THRASHERS TRADE GOALIE KARI LEHTONEN TO STARS
The Atlanta Thrashers have traded goalie Kari Lehtonen to the Dallas Stars for defenceman Ivan Vishnevskiy and a fourth-round draft pick in the 2010 draft.
Lehtonen, 26, was recalled by Atlanta on Tuesday after completing a conditioning assignment with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. The Finnish backstop has not played this season after undergoing back surgery on Sept. 16.
Over four seasons with the Thrashers, Lehtonen compiled a record of 94-83-17 with 14 shutouts. He led Atlanta to the franchise’s only playoff appearance in 2006-07.
The Stars now have a surplus of goalies with Marty Turco and Alex Auld already on the team.
“We get a goaltender. That gives us three now, so that’s a situation that we’ll have to deal with,” Stars head coach Marc Crawford told reporters on Tuesday night.
“Obviously I think they feel pretty good about Kari Lehtonen. He’s come back and I’ve heard that he’s played well at the American League level, so we’ll see what happens from there on our side.”
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=309569