Earlier this week, Mikko Lehtonen, was suspended by the Columbus Blue Jackets and placed on waivers for failing to report to the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Mikko has had a great career, regarding his time with the KHL, but it never really transferred into the NHL player and career it was supposed to be for him. Mikko was placed on waivers, cleared the waivers, and then never showed up to Cleveland, after failing to make the Blue Jackets roster out of training camp. This move forced the Blue Jackets to suspend Lehtonen. Along with being suspended, he is now on unconditional waivers.

Mikko was picked from the Toronto Maple Leafs in March of this year. He had 0 goals, 3 assists and 3 points during the course of 17 games with Columbus during last season. In his time with NHL, He played in 26 games, with 0 goals, 6 assists, and 6 points. He is a Defenseman who shoots left, who comes from Finland. During this past off-season, the Blue Jackets signed Mikko to a 1 year contract worth $900,000.

Players get sent to the minor league for development. This was a semi-hefty contract and he didn’t show up, because, more than likely he was sent to the Cleveland Monsters, which is the AHL team for the Blue Jackets.

-Samantha Wismer- Phantoms of the Spectrum/Olde City Sports Network