page_title: Kari Lehtonen
section_title: Early years
hierarchical_section_title: Kari Lehtonen / Playing career / Early years
caption_attribution_description: English: Kari Lehtonen of the Dallas Stars, warms up at the American Airlines Center before the match-up against the Chicago Blackhawks.
context_page_description: Kari Lehtonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He previously played for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. He was selected second overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, becoming the highest-drafted European goaltender, as well as being tied with Patrik Laine, Alexander Barkov and Kaapo Kakko for the highest-drafted Finnish player in NHL history.
context_section_description: Lehtonen was drafted second overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers after an outstanding 2001–02 season in the Finnish SM-liiga. Lehtonen was the backup goalie for Jokerit, but captured the starting position and won the Urpo Ylönen trophy, given to the best goalie of the season, and the league's playoff MVP award, the Jari Kurri trophy. Lehtonen stayed with Jokerit for one more season before moving to North America.
caption: Lehtonen in March 2011
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