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ATLANTA -- You can plot the Atlanta Thrashers' metamorphosis from sub-.500 disappointment to Eastern Conference force along many lines.
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There are the unexpected offensive contributions of Greg de Vries, who accompanied stud Marian Hossa in the Dany Heatley deal.
And, of course, there's the big man, Ilya Kovalchuk, who just scores and scores, then takes a break to taunt other stars and use illegal sticks, then scores and scores again.
But all of that is just scribbling around the borders compared with the real focus of the Thrashers' rosy picture: the lanky, sweaty kid in the goalie pads sitting over in the corner.
On a recent game morning, a reporter asked Kari Lehtonen whether he had a few minutes to chat.
"Get lost," he said, before breaking into a broad grin.
Who said all Finns are inconsolable depressives?
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Scouts and observers spoke in hushed tones about his promise, suggesting he was better than Roberto Luongo was at the same age. Better than Rick DiPietro. Better than Marc-Andre Fleury.
"He's special," one longtime scout and former coach said this week.
Thrashers coach Bob Hartley likened Lehtonen's physicality and hybrid butterfly style to that of Patrick Roy. He also said Lehtonen's mental fortitude, his desire to be the go-to guy, also reminded him of Roy, who is considered the best money goalie ever.
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"Having had the pleasure of putting Patrick [Roy] in net for five years, I know what his demeanor, just his presence in front of the net, would do for a team. So Kari Lehtonen basically brings this same presence to our team. Players, they feed off this," Hartley said. "There's no doubt in my mind. And we're not throwing anybody under the bus, but let's face it, we played with our fifth and sixth of the organization for basically two-thirds of the first half of the season, so mentally, it was tough on everyone."
...
They have never been this good this late in the season. One Eastern GM recently said he has been warning his team to be wary of a surging Thrashers club he considers one of the most dangerous in the conference. But sometimes teams that have never been down this road before can be thrown off by the slightest bumps. And the East is painfully tight, with 10 points separating the fifth and 10th spot.
"I already had meetings with certain members of this organization at different levels to make sure that we're on our toes and we don't get stuck in the middle of a storm, whether it's panic, whether it's pressure," Hartley said. "There's lots of people that it's going to be their first walk in the big park, and it's a dangerous park. There are many things that can happen.
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"This is the year," GM Waddell added. "We need to make the playoffs for our fans."
Scott Burnside is an NHL writer for ESPN.com.
...
There are the unexpected offensive contributions of Greg de Vries, who accompanied stud Marian Hossa in the Dany Heatley deal.
And, of course, there's the big man, Ilya Kovalchuk, who just scores and scores, then takes a break to taunt other stars and use illegal sticks, then scores and scores again.
But all of that is just scribbling around the borders compared with the real focus of the Thrashers' rosy picture: the lanky, sweaty kid in the goalie pads sitting over in the corner.
On a recent game morning, a reporter asked Kari Lehtonen whether he had a few minutes to chat.
"Get lost," he said, before breaking into a broad grin.
Who said all Finns are inconsolable depressives?
...
Scouts and observers spoke in hushed tones about his promise, suggesting he was better than Roberto Luongo was at the same age. Better than Rick DiPietro. Better than Marc-Andre Fleury.
"He's special," one longtime scout and former coach said this week.
Thrashers coach Bob Hartley likened Lehtonen's physicality and hybrid butterfly style to that of Patrick Roy. He also said Lehtonen's mental fortitude, his desire to be the go-to guy, also reminded him of Roy, who is considered the best money goalie ever.
...
"Having had the pleasure of putting Patrick [Roy] in net for five years, I know what his demeanor, just his presence in front of the net, would do for a team. So Kari Lehtonen basically brings this same presence to our team. Players, they feed off this," Hartley said. "There's no doubt in my mind. And we're not throwing anybody under the bus, but let's face it, we played with our fifth and sixth of the organization for basically two-thirds of the first half of the season, so mentally, it was tough on everyone."
...
They have never been this good this late in the season. One Eastern GM recently said he has been warning his team to be wary of a surging Thrashers club he considers one of the most dangerous in the conference. But sometimes teams that have never been down this road before can be thrown off by the slightest bumps. And the East is painfully tight, with 10 points separating the fifth and 10th spot.
"I already had meetings with certain members of this organization at different levels to make sure that we're on our toes and we don't get stuck in the middle of a storm, whether it's panic, whether it's pressure," Hartley said. "There's lots of people that it's going to be their first walk in the big park, and it's a dangerous park. There are many things that can happen.
...
"This is the year," GM Waddell added. "We need to make the playoffs for our fans."
Scott Burnside is an NHL writer for ESPN.com.
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