Kari Lehtonen

Born 	November 16, 1983 (1983-11-16) (age 26),
Helsinki, Finland
Height
Weight 	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position 	Goaltender
Catches 	Left
NHL team
F. teams	Dallas Stars
NHL
 Atlanta Thrashers
SM-liiga
 Jokerit
Ntl. team 	Finland
NHL Draft 	2nd overall, 2002
Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career	1999–present
Kari Lehtonen (born November 16, 1983) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected second overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, becoming the highest-drafted European goaltender as well as the highest Finnish player ever in NHL history.
== Playing career==
Kari 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 crossing the sea.
During the 2003–04 NHL season, Lehtonen mostly spent his time with the Chicago Wolves, the Thrashers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, but he was called up for a number of occasions and played four games for the Thrashers, winning all four of them and posting one shutout. After posting a .953 save percentage and 1.25 goals against average (GAA), Lehtonen spent the majority of the year in the AHL.
Lehtonen spent the 2004–05 NHL lockout season with the Wolves, adjusting to the North American playing style. After he playing 57 games for the Wolves, of which he won 38, posting .929 save percentage and 2.27 GAA, the Thrashers called him up and Lehtonen started the 2005–06 season as the starting goalie for Atlanta. On the opening night of the 2005–06 season, Lehtonen suffered a serious groin injury when Florida Panthers center Nathan Horton collided with Lehtonen. The injury sidelined him for 35 games. Lehtonen was once again injured on April 6, 2006 when Tampa Bay Lightning forward Chris Dingman collided with him. Lehtonen tried to get to his feet but sprained his ankle in the process.
Shortly into the 2006–07 NHL season, Lehtonen broke the Atlanta Thrashers shutout streak record previously held by Michael Garnett. He also set his career highs in every category.
AirTran Airways, a low-cost airline, signed Lehtonen as an endorser for the 2006–07 season.
On February 8, 2007, Lehtonen became the Thrashers franchise leader for wins by a goaltender with 49, surpassing Pasi Nurminen's record of 48.
On April 12, 2007, Lehtonen was the starting goaltender for the Thrashers in their first NHL playoff game.
After a rough start to the 2007–08 season, Lehtonen suffered another groin injury on October 18, 2007. He would miss 16 games before returning on December 5, 2007. He finished the season with a respectable save percentage to go along with four shutouts as the Thrashers failed to qualify for the playoffs.
On February 9, 2010, Lehtonen was traded to the Dallas Stars for Ivan Vishnevskiy and a 4th round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
== Career statistics==
=== Regular season===
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Season 	Team 	League 		GP 	W 	L 	OTL	MIN 	GA 	SO	GAA 	SV%
2000–01 	Jokerit 	SM-I 		4 	3 	1 	0 	190 	6 	0 	1.90	—
2001–02 	Jokerit 	SM-I 		23 	13 	5 	2 	1242 	37 	4 	1.79	—
2002–03 	Jokerit 	SM-I 		45 	23 	14	6 	2634 	87 	5 	1.98	—
2003–04 	Chicago Wolves 	AHL 		39 	20 	14	2 	2192 	88 	3 	2.41	.926
2003–04 	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL 		4 	4 	0 	0 	239 	5 	1 	1.25	.953
2004–05 	Chicago Wolves 	AHL 		57 	38 	17	2 	3378 	128	5 	2.27	.929
2005–06 	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL 		38 	20 	15	0 	2166 	106	2 	2.94	.906
2006–07 	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL 		68 	34 	24	9 	3934 	183	4 	2.79	.912
2007–08 	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL 		48 	17 	22	5 	2707 	131	4 	2.90	.916
2007–08 	Chicago Wolves 	AHL 		2 	2 	0 	0 	124 	4 	0 	1.93	.934
2008–09 	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL 		46 	19 	22	3 	2624 	134	3 	3.06	.911
2009–10 	Chicago Wolves 	AHL 		4 	1 	1 	2 	247 	11 	0 	2.67	.899
2009–10 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 		12 	6 	4 	0 	663 	31 	0 	2.81	.911
SM-I totals	SM-I totals 	SM-I totals		72 	39 	20	8 	4065 	130	9 	1.92	—
NHL totals 	NHL totals 	NHL totals 		216	100	87	17 	12333	590	14	2.87	.912
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
=== Playoffs===
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Season 	Team 	League 		GP	W 	L	MIN 	GA	SO	GAA 	SV%
2001–02 	Jokerit 	SM-I 		11	8 	2	623 	18	3 	1.73	—
2002–03 	Jokerit 	SM-I 		10	6 	4	626 	17	2 	1.63	—
2003–04 	Chicago Wolves 	AHL 		10	6 	4	663 	23	1 	2.08	.942
2004–05 	Chicago Wolves 	AHL 		16	10	6	983 	28	2 	1.71	.939
2006–07 	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL 		2 	0 	2	118 	11	0 	5.59	.849
SM-I totals	SM-I totals 	SM-I totals		21	14	6	1249	35	5 	1.68	—
NHL totals 	NHL totals 	NHL totals 		2 	0 	2	118 	11	0 	5.59	.849
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Category:Atlanta Thrashers players
Category:Atlanta Thrashers draft picks