Mikko Lehtonen (ice hockey, born 1994)

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Mikko Lehtonen

| image = 2024-12-04 Eisbären Berlin gegen ZSC Lions (Champions Hockey League 2024-25) by Sandro Halank–043.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Lehtonen with ZSC Lions in 2024

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|1|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Turku, Finland

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 194

| position = Defence

| shoots = Left

| league = NL

| team = ZSC Lions

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league =

| former_teams = TPS
KooKoo
HV71
Tappara
Jokerit
Toronto Maple Leafs
Columbus Blue Jackets
SKA Saint Petersburg

| ntl_team = FIN

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 2011

| career_end =

}}

Mikko Lehtonen (born 16 January 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). He has previously played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Lehtonen made his SM-liiga debut playing with TPS during the 2011–12 season.[http://www.eliteprospects.com/team.php?team=48&year0=2014&status=stats Eliteprospects.com – 2011–12 TPS player statistics] For the season 2015–2016, Lehtonen moved to the team KooKoo for a two-year contract. He made his breakthrough in the league and made all 60 regular rounds. Lehtonen ranked Juha Leimu of Pelicans in the second round of the SM Liiga defender's goal. In the 2016–17 season, he was KooKoo's second-best point-keeper and the most powerful defender until the threshold of the Liiga move. In February 2017, Lehtonen spent the rest of the season for the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in HV71, and he won the Swedish Championship at the end of the season.

Lehtonen moved to Tappara for the 2017–18 season agreeing to an initial two-year contract. In 2018, Lehtonen left Tappara by mutual consent and re-joined HV71 of the SHL.{{cite web |last1=Lehtinen |first1=Lauri |title=Tähtipuolustaja jättää Tapparan kesken sopimuksen – palaa Ruotsiin |url=https://www.aamulehti.fi/a/200956358 |website=aamulehti.fi |access-date=26 October 2018 |language=Finnish |date=20 May 2018 |archive-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026104133/https://www.aamulehti.fi/a/200956358 |url-status=dead }}

On 9 April 2019, Lehtonen as a free agent, left HV71, returning to Finland in signing a two-year contract with KHL participant, Jokerit.{{cite web | url = https://www.jokerit.com/maajoukkuepuolustaja-lehtonen-jokereihin | title = Defenseman Lehtonen to Jokerit | publisher = Jokerit | date = 2019-04-09 | access-date = 2019-04-09 | language = Finnish | archive-date = 18 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190418002630/https://www.jokerit.com/maajoukkuepuolustaja-lehtonen-jokereihin | url-status = dead }}

Lehtonen appeared in 60 games with Jokerit during the 2019–20 season and registered 49 points (17 goals, 32 assists), which led all KHL defencemen. He represented Jokerit at the 2020 KHL All-Star Game and was named KHL Defenceman of the Month for three consecutive months from November to January. He had a goal and three assists in six KHL playoff games before the season's cancellation.

As a free agent, Lehtonen gained NHL interest, and on 4 May 2020, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Lehtonen to a one-year entry-level contract for the 2020–21 season.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-sign-free-agent-defenceman-mikko-lehtonen/c-316809554 | title = Maple Leafs sign Mikko Lehtonen | publisher = Toronto Maple Leafs | date = 4 May 2020 | access-date = 4 May 2020}} With the North American season delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on 1 August 2020, Lehtonen was returned to Jokerit on loan until the resumption of NHL training camp in November.{{cite web| url = https://www.jokerit.com/lehtonen-lainapestilla-takaisin-jokeripaitaan | title = Lehtonen loaned back to Jokerit | publisher = Jokerit | language = Finnish | date = 1 August 2020 | access-date = 1 August 2020}} Lehtonen was released from his contract with Jokerit on 20 November 2020, having collected 17 points through 17 games.{{cite web| url = https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-defender-mikko-lehtonen-terminates-contract-jokerit/ | title = Maple Leafs Mikko Lehtonen terminates contract with Jokerit | publisher = Sportsnet.ca | date = 20 November 2020 | access-date = 20 November 2020}}

On 12 March 2021, Lehtonen was traded by the Maple Leafs to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Veini Vehviläinen.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-12|title=Blue Jackets acquire Lehtonen in trade with Leafs|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31053083/columbus-blue-jackets-acquire-mikko-lehtonen-trade-toronto-maple-leafs|access-date=2021-03-13|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}

After the {{NHL Year|2020}} season, Lehtonen signed a one-year contract to return to Columbus. However, on 12 October 2021, it was announced that he was suspended by the team and placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout after failing to report to the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jackets place defenceman Mikko Lehtonen on waivers for buyout|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/blue-jackets-place-defenceman-mikko-lehtonen-waivers-buyout/|access-date=2021-10-12|website=Sportsnet.ca|language=en}} As a free agent from the Blue Jackets, on 17 October 2021, Lehtonen returned to the KHL in agreeing to a four-year contract with Russian based outfit, SKA Saint Petersburg.{{cite web| url = https://www.ska.ru/news/view/mikko-liekhtonien-v-ska/ | title = Mikko Lehtonen joins SKA | publisher = SKA Saint Petersburg | date = 17 October 2021 | accessdate = 17 October 2021 | language = Russian}}

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lehtonen decided to participate in the 2021–22 KHL postseason, despite the exit of most Finnish players and two of the KHL's non-Russia-based teams.{{cite web| url = https://www.is.fi/jaakiekko/art-2000008684981.html | title = Suomalainen kiekkotähti sai rahakkaan tarjouksen Venäjältä – reaktio on paljonpuhuva | work = Ilta-Sanomat | date = 16 March 2022 | accessdate = 19 March 2022 | language = Finnish}}

International play

{{MedalCountry|{{ih|FIN}}}}

Internationally, Lehtonen has represented Finland at multiple events, including the World Championships in 2017 and 2019, winning gold at the 2019 tournament and earning recognition on the World Championship All-Star Team. He also skated for Finland at the Olympic Games in 2018 and 2022, getting gold and recognition on the Olympic All-Star Team at the 2022 games. In addition, he played at the 2014 World Junior Championships, where he captured gold.

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2010–11

| TPS

| FIN U18

| 18

| 8

| 15

| 23

| 14

| 12

| 0

| 3

| 20

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2010–11

| TPS

| Jr. A

| 12

| 1

| 5

| 6

| 2

| —

2011–12

| TPS

| FIN U18

| 1

| 0

| 1

| 6

| 8

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 6

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011–12

| TPS

| Jr. A

| 39

| 8

| 19

| 27

| 24

| —

2011–12

| TPS

| SM-l

| 12

| 0

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2012–13

| TPS

| Jr. A

| 39

| 6

| 23

| 29

| 30

| 9

| 1

| 2

| 16

2012–13

| TPS

| SM-l

| 13

| 0

| 1

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2013–14

| TUTO Hockey

| Mestis

| 46

| 5

| 13

| 18

| 14

| 12

| 1

| 7

| 8

| 20

2014–15

| TPS

| Liiga

| 37

| 0

| 2

| 8

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014–15

| TUTO Hockey

| Mestis

| 19

| 0

| 9

| 4

| 15

| 3

| 6

| 9

| 8

2015–16

| KooKoo

| Liiga

| 60

| 12

| 10

| 22

| 16

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2016–17

| KooKoo

| Liiga

| 43

| 6

| 19

| 25

| 20

| —

2016–17

| HV71

| SHL

| 9

| 0

| 16

| 0

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2017–18

| Tappara

| Liiga

| 55

| 12

| 17

| 29

| 24

| 16

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 10

2018–19

| HV71

| SHL

| 52

| 5

| 19

| 24

| 30

| 9

| 1

| 4

| 5

| 6

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2019–20

| Jokerit

| KHL

| 60

| 17

| 32

| 49

| 20

| 6

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 12

2020–21

| Jokerit

| KHL

| 17

| 8

| 9

| 17

| 6

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2020–21

|Toronto Maple Leafs

|NHL

|—

2020–21

| Columbus Blue Jackets

| NHL

| 17

| 0

| 3

| 4

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2021–22

|SKA Saint Petersburg

|KHL

|15

2022–23

|ZSC Lions

|NL

|52

|23

|30

|24

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

|2023–24

|ZSC Lions

|NL

|51

|26

|30

|10

|15

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | Liiga totals

! 220

! 30

! 49

! 79

! 72

! 16

! 1

! 3

! 4

! 10

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | KHL totals

! 92

! 26

! 48

! 74

! 28

! 21

! 2

! 9

! 11

! 14

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" |NHL totals

!26

!—

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2011

| Finland

| U17

| 7th

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011

| Finland

| IH18

| 4th

| 5

| 0

| 1

| 0

2012

| Finland

| WJC18

| 4th

| 7

| 0

| 1

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014

| Finland

| WJC

| {{gold1}}

| 7

| 0

| 1

| 4

2017

| Finland

| WC

| 4th

| 10

| 2

| 0

| 2

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2018

| Finland

| OG

| 6th

| 1

| 0

2019

| Finland

| WC

| {{gold1}}

| 10

| 1

| 6

| 7

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2022

| Finland

| OG

| {{gold1}}

| 6

| 1

| 3

| 4

2022

| Finland

| WC

| {{gold1}}

| 10

| 2

| 10

| 12

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2023

| Finland

| WC

| 7th

| 8

| 2

| 3

| 5

| 0

2024

| Finland

| WC

| 8th

| 8

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 24

! 1

! 4

! 5

! 8

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Senior totals

! 53

! 9

! 24

! 30

! 6

Awards and honours

class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year !
colspan="3"\|Mestis
Second All-Star Team \| 2014 \|
colspan="3"\|SHL
Le Mat Trophy champion \| 2017 \|
colspan="3"\|NL
Champion (ZSC Lions) \| 2024 \| {{cite web\| url = https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/36869-the-zsc-lions-win-the-2023-24-championship \| title = The ZSC Lions win the 2023-24 championship \| publisher = swisshockeynews.ch \| date = 30 April 2024 \| accessdate = 30 April 2024 }}
colspan="3"\|International
WC All-Star Team \| 2019, 2022 \| {{cite web\|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/wm/news/13071/stone-named-mvp\|title=Stone named MVP\|website=IIHF\|access-date=26 May 2019}}{{Cite web\|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/wm/news/36610/olkinuora_mvp_all-stars_named\|title=Olkinuora MVP, All-Stars named\|website=IIHF\|access-date=29 May 2022}}
Olympic All-Star Team \| 2022 \| {{cite news\|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/olympic-m/news/32248/slafkovsky_voted_mvp\|title=Slafkovsky voted MVP\|website=IIHF\|access-date=20 February 2022}}
WC Best Defenseman \| 2022 \|

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

colspan="3"|Mestis

Second All-Star Team

| 2014

colspan="3"|SHL

Le Mat Trophy champion

| 2017

colspan="3"|NL

Champion (ZSC Lions)

| 2024

| {{cite web| url = https://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index.php/shn/11-swiss-ice-hockey/nla/36869-the-zsc-lions-win-the-2023-24-championship | title = The ZSC Lions win the 2023-24 championship | publisher = swisshockeynews.ch | date = 30 April 2024 | accessdate = 30 April 2024 }}

colspan="3"|International

WC All-Star Team

| 2019, 2022

| {{cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/wm/news/13071/stone-named-mvp|title=Stone named MVP|website=IIHF|access-date=26 May 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/wm/news/36610/olkinuora_mvp_all-stars_named|title=Olkinuora MVP, All-Stars named|website=IIHF|access-date=29 May 2022}}

Olympic All-Star Team

| 2022

| {{cite news|url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/olympic-m/news/32248/slafkovsky_voted_mvp|title=Slafkovsky voted MVP|website=IIHF|access-date=20 February 2022}}

WC Best Defenseman

| 2022