Bruins’ Mikko Lehtonen Heading to Swedish Elite League

Providence Bruins goal-scorer Mikko Lehtonen is leaving North America to join the Swedish Elite League.

If we’re being honest here, Bruins fans didn’t get much of a look at Finnish forward and 2005 third round draft choice Mikko Lehtonen during his tenure with the organization. In fact if you weren’t paying attention to his 23 minutes and change of time-on-ice in just two NHL games, there’s a chance you’re reading this and pondering who the heck the guy is.

Taken by the B’s with the 83rd overall pick in ’05, Lehtonen arrived to Providence for his North American hockey debut after four seasons with his hometown club of the Blues in Espoo, Finland where he amassed 18 goals in 107 contests.

Immediately making an impact with the P-Bruins in 2008-09, Lehtonen would lead the club in goals with 28 goals throughout the regular season before making a brief cameo in Buffalo for his first career NHL game where he registered a single-shot on goal in 16 minutes of time-on-ice.

Doing more of the same in 2009-10 for the Bruins’ AHL-affiliate, scoring 23 goals and once again appearing in one game for the big club, failing to make a serious contribution in his only NHL contest of the season.

Entering the off-season as one of Boston’s several restricted free-agents, Lehtonen’s future with the club seemed to be rightfully in question. Considering the Bruins’ inking of forwards such as Jordan Caron and Joe Colborne to entry-level contracts, and a full season from Maxime Sauve along with his own inability to adjust to the rough around the edges style of play practiced in the NHL, the qualifying offer made to Lehtonen ended up being just that.

Unable to use his 6’3″ frame to his advantage towards NHL progression, Lehtonen heads back to Europe to join Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Elite League. Joining fellow 2005 Bruins draftees Petr Kalus and Lukas Vantuch as Europeans to defect back across the pond after stints in North America.

————————————————————————————————–

Say Hey In Under 140 Characters: FOLLOW TY ON TWITTER

“I’ll Facebook You!”: ADD THE HOCKEYINDEPENDENT BRUINS FACEBOOK PROFILE AS A FRIEND TODAY!

Questions? Comments?: SEND TY YOUR HATE/LOVE LETTERS AT TANDERSONBRUINS@GMAIL.COM