanted to put detroit in there because of his fetish for him. They have osgood and Conklin. Jimmy Howard will be the goalie of the future. Think before you post a story!

November 10, 2008  11:05 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

Was she known for "sucking"?

no, but her fans sure do!!!!

November 10, 2008  11:06 AM ET
QUOTE(#8):

redwings would want him? LOL i think the writer wanted to put detroit in there because of his fetish for him. They have osgood and Conklin. Jimmy Howard will be the goalie of the future. Think before you post a story!

why would they start now?

November 10, 2008  11:13 AM ET

Bruins don't want him either,why would they?Thomas,fernandez and rask the goalie of the future.Another bs rumor.

November 10, 2008  12:45 PM ET

Lehtonen is a borderline bust. He's injured all of the time and he's decent when he plays. Honestly, I see Pavelec becoming better than him.

But if the Thrashers are getting rid of a goalie, it should be Johan Hedberg.

November 10, 2008  01:05 PM ET

King's don't want him for the same reason the Wings don't. They have Bernier for the future.

November 10, 2008  01:39 PM ET

How about the team that has the biggest goaltending issues in the League, the Avs? Why weren't they mentioned? I've heard a rumor that they may go after Jaroslav Halak from Montreal.

November 10, 2008  02:28 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

Do people in Atlanta know they have a team?

lawl

Lehtonen has never been too solid. I don't think Atlanta was a very good place for him to start his career either. Terrible team, not very successful with the fans, etc. If I'm Kari, I'm hoping that Waddell does trade me somewhere different.

November 10, 2008  02:40 PM ET

Well the Flyers haven't aquired a new goalie this season, so staying with the "change goalies like we change our underwear" philosophy, Lehtonen should be square in their radar.

November 10, 2008  02:43 PM ET

Who'd want Let-one-in? Every team already has a guy like him on their pay roll. Some (like the Oilers) have more than one. No thanks!

November 10, 2008  06:08 PM ET

The Bruins must be falling apart, in just over a week T&R has Shanahan, Burke and now Lehtonen as possible Bruins. The only way that the Bruins would consider him is if they can get rid of Fernandez and his 4.33 million cap hit as they can't afford Lehtonen and his 3 million salary. The Bruins have a bargain in Tim Thomas and his 1.1 million dollar contract but both his and Fernandez are done this year. Rask is the goalie of the future for the Bruins and I would think that they will attempt to resign Thomas, if that happens they wouldn't need Lehtonen as they would likely want to go with a Rask / Thomas combo in 2009-10

November 10, 2008  08:27 PM ET

It seems like not too long ago we were hearing about how Lehtonen would be their franchise goalie. Guess that that's not going to be happening barring a complete turn around by him or maybe for another team.

November 10, 2008  09:14 PM ET

I've seen Let-one-in play a lot when he was with the Wolves. Streaky goalie. When he's in a groove he can be quite good. Problem is you never know when he's going to be in a groove.

 
November 10, 2008  11:56 PM ET

He'd be a much netminder (and possibly live up to all the hype) if he had a solid team in front of him. Ottawa needs to ditch Gerber and get Lehtonen asap. Sure Auld is hot right now, but I don't expect that to last very long.

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