The Montreal Canadiens traded forward Artturi Lehkonen to the Colorado Avalanche for young defenseman Justin Barron and a 2024 second-round pick.
Lehkonen is enjoying what is shaping up to be the most productive season of his career. The 26-year-old Finn has registered 13 goals and 16 assists in 58 games since the start of the campaign.
He could become a restricted free agent this summer and is eligible for arbitration. Lehkonen could therefore command a serious salary increase compared to the US$2.3 million he receives this season.
Lehkonen has 74 goals and 75 assists in 396 games with the Canadiens, who drafted him in the second round, 55th overall, in 2013.
For his part, Barron, who is 20, played his first two NHL games this season, but was cleared from the scoresheet. He had five goals and 15 assists in 43 games with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League.
The Halifax native was selected in the first round by the Avalanche in 2020, 25th overall. Barron helped Canada win silver at the World Junior Championship in 2021.
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