Kari Lehtonen Update
2009 November 4
From our PR department:
Kari Lehtonen underwent successful back surgery on Friday, Oct. 30 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. The procedure, which was performed by neurosurgeon, Dr. Paul Maurer, was to remove edges of bone that were applying pressure to nerve roots in his back at two locations that were different than that of his original disc surgery on July 20. He will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks.
Wow. Poor Kari. I just don’t think he’ll be healthy and ready to play this year. He showed promise and maturing last season as a goalie using his skill set and also really battling like Moose does and Ad Lib some saves. I wonder what his future is with this organization. As talented as he is, Thrashers need a goalie they can count on.
Hockey and everything aside, I really hope Kari has a speedy and full recovery, for his sake. Would be awful to go through the rest of his life with a messed up back. I too am interested to see what his future with this, or any, organization is. I hope he can get back to playing. I think he’s going to need some time in the AHL to get back into playing shape, so maybe that will help him out?
And why didn’t he do this in the off season?
he DID do it in the off season Jaime. This is a second surgery to correct the first one.
I really feel for the guy. He’s in pain, wondering about his career, heck..wondering if he’s ever going to be OK again, even off the ice. What happens to players’ health insurance when their contracts run out? Will he still have coverage after this season when his contract with the Thrash is done?…assuming he’s not picked up again.
I wish him nothing but the best. Fast healing. No pain. And a quick return to the ice. Get well soon, Kari.
heal up kari.
As far as I’m concerned he’s done as an Atlanta Thrasher. I have my doubts about his ability to EVER play competitive hockey again at any level.
No matter.
At this point his HEALTH is of paramount concern. Pray he recovers properly, and can live his life without pain, and or discomfort. Playing hockey be damned.
Best Wishes Kari,
Wow…I cannot believe that he had to go in for a second surgery. Couldn’t they get it right the first time? Poor Kari. I cannot imagine having to go twice. Heal fast, Kärppä! Miss you on the ice!
I wish him all the best, but a few people here don’t seem to realize that the quote clearly states that these bone protrusions were not at the site of the original off season surgery. Regardless of what happens, I hope he heals up quickly. We want our boy healthy, regardless of whether he goes back in net or not.
Best Wishes, Kari
That sucks for Kari. If the guy could ever stay healthy, we all know he’s got the skills to be a upper-tier goalie. It just seems to be one thing after the other with Kari.
Whether he ever plays here again or not isn’t important. Wish him the best as he recovers from surgery.
aroha,
He waited until very late in the off season to have surgery. Strangely he didn’t have surgery until AFTER he got his RFA tender. Between that little trick and his inability to play consistently even when healthy I will wish him the best…. somewhere else.
I’m willing to bet that waddell shopped Kari around all summer, but no other teams wanted to take the risk… that’s why we had so many goalies come try out…
hope Kari can get back, he’s going to have to work damn hard to get back in the lineup.
It says he will be out 8 weeks, so he will be ready to play again sometime in January. Spend 2 weeks in the AHL, back practicing with the team 1st of February. Ready to start a fair share of games on our playoff run this spring.
I want Kari to be part of the team’s success.
Rabnnod,
The organization didn’t tell him to have surgury untill 2 days before he actually had the surgury. Why did they wait? That’s the question.
Heal up Fin!
wishing Kari a full and speedy recovery
And here I as hoping to be able to watch fin vs fin hockey match on the 9th of December. Oh well. Hope he gets better soon.
Bye bye, Doughboy
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