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Toronto Maple Leafs signed Mikko Lehtonen (1 Year / $925,000 AAV)

Was this a good signing?
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May 4, 2020 at 10:03 a.m.
#1
Mikko Lehtonen has signed a new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Entry-Level Contract
Comparable ContractsCOMPARE THIS CONTRACT
SIGNED BY: Kyle Dubas
Length: 1 year
Value: $925,000
Expiry Status: UFA
Cap % Tooltip: 1.14
Signing Team: Logo of the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs
Signing Date: May 4, 2020
Source: CapFriendly

Mikko Lehtonen signed a 1 year, $925,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 4, 2020. The contract has a cap hit of $925,000.

SEASONClauseCap HitTooltipAAV TooltipP. BonusesTooltipS. BonusesTooltipBase SalaryTooltipTotal SalaryTooltipMinors SalTooltip
2020-21$925,000$925,000$0$92,500$832,500$925,000$70,000
TOTAL$925,000$925,000$0$92,500$832,500$925,000$70,000
European Union This contract includes a European Assignment Clause
May 4, 2020 at 10:05 a.m.
#2
Hop on the Slaftrain
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Weird choice as he'll likely be playing behind Rielly and Muzzin
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May 4, 2020 at 10:08 a.m.
#3
v5 CBJ GM
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HE A HAB
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May 4, 2020 at 10:12 a.m.
#4
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Screen_Shot_2018-10-25_at_11.02.15_AM.jpg
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May 4, 2020 at 10:13 a.m.
#5
Go Jets Go
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Darn, I was hoping Winnipeg could sign him...
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May 4, 2020 at 10:15 a.m.
#6
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Very weird signing by Dubas, I get he was the best defensemen in the KHL last year, but he's a LHD.... does he even make the Leafs next year?
May 4, 2020 at 10:22 a.m.
#7
Just Keep Swimming
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Quoting: HabsForEver
Very weird signing by Dubas, I get he was the best defensemen in the KHL last year, but he's a LHD.... does he even make the Leafs next year?


You understand that handedness doesn't dictate position right? All of Dermott, Lehtonen, and Sandin have played RD.
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May 4, 2020 at 10:24 a.m.
#8
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Quoting: Random2152
You understand that handedness doesn't dictate position right? All of Dermott, Lehtonen, and Sandin have played RD.


"Have" doesn't mean that they are good over there. It's like Montreal making Drouin or Domi play center. They can play it, doesn't mean they should.
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May 4, 2020 at 10:25 a.m.
#9
Just Keep Swimming
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Quoting: HabsForEver
"Have" doesn't mean that they are good over there. It's like Montreal making Drouin or Domi play center. They can play it, doesn't mean they should.


Lehtonen was good at RD, as was Dermott. Sandin doesn't have enough of an NHL sample size for me to comment on his RD play.

And switching D sides is a lot easier than moving a winger to centre. Like ALOT.
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May 4, 2020 at 10:29 a.m.
#10
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Quoting: Random2152
Lehtonen was good at RD, as was Dermott. Sandin doesn't have enough of an NHL sample size for me to comment on his RD play.

And switching D sides is a lot easier than moving a winger to centre. Like ALOT.


Both Domi and Drouin played center in Junior so they weren't going from 0-100. I think this signing is more about preventing other teams from getting him then it is to help the Leafs. The Leafs currently have 6 LHD on their roster and that doesn't include Lehtonen.
May 4, 2020 at 10:40 a.m.
#11
What in tarnation
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Meh. I can understand this deal from Leafs' perspective, but I don't get why Lehtonen chose Toronto. Not exactly a contender, logjam in his own position, likely pretty low ice time coming...
May 4, 2020 at 10:42 a.m.
#12
Black Lives Matter
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Wow, the Leafs got even better ...


Now watch them lose to Boston.
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May 4, 2020 at 10:43 a.m.
#13
AwesomeMatthews
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Better then half the Leafs d men hopefully.
May 4, 2020 at 10:50 a.m.
#14
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Quoting: justaBoss
Meh. I can understand this deal from Leafs' perspective, but I don't get why Lehtonen chose Toronto. Not exactly a contender, logjam in his own position, likely pretty low ice time coming...


One year contract and then UFA. Maybe he wants to be in a spotlight so it may influence other teams to overpay him when he hits FA
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May 4, 2020 at 10:51 a.m.
#15
What in tarnation
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Quoting: HabsForEver
One year contract and then UFA. Maybe he wants to be in a spotlight so it may influence other teams to overpay him when he hits FA


Who knows, although it's pretty hard to spotlight as an offensive d-man in a team that is nothing but offense. He should be scoring like 60 points minimum to be able to spotlight lol.

This way Habs or Devils would've been much better options.
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May 4, 2020 at 11:15 a.m.
#16
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Quoting: justaBoss
Who knows, although it's pretty hard to spotlight as an offensive d-man in a team that is nothing but offense. He should be scoring like 60 points minimum to be able to spotlight lol.

This way Habs or Devils would've been much better options.


I'd imagine the Leafs fit his playstyle really well, I'd imagine that had a toll on him. I honestly don't think he would mesh well in Montreal's defensive style of hockey.
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May 4, 2020 at 11:16 a.m.
#17
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Toronto gets a lot of the KHL guys because IMO they're the only team that really desperately needs them for payroll. Dermott is likely to be trade fodder now at reduced asset cost to make room to keep Mikheyev. Still, though, I give Dubas a lot of credit, it seems to work well for him.
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May 4, 2020 at 11:36 a.m.
#18
Just Keep Swimming
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Quoting: HabsForEver
Both Domi and Drouin played center in Junior so they weren't going from 0-100. I think this signing is more about preventing other teams from getting him then it is to help the Leafs. The Leafs currently have 6 LHD on their roster and that doesn't include Lehtonen.


As someone who watched Domi all through Junior, he was always a winger. I know what he is listed as, everyone takes faceoffs but he was primarily a winger.
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May 4, 2020 at 11:44 a.m.
#19
No regretzkys
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Quoting: justaBoss
Meh. I can understand this deal from Leafs' perspective, but I don't get why Lehtonen chose Toronto. Not exactly a contender, logjam in his own position, likely pretty low ice time coming...


Because there is an opportunity for him to play on the right side with Rielly or Muzzin. Plenty of opportunity. Lehtonen had his reasons. Toronto is an attractive destination whether people like it or not.
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May 4, 2020 at 11:51 a.m.
#20
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Edited May 4, 2020 at 12:28 p.m.
From what I've read on Lehtonen, he's an OFD that's meh in his own end....which doesn't make sense for TOR. Last year Anderson faced the 6th most High Danger Shots Against (min 1,000 minutes) and ranked 27th in HDSV%, so it doesn't sounds like his work is going to get any easier. At this point I have to think that Dubas plan is to build a team that can win games 5-4.
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May 4, 2020 at 12:20 p.m.
#21
No regretzkys
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Quoting: ON3M4N
From what I've read on Lehtonen, he's an OFD that's meh in his own end....which doesn't make sense for TOR. Last year Anderson faced the 6th most High Danger Shots Against (min 1,000 minutes) and ranked 27th in HDSV%, so it doesn't sounds like he works going to get any easier. At this point I have to think that Dubas plan is to build a team that can win games 5-4.


He is building the D with the philosophy of having skilled mobile guys to move the puck. Doesn't mean don't play defence. The tactic is definitely debateable, but Dubas is sticking to his plan and you gotta respect that. There are plenty of people that disagree, but it takes conviction to go against the grain
May 4, 2020 at 12:20 p.m.
#22
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In which hockey book proves building a team with Euro's/Russian talent wins the Cup >?
May 4, 2020 at 12:22 p.m.
#23
What in tarnation
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Quoting: MadLin27
Because there is an opportunity for him to play on the right side with Rielly or Muzzin. Plenty of opportunity. Lehtonen had his reasons. Toronto is an attractive destination whether people like it or not.


Lehtonen apparently chose it as the team favors his playing style. He can use his strengths in a team like that.
May 4, 2020 at 12:30 p.m.
#24
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Edited May 4, 2020 at 12:35 p.m.
Nice job Dubas!

He's bad at signing star players but you gotta give it to him that he's good at getting these foreign players.
May 4, 2020 at 12:57 p.m.
#25
Banned
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Quoting: Random2152
You understand that handedness doesn't dictate position right? All of Dermott, Lehtonen, and Sandin have played RD.


This is a really tricky point to get across for so many reasons but what you are saying generally is false.

1st, Handedness does not mean shoot, aka hold the stick so lets start there.
There are lots of people who are R handed but hold the stick left. It just feels more natural for them. So that is the first part that should be stated. The ability to switch and feel comfortable is a huge part of guys being able to play both sides. Not everyone can adjust to that.

Those who are playing their natural side having to switch over is extreamly difficult. Yes, they can play over there, but they have to change the way they play and the team plays to account for it. If you ever played you know it's really hard to backhand a pass with accuracy at a decent rate of speed on the ice. This means people playing their off side tend not to be able to perform point to point passes and that causes a huge problem for teams. See JJ on the RHD for the penguins 2 years ago.

What ends up happening for a lot of guys is they stop playing the "off side" and they play "center field" because it makes the passes shorter and easier to control.

In general guys who play their handed side naturally, do not switch well to their off side.
It's why guys tend to have an easier time going from LD to RD than from RD to LD. Because a fair amount of guys playing LD are actually Right handed. For them it's a matter of adjusting how they hold the stick, not playing the side.
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