Canadiens move Lehkonen to Avalanche for 2nd-round pick, prospect

The Montreal Canadiens have traded forward Artturi Lehkonen to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2024 second-round pick and prospect Justin Barron, the teams announced Monday.

The Canadiens will retain 50% of Lehkonen's $2.3-million salary, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Lehkonen, 26, is a pending restricted free agent. He's notched 29 points in 58 games this season and is a highly effective two-way player.

Artturi Lehkonen, acquired by COL, is a hard-working forechecking middle-six winger who has elevated everybody he's played with this year to a ridiculous extent. Basically a Finnish Valeri Nichushkin. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/kuKdfLCZ5o

- JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 21, 2022

Barron is a 20-year-old right-shot defenseman selected 25th overall by the Avalanche in 2020. He represented Canada at the 2021 world juniors and has 20 points in 43 games for the AHL's Colorado Eagles this season.

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