Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, playoff-bound for the 15th time in their 17 seasons in the American Hockey League, announced that forward Mikko Lehtonen has been assigned to Providence by the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins. With the move, the P-Bruins have 28 players on their roster, including 14 forwards, 10 defensemen and four goaltenders.
Lehtonen, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on April 1, was recalled to Boston on Friday and made his NHL debut on Saturday in the Bruins' road loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The rookie right wing went scoreless over 17 shifts and 16:14 minutes of ice-time. Lehtonen was a healthy scratch during Boston's regular season finale against the New York Islanders on Sunday.
Lehtonen returns to Providence as the club's fourth-leading scorer with 53 points and the team's top goal-scorer with 28 during the regular season. The rookie finished the season second among AHL freshmen in goals and seventh in points. Lehtonen's 10 power play strikes during the regular season were tied for first on the P-Bruins with Johnny Boychuk and he was among the best on the team with a 5-for-15 shootout performance. Along with 13 multiple-point games, the native of Espoo, Finland, registered six point-streaks of at least three games and he was Providence's February Player of the Month after an eight-goal, 13-point display.
Prior to turning pro, Lehtonen played the last four years with the Espoo Blues of the Finnish Elite League. He was selected by Boston 83rd overall in round three of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.