Newly-signed Leaf Mikko Lehtonen named KHL Top Defenceman

All aboard the Mikko Lehtonen hype train, folks. The Leafs’ newest KHL addition has been named the league’s top defenceman for the 2019-20 season.

Lehtonen scored 49 points in 60 games this season, which led Jokerit Helsinki in team scoring and was good forth sixth overall in league scoring and tops among defencemen. He finished eight points clear of the next highest scoring defenceman, Slava Voynov, so Lehtonen winning this award isn’t really much of a surprise.

Signed to a one-year, entry-level deal a few weeks ago, Lehtonen could be a nice bargain addition to the Leafs next season. If he’s anywhere near as effective as Ilya Mikheyev, Toronto’s KHL addition from last off-season, that would be a nice boost to the team’s blueline.