The Toronto Maple Leafs have landed one of the most talented and intriguing prospects from the European free-agent pool, signing Finland’s Mikko Lehtonen to a one-year entry-level contract that carries with it only minimal risk.
One problem: he shoots left and plays defence.
Lehtonen, who made an incredibly successful leap from Sweden’s top division to the KHL at the beginning of last season, will step into the most densely-populated region within the Leafs depth chart while trying to make the same-sized step forward for his career in 2020-21.
With Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin cemented as the top two options on the left side, Lehtonen’s addition theoretically leaves one spot open for three candidates — the other two being roster-ready contributors and recent top draft selections of the organization, Travis Dermott and Rasmus Sandin.