Teams sour with the Maple Leafs over latest move!

​Can they handle the heat?

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HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
Teams sour with the Maple Leafs over latest move!
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Earlier this week, the Toronto Maple Leafs stunned many around the league as they managed to sign defenseman Mikko Lehtonen to a one-year, entry-level contract. 

The 26-year-old blue liner led the Kontinental Hockey League this season in scoring among defensemen, posting 17 goals and 49 points, and was granted his release last month from Jokerit to seek NHL opportunities.

And he found the Maple Leafs. 

However, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in his latest 31 Thoughts column that several NHL clubs are upset with the Leafs for landing the coveted defenseman. 

“Boy, were some teams sour at the Maple Leafs landing Finnish defender Mikko Lehtonen. There was a lot of interest. I’d be lying if I said I’ve seen much of him, but his talent is widely respected. Jokerit indicated he had another year left on his contract, so several potential NHL destinations peeled off. Toronto was persistent.
Another team indicated they were told Lehtonen would be let out of his contract if he found a situation he wanted. That fits with a second organization indicating that when Jokerit announced Lehtonen’s release, he already knew where he was going.”

If it can make anyone of those teams feel any better, Lehtonen’s contract with Toronto only kicks in for next season, therefore he won’t be eligible to join the Maple Leafs roster if this season resumes.

Apart from that, they will need to accept it and make him pay for his choice when they get back on the ice and can get one of their players to score on him. 

Source: Sportsnet