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Kari Lehtonen News & Rumors

Lehtonen to return to play Thursday; Souray, Robidas out for 10-14 days
December 29
Dallas Morning News
 
"As expected today, Andrew Raycroft was placed on waivers and Kari Lehtonen has been named the starter for Thursday's game against Columbus. Lehtonen has been out since injuring his groin Nov. 26 against Phoenix and has missed the past 12 games. He has a 13-4-1 record with a 2.34 GAA and .926 save percentage. ``Lehts is ready to go, so he'll get the start,'' Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. ``I think it's the right time to do this, and he's ready.''"
Stars goalie Lehtonen eyes return Thursday vs. Columbus
December 24
Dallas Morning News
 
"Kari Lehtonen, who has been out since injuring his groin Nov. 26, went through his second practice with the team Friday and said he is feeling good. Lehtonen will skate again Monday before the team heads to St. Louis and would have two practices to be ready to play Thursday against Columbus. "Probably that St. Louis game comes a little bit fast for me," Lehtonen said of his potential return. "Probably after that.""
Lehtonen looks good, could be ready by Columbus game
December 23
Dallas Morning News
 
"Kari Lehtonen saw the bad and good in returning to the practice ice Thursday. On one of the first shots he faced, defenseman Adam Pardy wired a puck off his mask and knocked it loose, causing Lehtonen to leave the net for repairs. ``Nice start, eh,'' said goalie coach Mike Valley. But Lehtonen recovered quickly, then went in for some friendly fire _ his first since suffering a groin injury on Nov. 26. He finished off the practice by running his new radio control Mustang around the bench area while hiding behind the locker room door. ``It's a Christmas gift,'' Lehtonen said with a shy smile."
Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen pegs possible return goal: 'probably sometime around Christmas'
December 20
Dallas Morning News
 
"Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen has missed nine games since injuring his groin Nov. 26, but he has been working out and said he is feeling better. When asked if he had a target date for a return, he said after Christmas. "First I have to have a couple more days just with the goalie coach," Lehtonen said. "Then I need to start skating with the team and have a couple of those days, and then after that, we'll see when I play. We haven't talked about any dates, but probably sometime around Christmas.""
Lehtonen stopping shots and feeling "normal'' in workouts
December 19
Dallas Morning News
 
"Kari Lehtonen has missed eight games since suffering a groin strain Nov. 26 against Phoenix, but he said his recovery is going well and that he felt "normal'' during workouts Sunday at Dr Pepper StarCenter in Frisco. ``Today was the first day I really felt normal,'' Lehtonen said. ``I skated about 45 minutes and we did some sliding and things like that. I felt great. Tomorrow, we're going to try some reaction saves. Right now, I now where the puck is going and that makes it a little easier. But today was awesome, it was fun.'' When asked if he had a target date for a return, he said that the ``after Christmas'' we've heard before seems accurate to him."
Good news from Nieuwendyk: Kari Lehtonen taking shots, could join practice in a week
December 16
Dallas Morning News
 
"Just talked to Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk to get an update on goalie Kari Lehtonen, who has been out since Nov. 26 when he strained a groin against Phoenix. Nieuwendyk said Lehtonen has been taking shots in practice with goalie coach Mike Valley and that he may return to Stars practice within a week. ``It's very positive right now,'' Nieuwendyk said. ``We're not going to rush him, and we're taking every precaution, but there is a chance that he's a practice player within a week, so that's great news.''"
Lehtonen 11th, Souray 20th in fan balloting for All-Star Game
November 30
Dallas Morning News
 
"The voting update for week 2 of the fan balloting for the All-Star Game came out today,and Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen is 11th among netminders. In addition, Sheldon Souray is 20th among defensemen."
Kari Lehtonen named NHL's second Star of the Month for October
November 2
Dallas Morning News
 
"Kari Lehtonen has been one of the hardest working players on the Stars for the last two seasons, and that work is paying off. Lehtonen was named the second Star of the Month for October by the NHL, joining Toronto's Phil Kessel and Edmonton's Nikolai Khabibulin as the top three players honored. Lehtonen went 8-1-0 last month with a 1.75 GAA and a .947 save percentage. He improved his overall record with the Stars to 48-29-11. "Of course, it feels good," Lehtonen said. "When you do a lot of work and you're able to help the team win some games, that's what every goalie wants. "So far, it's been going well, and when I've been having a tough time, they've been helping me out. It's been fun so"
Kari Lehtonen continues to carry Stars in early going
October 19
Dallas Morning News
 
"Kari Lehtonen continues to amaze his teammates and the opposition, stopping 38 shots Tuesday in a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Lehtonen, who was named one of the top three players in the NHL last week, pushes his record to 5-0-0 while maintaining a 1.58 goals against average and a .953 save percentage. "If he was a baseball player, he'd probably be Nelson Cruz right now," said defenseman Sheldon Souray. "He's making all of the difference in all of the games right now." The Stars were outshot 40-18 and have been outshot in four of Lehtonen's five games. Yet, he has allowed them to keep their legs under them and not lose confidence in any game."
Kari Lehtonen is NHL's third star of the week
October 18
Dallas Morning News
 
"It's expected to be announced this afternoon, but Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen has earned the third star of the week for the NHL. Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen was the NHL's "Third Star of the Week," earning a 4-0-0 record with a 1.48 goals-against-average (ranks third in the NHL), and a league-leading .955 save percentage (stopping 126-of-132 shots). Lehtonen leads all NHL goalies with four wins. Here are the stats as of Monday. Yes, that is former Texas Tornado goalie Al Montaya and former Stars backup Johan Hedberg up there in the top five with Lehtonen."
Kari Lehtonen to start Tuesday; Benn, Wandell out for at least a week
February 1
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Stars returned to the practice ice from All-Star break this morning with all players on the ice except All-Star Loui Eriksson and Brad Richards. Kari Lehtonen will start in goal Tuesday against Vancouver, coach Marc Crawford said, and he added that Jamie Benn (shoulder) and Tom Wandell (shoulder) will probably be out for at least a week. Crawford is trying to stay positive, but there is a chance the two could be out even longer than that. They both skated this morning, so that's a nice first step,'' Crawford said. ``They're both nowhere near to being in the lineup, so I don't suspect they will be in this week, but it's a good sign that they are skating. I would be surprised to see them"
Goalie Lehtonen's bounce-back game puts Stars at 30 wins
January 27
Dallas Morning News
 
"Kari Lehtonen was a rock Wednesday night, and that was exactly what the Stars needed. Coming off two shaky games and heading into the All-Star break against a spirited bunch from Edmonton, Lehtonen came up with 34 saves and led the Stars to a 3-1 victory over the Oilers. "He did exactly what he had to do, and he did exactly what we needed," said captain Brenden Morrow, who did pretty much the same at the other end of the ice by scoring two goals. Goaltending has been the backbone of the Stars' surprising surge to the top of the Pacific Division this season, and there was a little bit of doubt on a recent swing through Western Canada that cracks might be showing in the foundation."
Stars' goalie Kari Lehtonen returns to Atlanta back in top form
January 14
Dallas Morning News
 
"Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen conceded he might get a tad worked up Saturday night, assuming he starts for the first time against his only previous NHL employer, the Atlanta Thrashers. Teammate Steve Ott, experienced in igniting opponents' emotions, is unconvinced. "He's extremely calm and casual every single day," Ott said. "I've never seen him too high. I've never seen him too low." Those qualities – and a 6-4, 215-pound frame that fills the net – went a long way toward Atlanta making Lehtonen the second overall draft pick in 2002 at 18 after he won the Elite League championship in his native Finland. But a succession of groin pulls and back surgeries made the phenom expendable. He came"
Kari Lehtonen's hiccup is no reason for Dallas Stars to panic
January 2
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"In a season in which Kari Lehtonen has been one of the Dallas Stars' best players, nobody is about to question the big goalie when he's having a statistical hiccup. Lehtonen has allowed 10 goals in the past two games, including getting pulled Friday after giving up four goals on 14 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. But Stars coach Marc Crawford said he will put Lehtonen right back into the net today against St. Louis, and the Stars players say they have full confidence in Lehtonen. "I don't see any issue. I'm not concerned at all," Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas said. "I think we need to help him more and prevent the great scoring chances. You just don't look at him and say,"
Stars' Kari Lehtonen likely to return
December 16
ESPN.com
 
"Dallas Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen, who has missed the last four games with a sore back, practiced Wednesday and there's a "strong possibility" he'll return for Thursday's game, coach Marc Crawford said. Lehtonen, who was on the ice for about 45 mintues and then did some off-ice work, could be back in goal Thursday night when the Stars take on the San Jose Sharks at American Airlines Center. "Kari looks like he is getting more and more ready to play," Crawford said Wednesday. "There is a strong possibility for tomorrow. If he's ready, he'll go. He was very positive today on his outing. ... He looked really good.""
Stars are making Kari Lehtonen work too hard
October 19
Dallas Morning News
 
"In addition to being a terrible strategy for winning a hockey game, allowing 40 shots a night probably isn't the best idea when your goalie has a history of injuries. Kari Lehtonen has been amazing so far. After stopping 39 of 44 shots Monday in a 5-4 loss to Tampa Bay, he has a 2.91 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Think about those numbers. He has given up almost three goals a game, and yet he is this team's hero because of all of the goals he has prevented. Lehtonen is facing 38 shots per game, second only to Anaheim's Jonas Hiller, and that is a very bad trend."
After a shaky start for Stars' Lehtonen, teammates pick up the slack
October 9
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Mike Heika
"A funny thing happened to Kari Lehtonen on the way to what could have been one of the worst nights of his life. His teammates bailed him out. Looking like a guy who had far too much weight on his shoulders, Lehtonen not only allowed two goals in the first 7:13 of the season opener Friday against the New Jersey Devils, he looked awful while doing it. The first goal came when Travis Zajac split the defense, and Lehtonen simply fell awkwardly. The second goal came when he tried to move left to right and went down way too early on a Zach Parise shot. And, just like that, the player who might be the most important to the Stars this season, looked to be in way over his head. "I was excited, and"
Stars' Lehtinen still undecided on retirement
September 26
Dallas Morning News
 
"Winger Jere Lehtinen has not decided whether or not he wants to retire, and Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said he doesn't think Lehtinen needs to make a decision anytime soon. Lehtinen, 37, has played out his contract, but Nieuwendyk said the two sides will probably keep the door open for Lehtinen to return possibly later in the season. "Jere and I have talked a lot, and I think we both understand each other," Nieuwendyk said. "There's no reason for us to make a decision right now, and there's no reason for him to make a decision right now. This is something that can be open-ended.""
Lehtonen takes 'good first step' for Stars
September 25
Dallas Morning News
 
"Kari Lehtonen knows one good game in preseason is hardly a statement. But it's better than the alternative. "It is preseason, but you still want to play well, and you still want to feel good, and I feel good right now," Lehtonen said after stopping 34 shots and leading the Stars to a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night at American Airlines Center. "Overall, I was comfortable. It was a good first step." But the Stars remain a work in progress. They gave up more than 30 shots for the second straight game, mostly due to having to kill seven power plays. The Stars also won 28 of 48 faceoffs (58 percent) and shored things up in some other areas. In addition, Brad Richards"
Lehtonen set to be the No. 1
September 24
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Since signing Ed Belfour to a free-agent contract in 1997, the Stars have had two No. 1 goalies. That's right, in the 11 seasons since then, either Belfour or Marty Turco was the main man in net -- and in that span they went on to set pretty much every goaltending record in franchise history. So the fact that Kari Lehtonen will take that mantel this season is a pretty big deal. "I would say that's a fair statement," Stars coach Marc Crawford said. "He's pretty important for us." And while fans saw Lehtonen plenty last season after he was acquired in a February trade for prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy, there's a different feeling this season. With Turco signed in Chicago as a free agent,"
Stars make future plans clear, sign Kari Lehtonen to $10.65 million extension
May 12
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Stars Tuesday put their faith in goalie Kari Lehtonen. Announcing the two sides had agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension worth $10.65 million, the Stars made a clear statement that the 26-year-old netminder is the future of the team. "We made the trade for Kari knowing full well what his potential was, and I thought he did a great job of showing us glimpses of that potential this year," said Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk. "Now, we're prepared to move forward with him as our main goalie." Lehtonen is expected to sign the contract on Wednesday. Lehtonen was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Thrashers in February and, after a few rough outings, went 6-3-0 down the stretch with"
Stars, Kari Lehtonen discussing three-year contract extension
May 11
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The Stars are getting close to a three-year contract extension for goalie Kari Lehtonen, according to a couple of sources. The deal could get signed as soon as today. Lehtonen, 26, is a restricted free agent, so the Stars only needed to make a qualifying offer that matched his last contract ($3 million) for one season, and many speculated that's what they would do. But a deal for three years that could average around $3.5 million would allow the Stars to build around Lehtonen and allow Lehtonen to work on his off-season training with confidence that the Stars are serious about giving him a chance to be the No. 1 goalie for some time into the future."
Turco not coming back, Lehtinen mulling retirement
April 13
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk said at his exit press conference that the team will not offer Marty Turco a new contract and the team will go in a new direction. ``I just felt like it was time we went in a different direction," Nieuwendyk said, a former teammate of Turco's ho became GM last summer. "I think he clearly understands the situation." Turco holds franchise records for wins (262) and games played (509) and shutouts (40). "I want to thank Marty for 10 years of service here," Nieuwendyk said. "He's a friend, he's been a terrific competitor and a fan favorite. He has a lot to be proud of." The Stars acquired Kari Lehtonen, 26, in the off-season and expect him to be their No. 1 goalie for"
Stars' Lehtonen feeling more comfortable on job
March 31
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"With mathematical elimination from the playoffs possibly coming as early as tonight, the Dallas Stars need to be focused on little things that can help in the future -- like how Kari Lehtonen is handling his return from a year off of hockey.Dallas got a great sign from Lehtonen on Monday as he made 43 saves and appeared to be able to handle a heavy load of traffic around the net. He lost a 3-1 game to the Anaheim Ducks, but again, the important thing for the Stars might be that he showed a tremendous amount of battle in a difficult situation."I thought he was very good," Stars coach Marc Crawford said. "He was pressed in traffic, and I thought he handled that well. We've been watching that"
Stars goalie Lehtonen proves worth again in 3-1 win
March 24
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Kari Lehtonen joked Monday after a long solo workout that he still had some work to do on his conditioning."I'm still in office-worker shape," he said with a smile.Well, then the sky should be the limit for the Dallas Stars' new goalie if he ever gets into professional-athlete shape.Lehtonen stopped 34 shots Tuesday and led the Stars to a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators, stopping their six-game winning streak and giving himself three victories in his last four starts. Lehtonen provided a strong backbone for a Stars team that appeared out of sorts early and ended up being outshot 35-14."Kari was great," said Stars coach Marc Crawford. "Obviously, when you get a goaltending"
Sturdy Kari Lehtonen leads Stars past Predators
March 24
Dallas Morning News
 
"Kari Lehtonen joked Monday after a long solo workout that he still had some work to do on his conditioning. "I'm still in office worker shape," he said with a smile. Well, then the sky should be the limit for the Stars' new goalie if he ever gets into professional athlete shape. Lehtonen stopped 34 shots Tuesday and led Dallas to a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators, stopping their six-game winning streak and giving himself three victories in his last four starts. Lehtonen provided a strong backbone for a Stars team that appeared out of sorts early and ended up being out-shot, 35-14. "Kari was great," Stars coach Marc Crawford said. "Obviously, when you get a goaltending performance"
Stars giving new goalie Lehtonen plenty of playing time
March 21
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The Dallas Stars have to skate a fine line with how they handle recently acquired goalie Kari Lehtonen.Lehtonen started his third consecutive game Saturday in a 5-4 win over Ottawa. Coach Marc Crawford said after the game that he will decide today whether Lehtonen or Marty Turco starts tonight against Phoenix.The Stars really want to see what they have in Lehtonen, who could be the team's No. 1 goalie next season. But giving him four straight starts, including back-to-back days, might be too much to ask of a goalie who's still not 100 percent after two off-season back surgeries."
Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen to get another start in quest to regain peak form
March 16
Dallas Morning News
 
"Kari Lehtonen understands where he is in his career, and so do the Stars. Lehtonen, 26, has battled injury problems and conditioning issues for much of his six NHL seasons, but the Stars believe that if they can get the big goalie on the right track, they can find the player who was taken second overall by Atlanta in the 2002 draft. Lehtonen will start against the Sharks tonight, his second start since being acquired by the Stars in a Feb. 9 trade that sent prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth-round pick to the Thrashers. Lehtonen allowed six goals on 34 shots in a 6-3 loss March 6 at Pittsburgh and has also allowed three goals in two relief appearances. He is 0-1-0 with a 4.41 goals"
Stars don't have much time to wait for Kari Lehtonen
March 7
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The Catch-22 of the Kari Lehtonen trade unfolded like a butterfly Saturday afternoon at Mellon Arena.Yes, getting a 26-year-old goalie with tremendous upside could bear long-term fruit. But acquiring an injury-prone backstop who hasn't played in a year means you'd better be ready for some transition pains.Lehtonen, who has been out since last season because of back surgery, allowed six goals on 34 shots in his first start since the Stars acquired him in a Feb. 9 trade with Atlanta."I can say the goalie looked fatigued ... and we're confident he's going to get better," Stars coach Marc Crawford said.The problem is the Stars don't have time to wait. Dallas is slipping out of the playoff"
Kari Lehtonen makes debut in Dallas Stars net
March 5
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"The Kari Lehtonen era started a little quicker than anticipated Thursday night.After Marty Turco allowed four goals on 11 shots against the Blues, coach Marc Crawford pulled his starting goalie and inserted the recently acquired Lehtonen for his debut in a Stars uniform. Lehtonen was shaky and allowed two goals on 16 shots.He worked well in traffic, covered a lot of space and looked a little rusty at times. No surprise, since he last played an NHL game April 11 for the Atlanta Thrashers.But with Turco struggling and the Stars possibly slipping out of the playoff picture, you do have to wonder what the plan will be for Lehtonen now. He's working hard on conditioning and getting his back"
New Dallas Stars goalie will be rested, but rusty
February 15
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Kari Lehtonen's year off the NHL ice has been a real blessing.The injury-prone goalie has been able to undergo two back surgeries to take care of disk and nerve problems and has been able to fully rest his chronicallysore groins."It feels like the lockout year for me," Lehtonen said of not playing an NHL game since April. "The mind is fresh and the body feels really, really good."But the flip side of that coin is Lehtonen, who was acquired from Atlanta in a trade Tuesday, will jump into the thick of a Western Conference playoff race after only five games of minor league play on a recent conditioning assignment.While the Stars are excited about what they have in the 26-year-old who was"
Kari Lehtonen era comes to an end in Thrasherville
February 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Tuesday night the Atlanta Thrashers shipped off Kari Lehtonen to the Dallas Stars in return for defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth round draft pick. With this deal, combined with the one that sent Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey last week, the Thrashers have dumped quite a bit of salary of late. Lehtonen is scheduled to be an RFA this summer and is currently making $3 million…Vishnevskiy will be an RFA in 2011 and is being paid just under $850,000 per season. Vishnevskiy was the 27th overall draft pick in the 2006 draft and has played in a total of 5 NHL games…two this season. He has two assists in those games…both coming last season and both on the power play. In between periods of the"
Lehtonen trade is another blemish on Thrashers' draft history
February 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 columnist Jeff Schultz
"When the Thrashers selected Patrik Stefan with their first pick in their first draft in 1999, general manager Don Waddell said: "This is a very big day for our franchise. We've made it no secret how we feel about Patrik and what kind of player he is." Three years later, when Waddell made Kari Lehtonen the first goalie the franchise drafted with a No. 1 pick, the Thrashers' GM said: "Our scouts say that he is the best amateur goalie coming out for the draft in the last 10 years. He can make the difference for our team for a lot of years to come." Stefan was a bust and is now out of hockey. Lehtonen's career has been a roller coaster and he is now in Dallas. No deep analysis necessary here."
Thrashers trade Lehtonen to Dallas
February 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Kari Lehtonen will play another NHL game -- it just won't be for the Thrashers. The Thrashers traded the goaltender, recovering from two off-season back surgeries, to Dallas on Tuesday for defensive prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth-round draft pick this year. Lehtonen, 26, is the franchise's all-time leader in games played (204), wins (94), save percentage (.912) and shutouts (14). He also is the single-season record holder for games (68), minutes (3,934), wins (34), shutouts (4) -- all set in 2006-07 -- and save percentage (.916, 2007-08). He finished his Thrashers career with a 94-83-17 record and a 2.87 goals-against average. After returning from a two-week conditioning stint at"
Lehtonen practices, no timetable for NHL return
February 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen practiced with the team Monday after returning from a two-week conditioning assignment at AHL Chicago. There is no timetable for Lehtonen, returning from two off-season back surgeries, to play his first NHL game since April 11, 2009. "Kari is not going to go just yet," Thrashers coach John Anderson said. "We'll see what he looks like on a day-to-day basis. I don't want to set him up to fail. I want to make sure he's 100 percent ready to go in and make an impact for us. "I don't know exactly what we are going to do. We might carry three [goaltenders]. We still have two or three weeks to decide.""
Thrashers recall Lehtonen from AHL Chicago
February 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen was recalled from his conditioning assignment at AHL Chicago on Sunday. Lehtonen appeared in four games for Chicago during his two-week stint. He went 1-2-2. In his final game on Friday, he lost in a shootout after stopping 17-of-19 shots in regulation and 6-of-9 in the shootout."
Lehtonen returns to Thrashers from AHL Chicago
February 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"The Thrashers recalled goaltender Kari Lehtonen from his two-week conditioning stint at AHL Chicago on Sunday. Lehtonen made his final start on Friday night, losing in a shootout after stopping 17-of-19 shots in regulation and 6-of-9 in the shootout. In all, Lehtonen appeared in four games, going 1-1-2. He allowed 11 goals on 109 shots for a .899 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against average. I will see what the plan is at Monday's practice. Also, it appears the Boris Valabik's injury, suffered to his left leg on Friday night, will cost him some games. The team did not have an official word following the game. I saw Boris in the hallway after the game and asked if he was OK. He was on the"
Lehtonen leaves for conditioning stint at AHL Chicago
January 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"It's time for Kari Lehtonen to play hockey again. The Thrashers goaltender, out all season recovering from two back surgeries, left Friday for the team's AHL affiliate in Chicago to begin a two-week conditioning assignment. Lehtonen will play for the Wolves against Peoria on Saturday. "Everything feels good, but this will be the real test," Lehtonen said. "I'm really positive now that I believe everything is going to be fine. I'm not 100 percent sure what's going to happen, but I believe everything is going to be fine. That's why we are doing this, to test everything and make sure it's OK." Lehtonen can stay with Chicago until Feb. 6. The Wolves play seven games in the two-week period."
Lehtonen getting closer to return
January 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Goaltender Kari Lehtonen is getting close to a return, according to Thrashers coach John Anderson. Lehtonen has returned to the ice after two back surgeries. He has been out all season but his practice schedule has picked up in the last week. "He's been doing a lot, actually," Anderson said Monday."
Kari Lehtonen has another back surgery
November 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Kari Lehtonen underwent another back surgery on Friday. The procedure was to remove edges of bone that were applying pressure to nerve roots in his back at two locations. The surgery was performed by Dr. Paul Maurer at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. The locations on the back were different than the location of the surgery he had on July 20. The team says he will be sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks. Thrashers had a late optional skate on Wednesday. They start at 1 p.m. We'll need to check the status of Ron Hainsey, who missed both games in Canada. He left last Friday's practice with an undisclosed injury that coach John Anderson said was "day-to-day." I will let you know if I find"
Lehtonen no closer to returning to Thrashers
October 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Goaltender Kari Lehtonen is no closer to returning to the Thrashers than he was soon after offseason back surgery. According to Thrashers general manager Don Waddell, Lehtonen again experienced pain in his legs while rehabbing from July surgery to repair a herniated disc. He recently received another epidural injection to reduce inflammation, and he has stopped skating. Waddell said Friday that Lehtonen is scheduled for another examination by doctors to determine the next course of action. Waddell said he would not label the current situation a setback. "When you are dealing with the back, everyone heals at a different rate," Waddell said. "He is progressing very slowly." Lehtonen signed a"
Thrashers' Lehtonen has back surgery
July 25
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back earlier this week. He is not expected to miss a significant amount of time when the Thrashers report for training camp in September. The Thrashers and Lehtonen's agent, Larry Kelly, confirmed the surgery to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday. According to the Thrashers, Lehtonen underwent the procedure at St. Joseph's Hospital on Monday. The surgery was performed by Dr. Plas James and took approximately 25 minutes. "We expect him back on the ice by the start of training camp or shortly after," Thrashers spokesman Rob Koch said."
Thrashers Lehtonen staying in Atlanta
July 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"The Thrashers re-signed goaltender Kari Lehtonen on Wednesday when he accepted his one-year qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. Wednesday was the deadline for him to accept the offer. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but Lehtonen earned $3 million last season. Lehtonen had a 19-22-3 record with three shutouts, a 3.06 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage in 46 games last season. He missed time with injuries to his back and head. Lehtonen, 25, is the franchise's all-time leader in games played, wins, shutouts and save percentage."