Jere Lehtinen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey player who played for the Dallas Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL) for his entire career. He was known for his two-way play, strong defensive skills, and ability to score goals. Lehtinen was a versatile player who could play both center and right wing positions.
Lehtinen began his professional career in Finland with TPS Turku in 1991. He quickly established himself as a top player in the Finnish Elite League, winning the league championship in 1993 and 1995. In 1995, Lehtinen was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the first round, 24th overall.
Lehtinen made his NHL debut in the 1995-96 season and quickly became a key player for the Stars. He was known for his strong defensive play and was often used on the penalty kill. He also had a knack for scoring timely goals and was a consistent point producer throughout his career.
In the 1998-99 season, Lehtinen helped lead the Stars to their first Stanley Cup championship. He scored 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 playoff games and was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most valuable player of the playoffs. Lehtinen's strong two-way play was a key factor in the Stars' success that season.
Lehtinen continued to be a top player for the Stars throughout the 2000s. He was named to the NHL All-Star Game three times and won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward in 2002 and 2006. Lehtinen was also a member of the Finnish national team and won a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Injuries began to take a toll on Lehtinen in the later years of his career. He missed significant time due to various injuries and was forced to retire in 2010 at the age of 37. Lehtinen finished his NHL career with 243 goals and 271 assists for 514 points in 875 games.
Lehtinen was known as a quiet and humble player who let his play on the ice do the talking. He was respected by his teammates and opponents alike for his work ethic and dedication to the game. Lehtinen's strong two-way play and ability to score goals made him one of the best players of his era and a key contributor to the success of the Dallas Stars.
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