Arrival of Jori Lehtera provides Blues with valuable depth at center
ST. LOUIS -- Paul Stastny may have gotten most of the attention this offseason as the sure thing to improve the Blues' depth at center, but Jori Lehtera will be the group's most intriguing X-factor.
His long-awaited NHL debut brings plenty of promise, considering all the success the 26-year-old from Finland had in the KHL the last four seasons. Lehtera had 44 points in 48 games a year ago, but he knows there will be something of an adjustment period.
"Of course, the rink is a little bit smaller here so there's not that much time with the puck," Lehtera says. "So you have to make your decisions much faster."
That should come with experience, and there's little doubt Lehtera has the technical ability to make the leap. He'll also be a good fit for the team's defensive style.
The Blues made an offer to sign their restricted free agent a year ago, and Lehtera turned them down. But by January, he says, he already knew he'd made a mistake.
Then in February at the Sochi Olympics, Lehtera had a conversation with Blues general manager Doug Armstrong, and the two would eventually begin contract negotiations. On the ice, Lehtera had five goals and five assists, including two helpers in Finland's 5-0 rout of Team USA for the bronze medal.
"It was the best players there, so that was good," Lehtera says. "I knew I could play in this league."
Work on the contract began early, and on July 1 Lehtera signed to play in St. Louis for two years and $5.5 million. That quickly got overshadowed by the Blues' signing of Stastny for a whopping four years, $28 million.
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Both have received a warm welcome from their new teammates, and Lehtera says he felt much more of a culture shock in Russia than when he finally moved to the US. He also has benefited from the presence of his former KHL teammate Vladimir Tarasenko.
"I think (there's) no problem here in the locker room," Lehtera says. "We'll see when the games start."
Coach Ken Hitchcock hasn't given any indication to his players what the Blues' lines will look like when training camp opens Friday, let alone the season opener Oct. 9. The center combinations will surely go through some changes, but it might be best to let the new guys, especially Lehtera, develop chemistry with a certain group.
Considering the circumstances of Lehtera's arrival, his presence feels almost like a bonus on a roster that had already filled a need by adding Stastny, a proven playmaker. If Lehtera, known as a great passer, can immediately add some solid numbers on the second or third line, it should be a significant boost for St. Louis.
You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter @FS_LukeT or email him at lukegthompson87@gmail.com.
