Artturi Lehkonen has given the Avalanche plenty to think about, and not much time to ignore it.
The Colorado forward is in the final season of a five-year deal carrying a $4.5 million cap hit, and he’s opened the year with 12 goals and 17 points in 16 games. That kind of production has him squarely in the conversation about whether he’s playing his way into a contract the Avalanche may have trouble matching.
Chris Johnston said Lehkonen’s start has been “a scorching start,” and pointed out that the winger is producing at a pace that’s hard to ignore even if it’s not sustainable. Johnston noted that Lehkonen is sitting on a 35% shooting percentage, adding, “You know, I don’t expect it to continue at that rate, nor should anyone.”
Still, the situation is bigger than the numbers alone. Lehkonen has landed in a prime role on Nathan MacKinnon’s top line, and Johnston said that’s “one of the best places in hockey you could find yourself.” That spot has helped fuel the strong start, and it’s happening at exactly the wrong time for Colorado from a cap standpoint.
What makes this tricky is that Lehkonen clearly wants to stay. Johnston said, “What I can tell you with certainty is Artturi Lehkonen would love to remain in Colorado.”
He added that the fit has been strong since Lehkonen arrived from Montreal, and credited him with playing a major part in the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup run a couple years ago. Johnston also described him as a player whose value goes beyond the box score, noting that he does things that help a team in ways that don’t always show up in the stats.
But wanting to stay and getting a deal done are two different things. Johnston said Colorado “haven’t made enough overtures to sign him to, to compel him for that to happen,” and that rising salaries around the league only complicate the picture. With Lehkonen off to a career-level pace through nearly a quarter of the season, the price tag could climb quickly.
Johnston compared the situation to Darren Raddysh in Tampa last year, when a breakout season pushed the player beyond what the team could reasonably pay. He said Lehkonen is a more established NHL player than Raddysh was, but the basic problem could be the same: the player wants to stay, the team wants to keep him, and the market may make it impossible.
The contract guesses are already all over the map. Johnston said he’s heard one suggestion of “three years times $7 million” on Lehkonen’s next deal, similar to what Mikhael Granlund got with the Anaheim Ducks. He’s also heard opinions that Lehkonen could land “above eight,” with an average annual value over $8 million.
That leaves the Avalanche with a decision to make if the numbers keep rising. Johnston said the team may have to consider whether a hometown discount is realistic, or whether stretching out the years could keep the AAV lower. For now, though, the only thing that seems certain is that Lehkonen has put himself in position for a major payday.
As Johnston put it, “he’s going to get a nice raise one way or another on his next deal.”
In Other News...
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What makes the story feel a little different is the personal layer underneath it. Blackwood has said he takes pride in representing the Avalanche, the team he grew up supporting, and that connection gives his run here a little extra weight beyond the numbers. He has already put together multiple notable shutout streaks in an Avalanche sweater, and with his name now climbing a franchise list that includes some familiar goaltending company, this early stretch is starting to look less like a hot start and more like the beginning of something memorable. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face A Tough Lehkonen Decision Before It Gets Harder
Artturi Lehkonen has become one of those Avalanche players whose value is easy to see and harder to keep. If Colorado decides his next contract would be too expensive to fit into the future, the front office could be forced into a difficult choice before the offseason even arrives, especially with a player who brings the kind of two-way reliability contenders tend to covet.
The market could make that decision even trickier. Chicago is reportedly looking for offensive help and might be willing to part with high draft picks for a player like Lehkonen, but there are no confirmed talks or deals between the clubs right now. Any potential move would also have to navigate Lehkonen's no-trade clause, which gives Colorado another layer to consider as it weighs whether to hold on or cash in. [Read more 🡒]