ATLANTA (AP)—The Atlanta Thrashers have assigned goalie Kari Lehtonen(notes) to Chicago of the American Hockey League for conditioning as he comes back from two back operations.

Lehtonen has yet to play this season. He had surgery in July to repair a herniated disc, then another procedure in November to relieve pressure to nerve roots in his back.

Ondrej Pavelec(notes) and Johan Hedberg(notes) have shared the net duties while Atlanta’s former No. 1 goalie recovers. Lehtonen was assigned to Chicago on Friday.