One of the Colorado Avalanche’s core players, Artturi Lehkonen, is now eligible for a new contract extension as of July 1st. His last five-year contract at $4.5 million per year will end after the 2026–27 season. Lehkonen’s contributions prove vital for the Avalanche, affecting scoring and special teams alike. With Cale Makar’s contract due to expire, it could affect how much the Finn could make in the end. Here, we will draw a comparison and see what Lehkonen could be worth starting next season.

What Lehkonen did last season

Lehkonen had one of the best seasons of his career behind the 2022–23 season (51 points). He came up short of his career high by only three points (48 points). But he could have reached his career high, but a late-season injury cost him three weeks in March. Like most of the Avalanche, all but two points were on at even-strength. Lehkonen was vital for getting into the crease and slipping in late-game goals. Several of Lehkonen’s career highlights include overtime playoff goals to send his team to the Stanley Cup Finals. He even tacked on a bronze medal for Team Finland during the Olympics this year.

Comparable

Over the last few years, Lehkonen has been a key part of the top-six for the Avalanche. The 31-year-old can play on both the first and second-line, the power play and the penalty kill. He is the ultimate Swiss Army knife that has become all too important for the Avalanche. The best comparison in the NHL to Lehkonen would be Brandon Hagel of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Hagel signed his last contract almost three years ago, when teams weren’t sure the cap was going to go up. The Canadian has a salary cap hit of $6.5 million per year. Hagel does not have a Stanley Cup to his credit, like Lehkonen does either. Figuring in Lehkonen’s age and experience, expect Lehkonen to get an offer of five years and in the neighborhood of $8 million.

The figure of $8 million along with the contract for Cale Makar won’t leave much breathing room in the cap. The Avalanche must rely on promising young talent emerging from their system. Either way, it would be a huge mistake not to give Lehkonen a contract extension and keep him in Denver.