weems
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Pretty high praise there from JD Burke
Confirmed with Link: TOR signs LD Mikko Lehtonen
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Pretty high praise there from JD Burke
The Iceman
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J.D. Burke
@JDylanBurke
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28m
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one Josh Dunne signing away from locking up my top CHL (Noel Hoefenmayer), European (Mikko Lehtonen), and NCAA free agent.
ACC1224
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OptimusReim
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TSN/The Athletic Vancouver and Editor in Chief of Elite Prospects...a simple google search would have answered your question..
Wafflewhipper
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Check out the list of superstars here that won it before.All Winners (Players)
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
Season Award winner Born Birthplace Drafted by 2019-2020 49 
1994 Turku, FIN 2018-2019 53 
1993 Medicine Hat, AB, CAN Montréal Canadiens (2011) 2017-2018 38 
1989 Esbjerg, DEN Dallas Stars (2008) 2016-2017 65 
1980 MacTier, ON, CAN 2015-2016 40 1986 Winnipeg, MB, CAN Chicago Blackhawks (2004) 40 1981 St. Catharines, ON, CAN 2014-2015 48 
1983 Chelyabinsk, RUS Vancouver Canucks (2002) 2013-2014 35 1983 Chelyabinsk, RUS Vancouver Canucks (2002) 2012-2013 42 1983 Moskva, RUS 2011-2012 54 1981 St. Catharines, ON, CAN 2010-2011 46 
1979 Zlin, CZE Ottawa Senators (1997) 2009-2010 42 1981 St. Catharines, ON, CAN 42 1970 Moskva, RUS New York Rangers (1990) 2008-2009 58 1981 St. Catharines, ON, CAN
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
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It was simpler to ask here.
You weren’t required to reply if it caused such distress.
ACC1224
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Why does this blogger feel the Leafs don't understand who the player is they signed?
The Podium
Registered User
I think he means the fans and by the way Mess has been acting re this signing, he’s not wrong
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LeafChief
Matthew Knies Enthusiast
Mess
Global Moderator
Mikko Lehotonen (age 26) [undrafted]
2017-18 - Tappara -- Liiga [Finland] --- 55 games 12 goals 17 assists 29 points
2018-19 - HV71 ------ SHL [Sweden] --- 52 games 5 goals 19 assists 24 points
2019-20 - Jokerit --- KHL [Russia] ----- 60 games 17 goals 32 assists 49 points
2020-21 - Toronto -- NHL [Canada]-- ???
4 leagues in 4 different countries in 4 seasons.
This guys resume reads like a version of "Where's Waldo?".
2017-18 - Tappara -- Liiga [Finland] --- 55 games 12 goals 17 assists 29 points
2018-19 - HV71 ------ SHL [Sweden] --- 52 games 5 goals 19 assists 24 points
2019-20 - Jokerit --- KHL [Russia] ----- 60 games 17 goals 32 assists 49 points
2020-21 - Toronto -- NHL [Canada]-- ???
4 leagues in 4 different countries in 4 seasons.
This guys resume reads like a version of "Where's Waldo?".
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Mess
Global Moderator
Former Leaf Nikita Zaitsev also 26 & undrafted at the time was 2 X KHL First All-Star Team defenseman in 2014-15 and 2015-16 as well as a member of his National team before joining the Leafs in 2016, as a KHL free agent signing.
I wonder how Lehtonen compares to Zaitsev in terms of NHL impact and expectations in year #1?
Nikita Zaitsev - Year #1 .. 2016-17 - Toronto Maple Leafs - NHL .. 82 games 4 goals 32 assists 36 points
Higher or Lower?
As a LHD he is not expected to play ahead of Rielly or Muzzin on the left side, so he will be battling Dermott (RFA) and Sandin for that 3rd pairing spot in camp as the roster sits at the moment.
Where do you see him fitting and what are your expectations?
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Merrrlin
Grab the 9 iron, Barry!
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It takes serious dedication to try to dismiss this signing.
There's 0 downside to this signing.
Let's hope he can be a top 4 dman 5v5. If not, we're no further behind than we were the day he signed.
Wafflewhipper
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Wafflewhipper
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ACC1224
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I'd rather wait to either watch the player myself or let Jeffler tell me what to think.
Mess
Global Moderator
Get to watch him on NA ice on smaller ice surfaces, and a different type game that is played in Europe. The transition even for those NHL scouts that know his game well wouldn't be able to project him as an NHLer without first evaluating him first hand on how he is fitting in with the Leafs against NHL level competition.
Leafs most recent KHL experiment "undrafted" veteran dman was when Dubas signed Igor Ozhiganov for the 2018-19 season. Prior to that it was when Lou Lam took a flyer on Nikita Zaitsev in 2016.
I'd imagine that currently the Leafs 2020-21 Dman Depth chart would be as follows:
LHD -------------------------------------- RHD
Rielly ------------------------------------ XXXX
Muzzin ---------------------------------- Holl
Dermott/Lehtonen/Sandin -------- Liljegren
Spares: Marincin/Rosen
*** Dermott is pending RFA and currently unsigned. The others are all under contract for 2020-21 season.
Barrie and Ceci both expected to walk as UFAs for cap reasons. Leafs hoping Lehtonen can fill a bit of void from their departures from this season defense core.
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Wafflewhipper
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I’m really watching to see if Clifford returns to give me a indication if dubas has learned you need gritty players and ones that will answer the bell when needed. Its one year so i hope he is a quick study on the smaller ice.
This guy possibly indicates some scoring punch more than the other two Khl defense you mentioned. Who knows until they play is right.
I would have been and still am interested in Dillon and trade a forward to get him as a ufa. Not sure Dubas really gets it that you need these toughness guys that can also play.
Simple math for me equates to Dillon being more impactful on game events overall than Kerfoot.
Not a bad defense you listed there. Just ok though in a Nhl sense. Morgan and Muzzy and then sheer inexpierence.
SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
- Aug 1, 2013
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He really had Josh Dunne as the top NCAA free agent? I think that is a little bit of a stretch.
He's likely not leaving this year anyways. Most non-senior NCAA guys at this point are going back to school next year.
Albus Dumbledore
Master of Death
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Rielly and Dermott showed a lot of promise this year defensively despite their injuries this year.
Rielly had some solid defensive numbers aside muzzin even if he wasn't scoring as much. The best in years iirc. Lets not forget Dermott stepped up big time with our top dman out. He was our best dman for some stretches he was shutting down big time players for a short time.
If nothing changes I would like to see
Muzzin- Rielly
Lehtonen- Dermott
Sandin-Holl
Lily
The top pair DID work however short of time it was. If dermott now healthy can return to the defense beast he was pair him with Lehtonen who has the offence and dermott who is the more defensive player, similar to the top pair structure.
Holl was solid when well insulated. He looked like top end 2nd pair d. But when push come to shove and injuries happened he fizzled. Hes a 4/5 so let him play like one.
Rielly had some solid defensive numbers aside muzzin even if he wasn't scoring as much. The best in years iirc. Lets not forget Dermott stepped up big time with our top dman out. He was our best dman for some stretches he was shutting down big time players for a short time.
If nothing changes I would like to see
Muzzin- Rielly
Lehtonen- Dermott
Sandin-Holl
Lily
The top pair DID work however short of time it was. If dermott now healthy can return to the defense beast he was pair him with Lehtonen who has the offence and dermott who is the more defensive player, similar to the top pair structure.
Holl was solid when well insulated. He looked like top end 2nd pair d. But when push come to shove and injuries happened he fizzled. Hes a 4/5 so let him play like one.
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