Player Discussion Artturi Lehkonen

[Andrei79]

I'll never understand why people just can't seem to accept a players limitations. He lacks finish, but hes got an outstanding work ethic and understanding of the game. He might top off as a 3rd liner, but why is that bad ? He scores more than 30 points, can play both wings, can move up if need be and he's good on the PK. He can play any role the coach asks him.

 

[Barkkonen]

Armia is amazing. He's much better than Lehks. Armia is not someone I would ever want to move. He's great defensively and his elite puck retrieval skills are very valuable because he can get the puck to a skilled centre like Kotkaniemi who can drive the play. Lehkonen in theory would be a great fit for this team because he drives the net and seemed to be a great trigger man. However, he looks awful this year and I don't see any progression from game to game. He's never impressed me this year with his play. Armia does every game.

As a finn, why i tune up for habs game is becouse of Armia, he is super fun to watch. Shame he has limited finnishing ability but he does everything else so damn well, hockey looks easy for him (except scoring). I used to watch a lot of Jets game last season and i thought it was becouse of Laine, but i was wrong. Armia is the one who consistently make good plays and is fun to watch, Laine (used to) score a ton, but otherwise there is not much to cheer for in his game

 

[Kotkaniemi15]

As a finn, why i tune up for habs game is becouse of Armia, he is super fun to watch. Shame he has limited finnishing ability but he does everything else so damn well, hockey looks easy for him (except scoring). I used to watch a lot of Jets game last season and i thought it was becouse of Laine, but i was wrong. Armia is the one who consistently make good plays and is fun to watch, Laine (used to) score a ton, but otherwise there is not much to cheer for in his game

Exactly. Armia is a treat to watch even if his play doesn't always show up on the score sheet.

 

[Habs]

Another stinker by Leks, he is awful.

 

[Koivu11]

I wouldn’t be against including him in a package for one of the big names available before the trade deadline (Stone, Panarin).

 

[The Great Weal]

He will lose us games if he misses all these golden opportunities in the playoffs. I dont care if he is an defense specialist, this is unacceptable come playoff time.

 

[le_sean]

I'll never understand why people just can't seem to accept a players limitations. He lacks finish, but hes got an outstanding work ethic and understanding of the game. He might top off as a 3rd liner, but why is that bad ? He scores more than 30 points, can play both wings, can move up if need be and he's good on the PK. He can play any role the coach asks him.

Because the Habs have enough wingers that do the little things right but have offensive limitations. He at least has more value right now, so he can be a trade chip for an actual productive player.

I’ve never seen someone flub so many offensive opportunities.

 

[DAChampion]

I’ve never seen someone flub so many offensive opportunities.

Do you not remember Chris Higgins and Rene Bourque?

 

[26Mats]

I wouldn’t be against including him in a package for one of the big names available before the trade deadline (Stone, Panarin).

Bergevin said in an interview on TSN690 within the last couple weeks that Lehkonen does a lot of things to help this team win, even though he isn't putting up points now. He also said he sees him breaking out offensively, it's just a matter of time.

AND, he said when teams call about trades, it's Lehkonen they ask for.

I would definitely do Lehkonen, a 1st, and one of our good prospects for Panarin, Stone or Duchene - but only if, like the Pacioretty trade, it was contingent on us getting an extension done within a certain negotiation window.

 

[le_sean]

Do you not remember Chris Higgins and Rene Bourque?

Higgins missed a lot of opportunities, but he at least had seasons of more than 20 goals.

Bourque, I never expected anything from him. But at least he was a playoff beast.

 

[DAChampion]

Huggins missed a lot of opportunities, but he at least had seasons of more than 20 goals.

Bourque, I never expected anything from him. But at least he was a playoff beast.

Lehkonen is likely to be a playoff beast as well.

 

[peate]

Lehkonen is likely to be a playoff beast as well.

Yeah, a beast of burden.

 

[Tuggy]

I love Leks and his work ethic but him squandering chances is wearing thin on me.

 

[DAChampion]

Yeah, a beast of burden.

No, he did well in his first playoff here (unlike most Habs), and he also did well in his FEL playoffs.

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

4th line when everyone healthy is perfect for him
I'd like to see this 4th line;
Lehkonen-Peca-Weise

 

[OldCraig71]

If people are calling Bergevin and asking about Lehkonen shouldn't he do his job and try and make a trade that benefits the team? It's not like we have an Ovechkin waiting to break out here.

 

[le_sean]

Lehkonen is likely to be a playoff beast as well.

I hope that’s the case. I like the kid, I just don’t see much offensive upside.

 

[OldCraig71]

I hope that’s the case. I like the kid, I just don’t see much offensive upside.

He is a third line winger unless he has something yet to be revealed. He will have a decent NHL career but we need top 6 help or LD help and if teams are calling about him than we should be acting on it.

 

[Hannibal]

Offensive black hole.

 

[Baksfamous112]

Bergevin said in an interview on TSN690 within the last couple weeks that Lehkonen does a lot of things to help this team win, even though he isn't putting up points now. He also said he sees him breaking out offensively, it's just a matter of time.

AND, he said when teams call about trades, it's Lehkonen they ask for.

I would definitely do Lehkonen, a 1st, and one of our good prospects for Panarin, Stone or Duchene - but only if, like the Pacioretty trade, it was contingent on us getting an extension done within a certain negotiation window.

If people are calling Bergevin and asking about Lehkonen shouldn't he do his job and try and make a trade that benefits the team? It's not like we have an Ovechkin waiting to break out here.

I’m not surprised by that. Lehkonen is a low-risk, high reward bet for other teams. He does everything well on the ice except finishing right now. He has a very strong and quick shot but for some unknown reasons the puck just doesn’t want to go in.

The thing is if Lehkonen can start putting the puck in the net, he could be a lighter version of Hossa. Strong forechecker, good at winning puck battles, good positionning and defensive play and a quick/strong shot. He’s lacking a bit of vision but that’s pretty much the only thing missing in his game.

I think with a bit more luck he can be a 55-60 points two-way winger. If I’m Bergevin I either package him for a star forward or sign him to a long-term deal while he hasn’t breaken out yet. 7 years ~3.9M a year could be a steal of a contract if he finally gets it going. Otherwise, 3.9M long term is still decent for a two-way, ~35-40 pts middle 6 Forward

 

[donghabs98]

I hope that’s the case. I like the kid, I just don’t see much offensive upside.

The biggest problem I have is that I see his offensive potential. He has a good shot and was scoring at a good rate during his rookie year and playoff series. Since then though his shot has completely disappeared. Every time he shots I'm expecting either him to fan on it, go wide or right into the goalie's chest.

Hes a strong defensive player but he needs to develop an offensive game (one that saw flashes of) if he is to be a very effective 2nd/3rd line winger.

 

[montreal]

Lek usually has a good shot and decent offensive skills but he's hit a wall or just in slump as his production has fallen off a cliff.

Last 16 games - 0-3-3 +6
previous 49 games - 7-14-21 +6

The guy should be able to put up around 35 pts this year.

 

[Luigi Habs]

I said it yesterday in the GDT. He reminds me a lot of Andreas Dackell. He’ll end up being a defensive specialist like him. In today’s NHL that’s not enough for a 3rd liner.

 

[Habs4Life]

will never surpass 30 points in a season, but solid defensively and works hard... The perfect 3rd liner, don't get your expectations high on this guy. It seems while everyone has picked their game up, he has just been the same, not necessarily a bad thing, hes reliable and steady.

 

[ottawa]

I'll never understand why people just can't seem to accept a players limitations. He lacks finish, but hes got an outstanding work ethic and understanding of the game. He might top off as a 3rd liner, but why is that bad ? He scores more than 30 points, can play both wings, can move up if need be and he's good on the PK. He can play any role the coach asks him.

He's playing with a player that requires a finisher, that's the problem.