As the second overall pick in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Lehtonen had all eyes on him last year as he began his first North American season, and he did not disappoint.
Playing with the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League, Kari posted a 20-14-2 record, a 2.41 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in 39 games during the 2003-04 season.
Lehtonen’s steady play in the AHL impressed the Thrashers front office enough to earn him a promotion, and Kari made his NHL debut with Atlanta against Florida on March 19, recording his first win.
He finished his stint with a perfect 4-0-0-0 mark, matching a Thrashers franchise record with his four-game win streak.
Kari allowed just five goals in those four NHL games and finished with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage.
This is an asterisked season, as Lehtonen was probably an NHL player had there been no lockout. Back with the Wolves for 2004-2005, he is showing that he has little left to prove in the minors, again dominating the AHL.
He leads the league with 18 wins; shares second with four shutouts; ranks second with 826 saves, third with a .935 save percentage and fourth with 1611:57 minutes in 27 starts.
Kari is described by one scout as “The total package. Big, quick, agile and sound fundamentally; with all the tools to be a great goalie in the NHL.”
Lehtonen has caught fire recently, registering a 9-1-0 mark, a 1.70 goals-against average, a .948 save percentage and two shutouts in the month of December.
He entered 2005 on an eight-game winning streak, which helped vault the Wolves into first place in the West Division.
We expect 2006 to be Kari's march on Atlanta if the NHL opens its doors as expected.
