Mikko Lehtonen (ice hockey, born 1978)


Mikko Tapani Lehtonen is a Finnish former ice hockey defenceman

Playing career

Mikko Lehtonen appeared in his first National Hockey League game on 7 October, 2006 with the Nashville Predators against the Minnesota Wild, and registered his first NHL goal in that game. The goal was scored only eight seconds into his first NHL shift, coming just one second short of tying the all-time record set by Dave Christian.
On 27 February, 2007 Lehtonen was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for a fourth-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Having won the Finnish Championship for a third time playing for Kärpät, Lehtonen signed a one-year deal with Swedish team Timrå IK on 9 June 2008.
On 6 May 2009, Lehtonen confirmed that he had signed with Frölunda HC for the 2009-10 season.