The Dallas Stars have signed goalie Kari Lehtonen to a five-year contract extension worth $29.5 million the team said Friday.
The deal is worth $5.9 million per year through the 2017-18 NHL season.
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Lehtonen, 28, concluded his eighth NHL season in 2011-12, earning a 32-22-4 record with a .922 save percentage, a 2.33 goals against average and four shutouts in 59 games. Earlier in the season, he became the first goaltender in Dallas Stars history to win seven consecutive games to start a season and finished the campaign allowing two-or-fewer goals in 37 of his 59 games. He was named the NHL's Second Star of October after posting an 8-1-0 record with a .947 SV% and a 1.75 GAA.
"Kari Lehtonen has worked extremely hard in his time with the Dallas Stars to establish himself as an elite goaltender in the NHL," said General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk. "We believe that his best days as a goaltender are ahead, and that his work ethic and leadership will help guide this team into a perennial Stanley Cup contender."
The 6-foot-4, 217-pound goaltender is entering his fourth season as a member of the Dallas Stars. In his time with the team, Lehtonen has tied or set career highs in games played (69), wins (34), save percentage (.922), goals against average (2.33) and minutes played (4,119). He owns two of the top-three franchise records for most saves in a single season (2010-11 & 2011-12), and has the franchise record for most assists in a single season (6 in 2010-11).
