One of the topics we’ve discussed here at Mile High Sticking has been the potential Artturi Lehkonen issue looming at season’s end.
In particular, there’s a real threat that the Finnish forward has priced himself out of Colorado. And if that’s the case, there might be a good chance that the Avs could trade him before letting him walk for nothing in the offseason.
That thought process brings us to the Chicago Blackhawks. According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Hawks are looking to turn over stones to find scoring help. And they’re willing to give up valuable futures to do it.
“I do think the Blackhawks are trying to do something. I think they are, in particular, trying to find offensive help. So, they have five picks in the upcoming draft that are early. They have theirs, which is now looking like it’s going to be a pretty high pick again, they have Edmonton’s, they have Florida’s, and then they have their second-round pick, which looks like it’s going to be pretty, and they have Vancouver’s second-round pick.”
All right, so that’s two first-round picks and two second-round picks that are in play. Would the Avalanche consider a deal sending Lehkonen to Chicago for a first and a second-round pick? Perhaps another prospect to top off the package might be a good way to round out the deal.
If the Avs can get three solid pieces, plus clearing Lehkonen’s $4.5 million cap hit, that situation could open up several possibilities for the Avalanche come NHL trade deadline time.
Avalanche would need to act now in a deal with Chicago
It’s worth noting that Friedman stated the Blackhawks are looking to make a deal now. In other words, the organization is looking to stop the bleeding somehow. The goal is to find scoring wingers to play with Connor Bedard, and they want to make something happen now.
That’s why, if the Avalanche were to make a deal with their division rival, it would have to be sooner rather than later.
That said, there’s the question of Lehkonen’s 12-team no-trade clause. While the clause isn’t exactly shackling, it does reduce the likelihood of something happening. And if the Blackhawks just happen to be on Lehkonen’s trade list, well, that situation would make things even harder for the Avalanche to make that specific deal.
Lastly, it’s worth pointing out that this conversation is nothing more than hearsay. There’s nothing in the cards right now that the Avalanche and Blackhawks are talking about a deal involving Artturi Lehkonen. But there is a good chance that Chicago GM Kyle Davidson has looked at the rosters around the league, and has figured out that Lehkonen might just be available if the Avalanche feel they can’t keep him.
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