Trending: Avalanche Star Player Is Fully Back For….
General manager Chris MacFarland said on Thursday that forward Artturi Lehkonen of the Colorado Avalanche will have a shoulder operation the following week. Lehkonen scored one goal in each of the team’s five games during their first-round series victory over the Winnipeg Jets, but he was limited to only one goal in their six-game Western Conference semifinal loss to the Dallas Stars. Lehkonen, 28, had 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 45 games during the regular season before recording 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 11 playoff games. In 521 games with the Montreal Canadiens and Avalanche, the native of Finland has accumulated 243 points (117 goals, 126 assists). In 2022, he won the Stanley Cup with Colorado after being picked by the Canadiens in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft.
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I discussed two critical issues that the Colorado Avalanche is currently facing in my previous post, and they were discussed at a press conference this morning.
For more than forty minutes, team captain Gabriel Landeskog and general manager Chris MacFarland spoke to the media and took questions.
The first was that Landeskog was not retiring and planned to play again between September and November of 2024. The second piece of information was that Valeri Nichushkin might play again the next season.
In brief, this morning the Avalanche had some very significant news.
However, at the press conference this morning, topics other than those two were covered.At the conclusion of his conference, Chris MacFarland also took a few minutes to address Jonathan Drouin’s contract status. This summer, he could become an unrestricted free agent.
The general manager of the Avalanche said that reaching a deal with Drouin would not be difficult at this time and that he will undoubtedly communicate with the Quebecer’s camp in the upcoming days.
From the surface, this is encouraging and comforting news for Drouin, who is obviously eager to sign a new deal in Colorado.
The Avalanche don’t have much room on their salary, especially if Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin return for the upcoming campaign. This presents a challenge for the former Montreal Canadien. The Avalanche presently have about $16 million left over after paying Nichushkin’s six-month suspension, leaving them with nothing on the payroll.
Colorado’s payroll will increase by slightly over $6 million should he resume playing following this ban.
Therefore, MacFarland will need to add about $10 million to his team if the Avalanche want to maintain some cap space in case both Landeskog and Nichushkin return.
With just four defenseman and seven forwards (without Landeskog and Nichushkin) signed for the upcoming year, MacFarland will need to add a number of players to contracts that pay relatively little each year.
Returning to Drouin, he will almost certainly need to accept a contract at a reduced cost if he wishes to play for the Avalanche again next season.
At that point, it will be evident whether the Quebec native is set on rejoining the Avalanche or opting to explore his options as a free agency.
In order to complete his club, MacFarland will undoubtedly use the 10% of salary cap excess that was set aside during the off-season. The team also needs to attempt to re-sign Casey Mittlestadt, a restricted free agent and its major trade deadline acquisition.
In summary, Mikko Rantanen may become a free agency next summer, therefore it will be interesting to observe the Colorado situation.
With one year remaining on his $9.25 million contract, he will undoubtedly request a pay raise.
Maybe MacFarland will try to get him to sign a longer contract right now.
