Avs nightmare: Mere days before trade deadline, an injury is confirmed for Artturi Lehkonen
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Artturi Lehkonen exited Monday's game in the first period. This hands head coach Jared Bednar a massive roster headache just days before the trade deadline.
Colorado is already pondering his options ahead of the trade deadline. Losing a top-six winger with a $4.5 million cap hit changes the math for general manager Chris MacFarland.
The Avalanche PR team has no immediate update on the injury. We will not know the exact severity until team doctors complete an efficient evaluation.
Lehkonen was having an excellent campaign. With 42 points through 57 games, his offensive output is a big reason why Colorado remains highly competitive.
The March 6th NHL trade deadline is now looming large. Teams must submit their final rosters by Friday afternoon.
Bednar relies heavily on Lehkonen across all situations. He averages 19:01 of ice time and consistently faces the toughest matchups.
He is not just a scoring threat. The Finnish winger boasts a +31 rating and anchors the penalty kill with absolute certainty.
Avalanche Deadline Plans Scrambled
If Lehkonen misses significant time, Colorado will need to find a replacement on the market immediately. The free agent pool is empty, making a trade mandatory.
They have roughly $8.7 million in workable cap space if they shuffle things around. A long-term injury reserve placement would open up options.
Career-wise, Lehkonen has been remarkably durable in the playoffs. He delivers clutch goals when the pressure reaches its peak.
The Avalanche went minus-3 in goal differential during a brief slump last month and were held scoreless twice without key depth forwards. They cannot afford to let their secondary scoring dry up now.
Expect MacFarland to work the phones aggressively today. He needs a contingency plan if the medical imaging reveals structural damage.
Rival general managers know Colorado is desperate. The asking price for a rental winger just went up significantly across the league.
Bednar must adapt his line combinations right away. We will likely see bottom-six guys promoted to fill the void during the current homestand.
Everything hinges on the medical report. The next 72 hours will define the rest of the season for the Colorado Avalanche.
Also read on Blade of steel :
First big trade of the deadline frenzy is completed and Elliotte Friedman spills the details
First big trade of the deadline frenzy is completed and Elliotte Friedman spills the details
| POLL | ||
MARS 2|112 ANSWERS Avs nightmare: Mere days before trade deadline, an injury is confirmed for Artturi Lehkonen Will the Avalanche trade for a replacement winger? | ||
| Yes | 88 | 78.6 % |
| No | 24 | 21.4 % |
| List of polls | ||