Confirmed with Link: Artturi Lehkonen (50% Retained) Traded to Colorado for a 2024 2nd Round Pick & Justin Barron

[BaseballCoach]

It isn't a mistake.

I'm happy he's gone, happy with the retirn and happy he found a more suitable home where he is successful.

I'm not "happy" Lekky's gone, but I understand why Hugo had to trade some of our most valuable contracts in order to become cap-compliant while getting futures in return, because the previous BOZO managed to give us a last place team that was way over the cap.

In an ideal world, we would have Chiarot instead of Petry, Lehkonen instead of Byron, Danault instead of Gallagher, Perry instead of Hoffman, Kulak instead of Savard.

But by and large, the contracts with less value were not sought after, and the status quo was untenable.

 

[Tyson]

Lehks is the type of player you win with and we were put in a position to have to move an important player.
That's what mismanagement from the previous idiots has done.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Lehks is the type of player you win with and we were put in a position to have to move an important player.
That's what mismanagement from the previous idiots has done.

How important was he though?

I mean, he’s a good support player but he was never going to carry the day here. He’s perfect for the Avs because he gives them some depth. We’re not winning anything here anyway…

You aren’t going to get good returns by giving away trash. You have to give to get. I think it’s a great trade.

 

[sharknado]

How important was he though?

I mean, he’s a good support player but he was never going to carry the day here. He’s perfect for the Avs because he gives them some depth. We’re not winning anything here anyway…

You aren’t going to get good returns by giving away trash. You have to give to get. I think it’s a great trade.

He isn't the type to score a ton of goals but his defensive play is very hard to replace. He also gives 1000% on every shift no matter what the score is. Evans might be able to be like Leky defensively but it may take a while. Happy for Leky for scoring again in OT. And that pass to Mckinnon for the tying goal was wow.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

He isn't the type to score a ton of goals but his defensive play is very hard to replace. He also gives 1000% on every shift no matter what the score is. Evans might be able to be like Leky defensively but it may take a while. Happy for Leky for scoring again in OT. And that pass to Mckinnon for the tying goal was wow.

Okay, but we’re a last place team. He wasn’t going to move the needle here. With the Avs he can actually help to contribute towards something.

We’re way better off trading for a kid who will likely be a top four blueliner for years to come.

Suzuki is an important player to us. Same with CC. We’re building around them. We weren’t going to build around Lek. He’s in his prime now… why waste it here?

I like the guy but this trade makes perfect sense.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Lehkonen clearly has more to show now that he is playing with talent around him. So many Habs fans threw him under the bus over the years cause his inability to finish and also ignored how we bounced in all over the line-up.

Good trade for both sides. Habs got younger and allowed Lehkonen to play on a contender for his prime years. By the time the Habs youth core is in prime years, Lehkonen will be in his 30's.

Similar situation to Anderson. I think he has even slightly more value than Lehkonen. So yeah, if you want him, offer something we can't refuse and we will consider it. Lehkonen was going nowhere if we didn't get the Barron plus pick offer.

 

[Tuggy]

I look at this trade, at the time and in hindsight, and it's just a case of a good trade for both teams.

Avs got a type of player they needed and the Habs got a nice defensive prospect.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Lehkonen clearly has more to show now that he is playing with talent around him. So many Habs fans threw him under the bus over the years cause his inability to finish and also ignored how we bounced in all over the line-up.

Good trade for both sides. Habs got younger and allowed Lehkonen to play on a contender for his prime years. By the time the Habs youth core is in prime years, Lehkonen will be in his 30's.

Similar situation to Anderson. I think he has even slightly more value than Lehkonen. So yeah, if you want him, offer something we can't refuse and we will consider it. Lehkonen was going nowhere if we didn't get the Barron plus pick offer.

I loved Leky’s work ethic. He’d look so amazing and then would miss the net by five feet. used to drive me crazy.

But he’s improved and I’ll never forget the Vegas series winner. For such an unclutch guy it was awesome to see him score the most clutch goal in thirty years.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[FinPanda]

Lehkonen's value can't be measured by just stat watching. He brings so much more on the table. You want players like Lehkonen. Some other may have similar skill set but its just not the same.

 

[MasterD]

I'm going to miss Lehkonen, always liked him even if his offensive production wasn't always where we'd have liked it to be.

But he's not a guy we need now. Very happy with the return we got.

 

[Whitesnake]

Lehkonen clearly has more to show now that he is playing with talent around him. So many Habs fans threw him under the bus over the years cause his inability to finish and also ignored how we bounced in all over the line-up.

Good trade for both sides. Habs got younger and allowed Lehkonen to play on a contender for his prime years. By the time the Habs youth core is in prime years, Lehkonen will be in his 30's.

Similar situation to Anderson. I think he has even slightly more value than Lehkonen. So yeah, if you want him, offer something we can't refuse and we will consider it. Lehkonen was going nowhere if we didn't get the Barron plus pick offer.

The good trade on both sides will be known when we will know the real value of Justin Barron. Right now, it has the appearance of a good trade on both sides. But the REALITY is that right now is a great trade on one side. Our side needs to be determined.

 

[Retired]

He isn't the type to score a ton of goals but his defensive play is very hard to replace. He also gives 1000% on every shift no matter what the score is. Evans might be able to be like Leky defensively but it may take a while. Happy for Leky for scoring again in OT. And that pass to Mckinnon for the tying goal was wow.

They’re the same age, and I remember Lehkonen as a guy always playing like it’s his last game and is getting the puck. There are plenty of big moments that came of it too. Better skills and drive then Evans for sure. It would usually end in a resounding bang of a puck off glass behind the goalie or a pass to average players, but he kept me interested!

I only remember one Evans play ever and we’re all trying to forget it. I understand the trade, but I liked his play more so than all but two hab forwards. Hoping Barron works out.

Edit - it’s interesting how the habs are drafting a center who may have benefitted from watching this guy think and skate concurrently

 

[Habs Halifax]

The good trade on both sides will be known when we will know the real value of Justin Barron. Right now, it has the appearance of a good trade on both sides. But the REALITY is that right now is a great trade on one side. Our side needs to be determined.

True and it comes down to what Barron develops into but he's on a very good development track. The other angle is how much the Avs got to pay Lehkonen this summer. Performance vs cap hit with Lehkonen moving forward is also not a sure shot value.

 

[Xspyrit]

Edit : Oops, didn't see we were on the Habs board, just assumed it was the main boards. My post is more from "the Avs angle"

What a smart trade by Sakic. Most important acquisition since Nichushkin (and Kadri just before). The kind of addition that helps them get over the hump. Sakic probably just bought a Stanley Cup.

Barron could be a solid 2nd pairing D-man but it's not like the Avs desperately needed him with Makar, Toews, Byram and Girard. Plus, Lehkonen is RFA so they still have some control after the season. They can either re-sign for more cup runs or trade him to recoup the value spent, or more.

Like it's been sad that we haven't been able to make fun of Andrew Shaw much the last few years.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I loved Leky’s work ethic. He’d look so amazing and then would miss the net by five feet. used to drive me crazy.

But he’s improved and I’ll never forget the Vegas series winner. For such an unclutch guy it was awesome to see him score the most clutch goal in thirty years.

He's 26 and there are a lot of players that show their true potential from age 25-30 years. Seems like his maturity/experience has come to this point. I think the Avs get good value depending on what they got to pay him for a raise this summer.

Player confidence is a big deal. Lehkonen will have more of it with the Avs IMO.

Based on what Lehkonen has done with the Avs so far, what do you think his next contract will be?

 

[Beendair Donedat]

MacKinnon after the game last night on Lehkonen:
“I’d have traded 10 first rounders for him right now”

 

[Habs Halifax]

MacKinnon after the game last night on Lehkonen:
“I’d have traded 10 first rounders for him right now”

I wonder if HuGo tried to get conditions on the pick added on Barron. Imagine if we got a 1st if they reached cup finals? Maybe they tried and Sakic said no.

 

[DAChampion]

If Edmonton had acquired Lehkonen, how much more would they have needed to acquire to beat the Avs?

Would Lehkonen, Chiarot, Toffoli, and Allen have been enough?

 

[Habs Halifax]

If Edmonton had acquired Lehkonen, how much more would they have needed to acquire to beat the Avs?

Would Lehkonen, Chiarot, Toffoli, and Allen have been enough?

Very difficult to guess. Not sure. I think the Oilers best move moving forward is to shore up both the D and goaltending. It's not just the goalie. Their D got better but it's still not good enough IMO.

 

[habsfan92]

Lehk's -hard working, clean player. Always gives it his all. Hoping he gets to carry a cup. Pulling for him.
Seems other teams are learning what we already knew about him. Glad we traded him & now he has that opportunity.

 

[salbutera]

He's 26 and there are a lot of players that show their true potential from age 25-30 years. Seems like his maturity/experience has come to this point. I think the Avs get good value depending on what they got to pay him for a raise this summer.

Player confidence is a big deal. Lehkonen will have more of it with the Avs IMO.

Based on what Lehkonen has done with the Avs so far, what do you think his next contract will be?

I expect Avs will offer max term in exchange for AAV. $4M AAV / 7-8 years

If Edmonton had acquired Lehkonen, how much more would they have needed to acquire to beat the Avs?

Would Lehkonen, Chiarot, Toffoli, and Allen have been enough?

Lekhonen would be gangbusters next to McJesus & Drasaitl - as good as Hyman has been, Lekhonen’s speed + defensive awareness would make that a lights out line allowing the other two to take even more chances

 

[expy]

I wonder if HuGo tried to get conditions on the pick added on Barron. Imagine if we got a 1st if they reached cup finals? Maybe they tried and Sakic said no.

Cos Sakic knew what he was getting back.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The good trade on both sides will be known when we will know the real value of Justin Barron. Right now, it has the appearance of a good trade on both sides. But the REALITY is that right now is a great trade on one side. Our side needs to be determined.

It’s not the way I look at it. It’s a good trade based on what we know at the time.

Take for example this scenario: We trade Nick Suzuki for Connor McDavid. Great trade. Even if McDavid gets hit by a bus and never plays a game for us… it was a great trade.

Same thing here. We got a strong prospect and a pick. It’s possible neither pan out but it absolutely is a good trade based on our circumstances.

 

[expy]

It’s not the way I look at it. It’s a good trade based on what we know at the time.

Take for example this scenario: We trade Nick Suzuki for Connor McDavid. Great trade. Even if McDavid gets hit by a bus and never plays a game for us… it was a great trade.

Same thing here. We got a strong prospect and a pick. It’s possible neither pan out but it absolutely is a good trade based on our circumstances.

Your scenario doesn't really work out...

We knew what kind of player Lehkonen was, we don't know what kind of player Barron will become yet, and the player he is now doesn't match up in value to Lehkonen, and the pick, is just a pick.
McDavid vs Suzuki is a known quantity (generally, speaking, since Suzuki will still develop his game).