Player Discussion Artturi Lehkonen Part 2

KevSkillz4

Registered User
Apr 11, 2016
6,825
10,960
When KK is going to be a top 6 minute player, Lehkonen - Danault - Evans//Gallagher could be a amazing force at 3rd line.
 

ChesterNimitz

governed by the principle of calculated risk
Jul 4, 2002
5,012
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An absolute force yesterday again, I know his finishing abilities suck most days, but he is so valuable
His strong skating presents him with more scoring chances than players with lesser skating abilities will never get. One of our best defensive plays is when any of our players has the puck and are taking shots. Lehkonen came within a couple of inches of scoring on Fleury taking one of those non - finishing chances.
 

Hector Salamanca

Registered User
Jul 20, 2013
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Qc
His strong skating presents him with more scoring chances than players with lesser skating abilities will never get. One of our best defensive plays is when any of our players has the puck and are taking shots. Lehkonen came within a couple of inches of scoring on Fleury taking one of those non - finishing chances.

He's frustrating cause he can convert the load of chance his staking/awareness give him. It a very good problem to have. His "approche au porteur" is just ridiculous, he always take the good angle.

I really hope we can lock him for 6 years at a decent price tag. He's a really valuable asset and can play on any lane + so good on the pk.

I was playing the game the same way when I was a winger back then, maybe it why I like him so much.
 

ChesterNimitz

governed by the principle of calculated risk
Jul 4, 2002
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The funny thing is, I saw a ton of him in his Frolunda days and he was quite a decent finisher there. He really changed his style when he came over to north america, which in a lot of ways is a credit to his smarts .
I went to see Lehkonen play at the WJC when it was last held in Toronto. I came away unimpressed as he was one of slowest players on the ice. I remember thinking to myself: another squandered draft choice. Then I learned he was playing with a damaged ankle which severely limited his skating. Shows you how capricious scouting can be.
 

Vachon23

Registered User
Oct 14, 2015
17,971
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Victoriaville
I went to see Lehkonen play at the WJC when it was last held in Toronto. I came away unimpressed as he was one of slowest players on the ice. I remember thinking to myself: another squandered draft choice. Then I learned he was playing with a damaged ankle which severely limited his skating. Shows you how capricious scouting can be.
And he had a mononucléose a little bit before if my memory is good
 

ChesterNimitz

governed by the principle of calculated risk
Jul 4, 2002
5,012
10,111
He's frustrating cause he can convert the load of chance his staking/awareness give him. It a very good problem to have. His "approche au porteur" is just ridiculous, he always take the good angle.

I really hope we can lock him for 6 years at a decent price tag. He's a really valuable asset and can play on any lane + so good on the pk.

I was playing the game the same way when I was a winger back then, maybe it why I like him so much.
If we don’t protect him in the upcoming expansion draft they should rescind Bergevin’s GM of the year award if he wins it this year.
 

Leon Lucius Black

Registered User
Nov 5, 2007
15,741
5,251
He's frustrating cause he can convert the load of chance his staking/awareness give him. It a very good problem to have. His "approche au porteur" is just ridiculous, he always take the good angle.

I really hope we can lock him for 6 years at a decent price tag. He's a really valuable asset and can play on any lane + so good on the pk.

I was playing the game the same way when I was a winger back then, maybe it why I like him so much.

Lehkonen is a good guy to lock up longer term if it can be at a reasonable price. He's still young enough that maybe things click and he can be a 20 goal guy, if he doesn't progress offensively he's still an excellent defensive player who can put up 20-30 points at ES.
 

EXPOS123

Registered User
Jun 29, 2010
1,417
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Lehkonen is a good guy to lock up longer term if it can be at a reasonable price. He's still young enough that maybe things click and he can be a 20 goal guy, if he doesn't progress offensively he's still an excellent defensive player who can put up 20-30 points at ES.
The problem, just like Danault, is at what amount? Anything more than 3 million for a third line player , let alone for TWO, and you are just shooting yourself in the foot capwise as i firmly believe you need to prioritize your spending on your top 6 forwards and top 4 d first and whatever is left over is to fill the rest. Lehks is nothing more than average...and there are a lot of average players you can get out there at reasonable amount for your third and fourth lines.

Unless, of course, your top 6 is comprised of superstar youths that are still on their ELC's or early cheap contracts, a la Rangers, then you have a limited window where you can overspend on bottom 6 guys.
 

Leon Lucius Black

Registered User
Nov 5, 2007
15,741
5,251
The problem, just like Danault, is at what amount? Anything more than 3 million for a third line player , let alone for TWO, and you are just shooting yourself in the foot capwise as i firmly believe you need to prioritize your spending on your top 6 forwards and top 4 d first and whatever is left over is to fill the rest. Lehks is nothing more than average...and there are a lot of average players you can get out there at reasonable amount for your third and fourth lines.

Unless, of course, your top 6 is comprised of superstar youths that are still on their ELC's or early cheap contracts, a la Rangers, then you have a limited window where you can overspend on bottom 6 guys.

Scott Laughton is a similar type of player who is better offensively, plus he can play C and he got $3M a year for 5 years. If we could sign Lehkonen for a longer term deal around his current cap hit of $2.4M, I would be okay with it given he play both wings and slide up and down the line-up.
 

Natey

GOATS
Aug 2, 2005
62,295
8,429
The most frustrating thing about Lehkonen is that I'm fairly sure that his lack of goal scoring is almost entirely mental. I don't think its fixable, but he'd be such a great player if he could just shoot better.
He'd also cost an arm and a leg.
 

Vachon23

Registered User
Oct 14, 2015
17,971
20,722
Victoriaville
The problem, just like Danault, is at what amount? Anything more than 3 million for a third line player , let alone for TWO, and you are just shooting yourself in the foot capwise as i firmly believe you need to prioritize your spending on your top 6 forwards and top 4 d first and whatever is left over is to fill the rest. Lehks is nothing more than average...and there are a lot of average players you can get out there at reasonable amount for your third and fourth lines.

Unless, of course, your top 6 is comprised of superstar youths that are still on their ELC's or early cheap contracts, a la Rangers, then you have a limited window where you can overspend on bottom 6 guys.
I would pay my 3rd line C defensive specialist before my #4 winger
 

Natey

GOATS
Aug 2, 2005
62,295
8,429
Scott Laughton is a similar type of player who is better offensively, plus he can play C and he got $3M a year for 5 years. If we could sign Lehkonen for a longer term deal around his current cap hit of $2.4M, I would be okay with it given he play both wings and slide up and down the line-up.
$20M for 8 years! Do it up, Marc!
 
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abo9

Registered User
Jun 25, 2017
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The funny thing is, I saw a ton of him in his Frolunda days and he was quite a decent finisher there. He really changed his style when he came over to north america, which in a lot of ways is a credit to his smarts .

Could it have been caused by our poor development from when he first joined the team? He's still a great bottom-liner but if he could finish as well, could be worth a top 6 presence
 

Archijerej

Registered User
Jan 17, 2005
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Poland
With all his limitations as a finisher, how many players have more even strength + shorthanded goals during his time here? I'm guessing not many.
 

26Mats

Registered User
Jun 23, 2018
31,737
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I hope we go with a shutdown trio of Lehkonen-Danault-Evans moving forward.

Load up the top 6 offensively. Toffoli, Suzuki, Caufield, Kk, Gallagher are all responsible defensively. Just got to find one more player like them. Josh Anderson? Landeskog? Hall?

Also re-sign the entire "4th" line.
 

Archijerej

Registered User
Jan 17, 2005
8,414
7,886
Poland
Could it have been caused by our poor development from when he first joined the team? He's still a great bottom-liner but if he could finish as well, could be worth a top 6 presence
He is not, and never was, a bottom line forward. He's a middle-6 defensive winger. Ideally, you play him on your 3rd line, but there's nothing wrong with having him as a 3rd wheel on your 2nd line.

I think people underestimate the depth we've accumulated at the wing position.
 

Redux91

I do Three bullets.
Sep 5, 2006
45,033
38,686
Kirkland, Montreal
I hope we go with a shutdown trio of Lehkonen-Danault-Evans moving forward.

Load up the top 6 offensively. Toffoli, Suzuki, Caufield, Kk, Gallagher are all responsible defensively. Just got to find one more player like them. Josh Anderson? Landeskog? Hall?

Also re-sign the entire "4th" line.

Was just telling my buddy this too, that would be a true shutdown line, maybe the best in the league, Gallaghers doing ok there but would much rather him elsewhere maybe next to KK
 

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