What Flyers see in Jori Lehtera, the exception to NHL’s prototype

PHILADELPHIA — Players who don’t come over to the NHL until later in their 20s often find they need to make an adjustment to stay.

Jori Lehtera’s was that he wasn’t going to be a point producer. In Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League he was nearly a point-per-game player and in the NHL he peaked early with 44 points in 75 games in his first season with the St. Louis Blues.

“The last couple years I’ve been starting to take pride in winning battles, putting pucks in the smart spots and doing that kind of stuff,” he said. “It’s more when you get older and look to hockey in another way…seven years ago I wouldn’t have been able to do that.”

Lehtera hasn’t scored more than 10 goals since his first season, perhaps a reason the Blues were so eager to trade him to Philadelphia at the draft along with two first-round draft picks for Brayden Schenn. At age 30, it’s unlikely he finally finds a scoring touch.

The Flyers have still found value in him and it rarely translates onto the scoresheet. He is among their best forwards in battling along the boards for possession of the puck. Thursday night against Toronto was Lehtera’s fifth consecutive game, his longest stretch since playing a dozen straight from Oct. 19 to Nov. 14.

“He’s a really reliable player that thinks the game well,” coach Dave Hakstol said. “He’s reliable and real heavy on pucks. That goes unnoticed. He creates turnovers defensively with his intelligence and his stick. Offensively, he creates possession with very good little plays. Heavy plays on the forecheck. All kinds of small area plays.”

If scoring were expanded to a third assist, Lehtera would be credited as more of a playmaker. His ability to create open space for teammates is stronger than his passing skill and certainly his shot.

He won’t win a foot race for the puck, but might stick his rear end into a defender and be able to dish the puck to a teammate trailing the play.

“It’s been really fun to play with him, to be honest,” center Scott Laughton said. “To be in the offensive zone, he creates stuff off the cycle and makes little five-foot plays. He sees the ice really well. He’s a really well-liked guy in the room too, which helps. I’ve really enjoyed it.”

And clearly Hakstol values him despite the fact that, “his game isn’t based on having that fifth gear.” He has seen playing time over rookies Taylor Leier and Tyrell Goulbourne and the coach points to Lehtera’s defensive play as a reason why. According to hockey-reference.com, Lehtera had started in his defensive zone 51.3 percent of his shifts which is the highest in his career.

Lehtera has seen time on the penalty kill as well as the power play, where he was also the net-front presence for the Blues. The special teams minutes have helped him too. Often times the players who only go out at even strength struggle with the inconsistency of when they’re on the ice.

The NHL has changed in such a way that speed is valued over size and Lehtera has survived despite being the exception to the rule.

“When the goals and assists and points and those kinds of thing happen, they happen and you’re gonna get more self-confidence,” Lehtera said, “but for now I’m kind of happy how I’m playing without the points, winning battles and playing smart.”

Loose Pucks

Goulbourne returned to the lineup for the Flyers after sitting out Tuesday’s game against the Rangers. He replaced Leier, who was one of few Flyers to play well in that game. … The game time was delayed more than an hour Thursday night for the ceremony honoring Eric Lindros. His No. 88 was retired by the Flyers and now hangs in the rafters of Wells Fargo Center. … Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson, son of ex-Flyer Kjell and possible first-round pick in this summer’s draft, committed to playing at the University of Western Michigan. Mattias’ brother Lukas already plays there.

Dave Isaac; @davegisaac; 856-486-2479; disaac@gannett.com

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