Flyers' Lehtera charged in drug-ring case

Philadelphia Flyers forward Jori Lehtera was charged Monday with buying drugs from a cocaine distribution ring in his native Finland, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Tricia L. Nadolny.

Lehtera is accused of buying eight grams of cocaine over the summer, and prosecutors are seeking a five-month sentence, as first reported by Finnish news outlet MTV.

"We understand Lehtera plans to contest the charges," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email to the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac. "No current intention to intervene (by the NHL)."

Lehtera is one of more than 20 defendants in the case, according to the Finnish report.

The 31-year-old told The Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi on Monday that he is innocent of all charges, reiterating his stance from September that he hasn't "done anything wrong."

Lehtera is currently traveling with the Flyers, who will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.

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