Lehkonen, 27, combined with Montreal and Colorado to set career highs in goals (19) and points (38) in 2021-22. Acquired from the Canadiens at the trade deadline, Lehkonen made his Avalanche debut on March 29 at Calgary and recorded nine points (6g/3a) in 16 regular-season contests for the Avalanche.
In the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Lehkonen recorded 14 points (8g/6a) in 20 games, all postseason career highs, and finished tied for fourth on the team in goals. He led the NHL with four game-winning goals, including the series-clinching goal 79 seconds into overtime to beat the Oilers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final and the game-winning marker in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay to secure the Stanley Cup for Colorado. Lehkonen, who also netted the series clinching OT goal for Montreal to send them to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, became the second player in NHL history-and first in 83 years-to score an overtime goal to put his team into the Stanley Cup Final multiple times in his career (Gordie Drillon, Game 3 of the 1938 Semifinal and Game 3 of the 1939 Semifinal).
"Artturi was a great fit to our team last season and obviously played an essential role in our championship run," said Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland. "He is incredibly versatile, can play anywhere up and down the lineup. He has a non-stop motor and never takes a shift off. He's really smart, highly competitive, knows his role no matter what is asked of him. Getting length and term for a player of his quality was a top offseason priority and we're thrilled to have him for the next five years."
Selected by Montreal in the second round (55th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Lehkonen has totaled 158 points (80g/78a) in 412 career NHL contests with the Canadiens and Avalanche. He has collected 26 points (14g/12a) in 53 total playoff contests.
Prior to coming to North America, the 5-foot-11, 179-pound left wing played two seasons in the Swedish Hockey League from 2014-16, totaling 49 points (24g/25a) in 96 contests for Frolunda and added 25 points (14g/11a) in a combined 29 playoff games. He paced the league in playoff points (19) and goals (11) in 2016 to help Frolunda capture the SHL championship. Lehkonen's 19 points surpassed Daniel Alfredsson to set a Frolunda team record for playoff points in a season.
The Piikkio, Finland, native also played three seasons in Finland's top professional league (Liiga) from 2011-14, collecting 54 points (23g/31a) in 96 contests for KalPa and TPS.
Internationally, Lehkonen helped Finland capture gold at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, serving as an alternate captain and recording four points (2g/2a) in six games. He also represented his country at the 2013 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, leading the team in assists (6) and points (9) to help Finland win bronze.
