Confirmed with Link: [TOR/CBJ] LD Mikko Lehtonen to CBJ for G Veini Vehvilainen

[hotpaws]

I think it's just a bit of a laugh at the usual suspect Leafs fans. Labeling Lehtonen the best defenseman outside the NHL and a top 4 dman. Arguing on the main boards until they're blue in the face just how good Lehtonen is and how amazing he's gonna be.

Then, same fans are very happy that he was traded for the Jackets 3rd goalie.

It's just funny to laugh at.

Like !

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Disagree strongly.

I mean that is fair, but I was a lot more impressed by Woll than the few times I saw Vehvilainen, and it is not like the Marlies were a powerhouse last year when he played against us. He actually did better when the Marlies were better than when the Marlies were a worse team.

Vehvilainen has excellent technique and positioning, but I don't find him overly athletic relative to Woll and Scott. Vehvilainen will also need to overcome his size issues, whereas Woll and Scott will not.

Vehvilainen just seems like a goalie who would destroy Europe, but won't be able to make it as a full time NHL goalie unless he has a really strong defense in front of him. If his defense allows him to rely upon his positioning, then he will do well. Otherwise, he will struggle (at least more than Woll and Scott, who are used to bailing out their defenses and have the athleticism to do so).

 

[saffronleaf]

Seems like it had to be done with Keefe not willing to trust Lehtonen at all. They couldn't just sit him out forever. I wish they would have given him a real chance though

Yup, would have preferred to give him a real chance first.

 

[NK94]

The fact Marchment is getting top 6 minutes probably says more about the Panthers than it does about Toronto... lmao.

Him aside, they traded a lottery ticket for another lottery ticket that could have long-term implications due to his waiver ineligibility. Whatever.

 

[RaptorLeaf13]

What just happened?!?! Did we just trade a KHL all star dman for nothing???? I feel like we got robbed big time. This goalie better turn into Hasek. Its like the Leafs giving away Stralman 2.0. I don’t feel like we gave him an opportunity to shine. Dermott and Holl have not been as impressive. We could have given them Rosen instead. Hope this trade is something we don’t regret.

 

[Goose]

What was the last trade you hated this much?

I dunno, been trying to think. I don’t want to ever root for people to fail but I’m going to be pretty grossed out if Lehtonen turns into a regular somewhere on a bottom 4 in the NHL.

Giving away solid D depth (with upside) after all of our D suffering these past few years for a C grade goalie prospect (unless I’m missing something) just seems sickening. I just feel generally like giving up solid assets for backup goaltending is never a good idea, it’s too easy to get backup help. Maybe the prospect is better than I think though?

 

[LaPlante94]

Seeing some videos he looks good positioning wise but his rebound control looks real bad.

 

[Leaf Fans]

I dunno, been trying to think. I don’t want to ever root for people to fail but I’m going to be pretty grossed out if Lehtonen turns into a regular somewhere on a bottom 4 in the NHL.

Giving away solid D depth (with upside) after all of our D suffering these past few years for a C grade goalie prospect (unless I’m missing something) just seems sickening. I just feel generally like giving up solid assets for backup goaltending is never a good idea, it’s too easy to get backup help. Maybe the prospect is better than I think though?

maybe goalies are strange that way. It is kinda like the petan deal. a pending UFA for a pending RFA

 

[zeke]

I mean that is fair, but I was a lot more impressed by Woll than the few times I saw Vehvilainen, and it is not like the Marlies were a powerhouse last year when he played against us. He actually did better when the Marlies were better than when the Marlies were a worse team.

Vehvilainen has excellent technique and positioning, but I don't find him overly athletic relative to Woll and Scott. Vehvilainen will also need to overcome his size issues, whereas Woll and Scott will not.

Vehvilainen just seems like a goalie who would destroy Europe, but won't be able to make it as a full time NHL goalie unless he has a really strong defense in front of him. If his defense allows him to rely upon his positioning, then he will do well. Otherwise, he will struggle (at least more than Woll and Scott, who are used to bailing out their defenses and have the athleticism to do so).

I'm surprised you see anything in Woll tbh.

 

[Goose]

maybe goalies are strange that way. It is kinda like the petan deal. a pending UFA for a pending RFA

Yeah I actually didn’t realize he was a pending UFA, which takes a lot of the cheese of the top of this deal.

 

[Teeder Keon]

Disagree strongly.

If Leaf management didn’t “ disagree strongly “ I don’t think they would have made this move with what they gave up and receiving a goaltender back instead of where they need immediate help on the forward position.
I think the management are not confident in our goalie prospects at all and I also think unfortunately for Fred that they are not confident in him as well and are going to make the appropriate changes

 

[Goose]

Simply.

lehtonen - free asset. Lehtonen in his time here showed as a good second power play d, and serviceable 6th defenceman. On our team, we already have guys to fill that roll - and guys that have spent years in our system proving just that.

that free asset that I just explained didn’t prove to overthrow dermott, turned into a goalie prospect who will allow Woll to play games and be the backup to hutch if both of our actual NHL goalies are hurt.

You judge the merits of the transaction. How the Leafs got Lehtonen is completely irrelevant.

If I trade a brand new Lexus SUV for a used Hyundai, it doesn’t matter if the Lexus was free, it’s a bad trade.

If you’re sitting there justifying that the Lexus was free in the first place, it’s like you know you made a bad trade and are looking for other ways to justify it.

That said, I though Lehtonen was still under contract, so an about-to-walk UFA this makes way more sense.

 

[Legion34]

You judge the merits of the transaction. How the Leafs got Lehtonen is completely irrelevant.

If I trade a brand new Lexus SUV for a used Hyundai, it doesn’t matter if the Lexus was free, it’s a bad trade.

If you’re sitting there justifying that the Lexus was free in the first place, it’s like you know you made a bad trade and are looking for other ways to justify it.

That said, I though Lehtonen was still under contract, so an about-to-walk UFA this makes way more sense.

the important part is keeping the relationship with milstein and the russian pipeline coming


The leafs have consistently got many of the top russian UFAs since dubas got here. Burying the KHL defenseman of the year doesn’t help.

it’s not about this year. It’s next year and the year after.

 

[ihadtochangethename]

all this proves is that they never liked mikko and that dubas is over freddie

 

[mapleleaf979]

Typical Leaf reaction post trade " he can become a Vezina winner"

 

[LeafParade]

the important part is keeping the relationship with milstein and the russian pipeline coming


The leafs have consistently got many of the top russian UFAs since dubas got here. Burying the KHL defenseman of the year doesn’t help.

it’s not about this year. It’s next year and the year after.

Any chance Zhafyarov is a Milstein client.

 

[Leaftors]

You judge the merits of the transaction. How the Leafs got Lehtonen is completely irrelevant.

If I trade a brand new Lexus SUV for a used Hyundai, it doesn’t matter if the Lexus was free, it’s a bad trade.

If you’re sitting there justifying that the Lexus was free in the first place, it’s like you know you made a bad trade and are looking for other ways to justify it.

That said, I though Lehtonen was still under contract, so an about-to-walk UFA this makes way more sense.

It appears that you’ve learned mid post that lehtonen was going to walk anyways, and to which I stand by my post that getting an asset for an asset you got for free, that isn’t going to be apart of the teams future and is currently not doing the team any good, is the smart way to manage a hockey team.

Asset management.

 

[tokyoite]

get rid of marincin first,

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

The Marlies have had ECHL caliber goaltending from last minute AHL signings with Andersen and Cambell out for an extended period and with Scott being out for 2 years in a row. Now, Woll is back with the Marlies and Andersen and Cambell are healthy for the Leafs. It's a boost for the goalie depth issue that has plagued the developing Marlies this season. It also provides some internal competition. With Woll, Veini, D'Agostini and Scott who you'd think would be nearing return there is some talented young hungry goalies all of a sudden looking for ice and Marlies roster who have to be begging for it.

I don't like the value here or the use of assets. Lehtonen is worth more and the return probably never see's NHL ice. Lehtonen is also great depth for a playoff run. He's an NHL caliber bottom pairing D right now.

It does punch a hole for Sandin and Liljegren to play important minutes down the stretch. It's time for them to develop. While being a nice favour to Lehtonen giving him increased responsibility in another organization. He didn't stand a good chance going forward with those two behind him and the top-6 the Leafs have now. He could see top-4 minutes potentially elsewhere. He wasn't going to here.

What do you mean Scott out for 2 years in a row? Has this been confirmed that hes missing the entire season?

 

[Super Mega]

Any chance Zhafyarov is a Milstein client.

what happened with that guy? i thought Chicago or Detroit was going to sign him

 

[Leaftors]

Typical Leaf reaction post trade " he can become a Vezina winner"

Has anyone even said that?

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I'm surprised you see anything in Woll tbh.

Why? The Marlies were brutal in front of him. He still has a ton of upside and plenty of time to develop. Same with Scott. Vehvilainen never had that kind of upside and still doesn't.

 

[Steve776]

He can become a Vezina winner!

 

[All Mod Cons]

He can become a Vezina winner!

Best goalie outside the NHL.

 

[LaPlante94]

We traded a guy who was sitting in our press box for a goalie who'll probably actually play on the Marlies where goaltending has been an issue. Lehtonen wins because he should easily get ice time on Columbus and we win because our goalie depth for the Marlies hasn't been very good.