For the first time in over 20 years, the Colorado Avalanche are headed to the Stanley Cup Finals after Artturi Lehkonen became the newest hero of the Avs with his game-winning goal in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals series against the Edmonton Oilers. Lehkonen did not just booked the Avalanche a ticket to the grandest stage of the NHL, but also made Colorado's front office look incredibly good.
After all, Lehkonen was a trade deadline acquisition of the Avalanche, who gave up Justin Barron and a 2024 second-round pick. If it was up to Avs star Nathan MacKinnon, he'd trade way more than that for Lehkonen.
On Monday, MacKinnon said that was a fraction of what Lehkonen is worth.
“I'd trade 10 first-rounders for him right now,” MacKinnon joked.
Lehkonen is now a playoff hero for two NHL franchises. Last season, he scored the game-winning goal that sent the Cinderella-esque Montreal Canadiens to the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals. The Habs, however, were not able to win it all, as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat them in the final round.
Depending on what happens on the other side of the playoff bracket where the New York Rangers and the Lightning are still contending for the last ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals, Lehkonen could have another shot at Tampa Bay.
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