Lasse Kukkonen

Lasse Kukkonen is a Finnish defenseman on the Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

Kukkonen was drafted in 2003 by the Chicago Blackhawks. He spent five years playing in the Finnish Sm-liiga with HIFK and Karpat. He played 10 games that season for Chicago. After the lockout, Kukkonen remained in Finland for an additional season. Kukkonen returned to play for the Blackhawks for one more season, before being traded to the Flyers in 2007. In Philadelphia, Kukkonen was paired with Joni Pitkanen, who he had skated with as defensive partners for a number of years in Finland. After two years in the Flyers' organization, Kukkonen made his KHL debut with Avangard Omsk, scoring 12 points and 34 points in 53 games. He was acquired by Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2010.

Kukkonen won a silver medal with the Finnish national team at the 2006 Turin Olympics. He was called up to play when Sami Salo was injured, and participated in the medal rounds of the tournament.