There has been so much talk about Artturi Lehkonen potentially becoming a trade target this season.
After all, the 31-year-old is in the final year of a five-year, $22.5 million deal signed in 2022.
And that’s what has made the Finnish star a possible trade chip. But when looking at his team-high 10 goals this season, it sort of makes you think that Lehkonen isn’t going anywhere.
The problem is that Lehkonen might have just priced himself out of Colorado.
Lehkonen signed his current contract in the middle of the flat-cap era. His cap hit was the going rate for top-line wingers, and, well, it looks like a ridiculous bargain right now.
Yes, Lehkonen is on the wrong side of 30. But you have to think that there are teams out there looking for a guy just like him.
So, the big question becomes: Can the Avalanche actually afford to keep Lehkonen?
That’s a pertinent question, especially with Cale Makar’s massive cap hit coming in next season.
Then again, the cost of trading Lehkonen may be much higher than what the Avalanche stand to get. That’s what essentially makes Lehkonen untradeable at this point for the Avalanche.
Replacing Artturi Lehkonen would be close to impossible for the Avalanche
So, let’s assume for a minute that Joe Sakic figures he’s not going to re-sign Lehkonen. As such, trading him is better than losing him for nothing over the summer.
All right, that opens up two vectors. The first: could the Avalanche realistically get something back that could amount to a Lehkonen replacement? There’s a real fat chance of that. If anything, the Avalanche could be looking at a futures-based package from a contending team.
And that’s just the thing. A rebuilding club might not be too interested in a guy like Lehkonen. A club like the San Jose Sharks, unless they think they can contend this season, won’t surrender a player like William Eklund for a rental.
That situation means that Colorado could be looking at teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, who might want some more depth. But they don’t have the wherewithal to cough up a young player the Avalanche could use to replace Lehkonen.
There’s also no one who could step up internally and take Lehkonen’s place in the lineup. Sure, T.J. Hughes looks enticing, but he’s not there yet.
Ultimately, Sakic won’t be moving Lehkonen. He’ll just keep him and sort out his contract situation in the summer. It’s a bit of a roll of the dice, but replacing Lehkonen would be much easier next offseason than now.
I wouldn’t completely rule out a trade, but it’s unlikely that someone will step up and make an offer so enticing that Sakic won’t be able to say no.
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