| Jere Lehtinen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.JPG) Lehtinen with theDallas Stars in March 2009 | |||
| Born | (1973-06-24)June 24, 1973 (age 52) Espoo, Finland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Kiekko-Espoo TPS Dallas Stars | ||
| National team |  Finland | ||
| NHL draft | 88th overall,1992 Minnesota North Stars | ||
| Playing career | 1990–2010 | ||
Jere Kalervo Lehtinen (born June 24, 1973) is aFinnish former professionalice hockeyforward. Aright winger, he was drafted in the third round, 88th overall, in the1992 NHL entry draft by theMinnesota North Stars. Lehtinen played his entire 15-yearNational Hockey League (NHL) career with the organization after the franchise moved toDallas in 1993. Atwo-way forward, Lehtinen is perhaps best known for his defensive responsibilities, for which he won theFrank J. Selke Trophy three times as the NHL's top defensive forward. After his retirement, he has served as the general manager of theFinnish national ice hockey team. He was inducted into theIIHF Hall of Fame in 2018.
Lehtinen played in the 1987Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a youth team fromEspoo.[1]
Lehtinen started his professional career with his hometown team,Kiekko-Espoo. The team was jammed in first division in 1991 but they managed to win the division and gained a spot in the FinnishSM-liiga, from there Lehtinen started his professional career. He spent another year with Kiekko-Espoo, but the team struggled, and after one season, Lehtinen received an offer from one of the biggest clubs in Finland at the time,TPS inTurku. He signed with TPS in the summer of 1993 and once the season started, he soon blossomed offensively. Lehtinen was immediately paired with another future NHLer,Saku Koivu, and the two formed an integral part of TPS's great season. Although they won the regular season title by a large margin, they lost toJokerit in the finals.[citation needed]
The following season, TPS and Lehtinen went all the way again, this time defeating Jokerit in the final series, 3–2. After the SM-liiga season was over, Lehtinen received an invite to the1995 World Championships.Finland progressed to the final, defeatingSweden 4–1, winning Finland's firstIIHF World Championship gold medal. Lehtinen was part of the renowned Finnish top line, dubbed by Finnish fans as the "Ankkalinnan pojat" ("The boys of Duckburg," a reference to their nicknames "Tupu, Hupu, Lupu"; "Huey, Dewey, Louie") with Saku Koivu andVille Peltonen, another future NHLer. The three also made up the tournament's all-star line.[citation needed]
After an impressive year in 1995, where Lehtinen won both the SM-liiga and World Championship, he went overseas to play in the NHL. He saw only one game in the minors and was part of theDallas Stars organization instantly. Lehtinen worked his way up in three years to joinMike Modano on the team's first line and was nominated for theFrank J. Selke Trophy for the first time in1996–97 season. During1997–98 season, he was voted to the1998 NHL All-Star Game. It was the first year the NHL introduced a new system in which European players play against North American players. Lehtinen's fellow countrymen Saku Koivu,Teemu Selänne andJari Kurri were also voted to the Game. The same year, Lehtinen was again a nominee for the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward and eventually won the prestigious award. He is the first Finnish player to have won the award. Lehtinen was also part of the bronze-winning Finnish team at the1998 Winter Olympics inNagano,Japan.
In 1999, the Stars progressed to theStanley Cup Finals, where they defeated theBuffalo Sabres in six games, winning theStanley Cup. In the series, Lehtinen scored the first goal in the decisive Game 6, then assisted onBrett Hull's Cup-winning goal in overtime. That year, Lehtinen set career-high statistics and also captured the Selke Trophy, becoming just the third player in NHL history to win the award in consecutive seasons.
Despite the highs of the previous season, the1999–2000 campaign was a tough one for Lehtinen. He played in only 17 regular season games due toankle problems, fracturing it early in the season and sidelining for 30 games. After he had seemingly recovered from the injury, he returned to the lineup, but was again sidelined after playing just eight games, forcing him out of Dallas' lineup for an additional 35 games. However, he returned to help his team in the2000 playoffs, where the Stars again progressed to theFinals, but were defeated by theNew Jersey Devils in six games.
Lehtinen bounced back to his old form in2000–01 season, putting up a strong season statistics-wise. Although they again made the playoffs, the Stars, however, did not progress go as deep as they had in previous years and were dispatched in the second round by theSt. Louis Blues in a four-game sweep.
In2001–02, Lehtinen had a stellar season. Although the Stars failed to qualify for the2002 playoffs, Lehtinen managed to score 25 goals, 24 assists and finished first on the team inplus-minus with +27. He was again voted to theNHL All-Star Game, but was unable to play due to injury. He ranked seventh inLady Byng Memorial Trophy voting and was again nominated for the Selke Trophy, though he came in short;Michael Peca was honored with the award for second time in his career.
After an impressive 2001–02, Lehtinen continued his fine form in2002–03. He led the Stars in goals with 31, a new career high, as well as in plus-minus (+39), which ranked fourth in the NHL. He also recorded his second career NHLhat-trick, coming against theLos Angeles Kings. Moreover, Lehtinen became only the third player in League history to win the Selke Trophy three times, tyingGuy Carbonneau for three and just one behindBob Gainey, who has won it four times.
The2003–04 season, was a disappointment to Lehtinen, as injury problems to his knee allowed him to play just 58 games, where he scored 26 points. The Stars were knocked out by theColorado Avalanche in the first playoff round.
Before theNHL lockout for the 2004–05 season, theWorld Cup of Hockey was played. Lehtinen once again represented Finland and the Finns met Canada in the final; the latter won the gold with a 3–2 win over Finland.
Lehtinen underwent knee surgery during the lockout season. After successful surgery and rehabilitation, he excelled when NHL play resumed for the 2005–06 season, tying a career-high in points (52) and setting a new career-high in goals (33). The Stars won thePacific Division title, their seventh in past ten seasons. However, Dallas was once again eliminated in the firstplayoff round, again at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche. Lehtinen was again a nominee for the Selke Trophy, but ultimately finished third in voting.
The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin took place in the middle of the 2005–06 NHL season. Lehtinen was again a vital part of Team Finland's journey to the gold medal game. Like in previous international tournaments, Lehtinen was placed in a line withSaku Koivu andTeemu Selänne. However, Finland lost the final bitterly 3–2 to their nemesis, Team Sweden. Koivu and Selänne were the tournament's joint top scorer; Lehtinen finished tied for seventh. Had Finland won the final, Lehtinen would have become the first Finn to join theTriple Gold Club.
In the2006–07 season, Lehtinen scored 26 goals and led the team in goals for second consecutive season. The Stars, however, failed to progress from the first round of the playoffs for the third season in a row, falling to theVancouver Canucks. Despite the series stretched to seven games, Lehtinen failed to contribute a single point for his team.
Lehtinen began the2007–08 season strongly, posting six goals and 13 assists (19 points) in just 21 games before suffering a sports hernia. He returned on February 1, 2008, in a game against theEdmonton Oilers after a 33-game layoff. He marked his return with an assist on aJussi Jokinen goal in the game.
Lehtinen became one of just six players in Olympic ice hockey history to win four tournament medals when Finland defeatedSlovakia 5–3 at the 2010 Winter Olympics inVancouver on February 27, 2010.[2] Lehtinen also is one of only seven ice hockey players whohave appeared in at least five Olympic games.
On December 8, 2010, Lehtinen officially announced his retirement from professional hockey,[3] finishing with 243 goals and 271 assists and a careerplus-minus rating of +176 in 875 NHL games, all with the Stars. Impressively, he never finished a season with a negative plus-minus until his final season in the NHL.[citation needed]
On February 11, 2017, the Stars announced that they would retire Lehtinen's No. 26 jersey in the 2017–18 season as part of their 25th anniversary in Dallas;[4][5] it was retired on November 24, 2017, before the Stars' game against theCalgary Flames.[6]
Lehtinen met his wife, Jaana, at the1994 Olympics inLillehammer,Norway. The two were married in June 1998 and since the ceremony was only a few days after the NHL Awards, Lehtinen was not present to accept the firstFrank J. Selke Trophy of his career. The couple has twin girls, Anna and Sofia, and one son, Joel.
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1989–90 | Kiekko–Espoo | FIN U20 | 32 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 1990–91 | Kiekko–Espoo | FIN U20 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Kiekko–Espoo | FIN.2 | 32 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Kiekko–Espoo | FIN U20 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Kiekko–Espoo | FIN.2 | 43 | 32 | 17 | 49 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 1992–93 | Kiekko–Espoo | FIN U20 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Kiekko–Espoo | SM-l | 45 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | TPS | SM-l | 42 | 19 | 20 | 39 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 2 | ||
| 1994–95 | TPS | SM-l | 39 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 33 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 4 | ||
| 1995–96 | Michigan K–Wings | IHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 57 | 6 | 22 | 28 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 63 | 16 | 27 | 43 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1997–98 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 72 | 23 | 19 | 42 | 20 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 74 | 20 | 32 | 52 | 18 | 23 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 2 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 17 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2000–01 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 74 | 20 | 25 | 45 | 24 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 73 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 80 | 31 | 17 | 48 | 20 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 58 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 80 | 33 | 19 | 52 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 73 | 26 | 17 | 43 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 48 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 48 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 58 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| SM-l totals | 126 | 51 | 57 | 108 | 45 | 24 | 19 | 8 | 27 | 6 | ||||
| NHL totals | 875 | 243 | 271 | 514 | 210 | 108 | 27 | 22 | 49 | 12 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Finland | EJC | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1991 | Finland | WJC | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1991 | Finland | EJC | 6 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6 | |
| 1992 | Finland | WJC | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 1992 | Finland | WC | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1993 | Finland | WJC | 7 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 10 | |
| 1994 | Finland | OG | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1994 | Finland | WC | 8 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | |
| 1995 | Finland | WC | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | |
| 1996 | Finland | WCH | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1998 | Finland | OG | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2002 | Finland | OG | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2004 | Finland | WCH | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2006 | Finland | OG | 8 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2007 | Finland | WC | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2010 | Finland | OG | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 30 | 17 | 16 | 33 | 18 | |||
| Senior totals | 72 | 22 | 27 | 49 | 14 | |||
| Preceded by | Winner of theRaimo Kilpiö trophy 1994–95 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theFrank J. Selke Trophy 1998,1999 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy 2003 | Succeeded by |
