Player Discussion Artturi Lehkonen

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Why would they do that? Will Danault regress? Domi? If you don't do it now theres no reasons to do it later.

Kotkaniemi is not ready yet to take the Domi or Danault spot, unless Domi is moved to wing.
The other solution would be to improve the wingers playing on the 3rd line, for Danault or Kotkaniemi.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I know it's an opinion that not many shares here but I would keep KK and Armia together for some time. They complement eachother very well, especially on the forecheck. I believe that KK could learn a whole lot from Armia's puck possesion and active stick on the forecheck.

Also, currently KK is too slow to be a very effective passer, but that could change as soon as next year. He'll be the offensive driver on that line, which would boost up Armia's production. We'd need to find another guy to play with them though, maybe Byron because Lehkonen doesn't fit there all that well. I'm not sure who that could be, or maybe one of our upcoming forward prospects Suzuki/Poehling.

We can be surprised that Poeling will be a better center than Kotkaniemi next september, who knows ?

 

[Zorba]

Armia doesn't produce much right now, but he's far from horrible. He's a beast on puck possesion, has good hands and a good shot. He'd be around 30pts/year right now, on a good year with a bit of luck that could extend to 40pts and that's before KK becomes the great player he'll become and potentially carry Armia alongside points-wise. I think Armia could reach 45-50 pts as soon as next year if he's still paired with KK.

Armia will never ever hit 40 pts even if he was playing with Mcdavid
Why is it hard for some to admit that he has very little offensive upside
He’s a 4th liner. And that’s ok

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Armia will never ever hit 40 pts even if he was playing with Mcdavid
Why is it hard for some to admit that he has very little offensive upside
He’s a 4th liner. And that’s ok

If I read posts from different posters here, we have a lot of 4th liners in our team.
I count Armia, Lehkonen, Deslauriers, Weise, Peca, Hudon, Thompson and some of Rockets players if ever they improve. The third line has Kotkaniemi or Danault as center and Byron. So a decent 3rd line winger is needed to fill the spot.

 

[A55P2]

Armia will never ever hit 40 pts even if he was playing with Mcdavid
Why is it hard for some to admit that he has very little offensive upside
He’s a 4th liner. And that’s ok

I think he's most definitely a third liner already. He's helping KK a lot at even strenght. He's our best PK guy, maybe outside of Byron but I still prefer Armia. I disagree completely with you on this issue. You seem to be very black or white about some issues, I don't share that perspective.

 

[CheldishGamibno]

Our 4th line looked good when he was on it while everyone was healthy (for a huge amount of 1 game), I'm sure playing in a smaller role would give his confidence back. His penalty yesterday was a great diving from Andersen.

 

[Zorba]

I think he's most definitely a third liner already. He's helping KK a lot at even strenght. He's our best PK guy, maybe outside of Byron but I still prefer Armia. I disagree completely with you on this issue. You seem to be very black or white about some issues, I don't share that perspective.

His stats are not that of a 3rd liner
Why can’t you see that. Even dale f***ing weisse has the same amount of points as Armia and he’s in the ahl.
He’s not a 3 rd liner. At this point and his rate of production he’s a fourth line specialist
You’re to your opinion but this guy is a black hole of offence
Can you tell me with a straight face thay Armia is more valuable than Nate Thompson is Right now?
No chance. Neither can score and one is used correctly on the 4th line to PK and be good on face offs
Armia sees PP time and can’t do shit

 

[26Mats]

It happens. But watching the games, Armia creates a chance nightly. Lehkonen just eats off the guys around him.

It's happened his whole career. Lehkonen has more points per game this year, in less ice time, and less pp ice time - and more points per game his whole career - at a younger age.

I like Armia, and I still like Lehkonen for what he is. They just should not be playing on the same line together. We need to find each a line that they have chemistry on.

I'd see what works better on the ice, not on paper between the following two pairs of bottom six:

Byron Danault Armia
Hudon/Peca Thompson Lehkonen

Byron Danault Lehkonen
Hudon/Peca Thompson Armia

I suspect the 2nd, but let's see the proof in the pudding.

 

[Habs]

Another gem by Leks, what a tool. That's a penalty any day of the week, dive or not, you know they are going to call it.

 

[26Mats]

Another gem by Leks, what a tool. That's a penalty any day of the week, dive or not, you know they are going to call it.

It was accidental incidental contact when they were both going for the puck. No need to call that.

I've always felt, if the goalies don't want to get hit or have accidental incidental contact, then don't go play the puck. No reason they should be allowed to get hit if they go to play the puck like a regular player.

Smart goalies would just stop playing the puck. And then you can get rid of the trapezoid.

 

[Habs]

It was accidental incidental contact when they were both going for the puck. No need to call that.

I've always felt, if the goalies don't want to get hit or have accidental incidental contact, then don't go play the puck. No reason they should be allowed to get hit if they go to play the puck like a regular player.

Smart goalies would just stop playing the puck. And then you can get rid of the trapezoid.

Point is, they call that 99% of the time. They wave off goals if you blow on the goalie, nevermind if he falls behind the net. He is an awful hockey player, I hope he is moved.

 

[A55P2]

His stats are not that of a 3rd liner
Why can’t you see that. Even dale ****ing weisse has the same amount of points as Armia and he’s in the ahl.
He’s not a 3 rd liner. At this point and his rate of production he’s a fourth line specialist
You’re to your opinion but this guy is a black hole of offence
Can you tell me with a straight face thay Armia is more valuable than Nate Thompson is Right now?
No chance. Neither can score and one is used correctly on the 4th line to PK and be good on face offs
Armia sees PP time and can’t do ****

I can definitely tell you that with a straight face, as would most here who watches the games. He's on pace for about 30pts this year and you say he can't reach 40 pts, it's inconceivable to you. I'll leave it at that.

 

[26Mats]

Point is, they call that 99% of the time. They wave off goals if you blow on the goalie, nevermind if he falls behind the net. He is an awful hockey player, I hope he is moved.

I would move him if we can get something for him. But I can't call him an awful hockey player because he isn't producing now. He's currently 1oth on the depth chart, and imo we'll need 12 good players if we want to get into the playoffs and try to use our speed and no-quit to surprise teams. If we acquire two more players to push him to 12th on the depth chart, we'll be a damn good threat.

For now, he can play the 4th line role very well.

 

[Habs]

I would move him if we can get something for him. But I can't call him an awful hockey player because he isn't producing now. He's currently 1oth on the depth chart, and imo we'll need 12 good players if we want to get into the playoffs and try to use our speed and no-quit to surprise teams. If we acquire two more players to push him to 12th on the depth chart, we'll be a damn good threat.

For now, he can play the 4th line role very well.

Its his stupid penalties and turnovers that is pissing me off, not his lack of production. I do not believe he is movable for much regardless.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Woke up and he, Muller and Bergevin are still part of the Habs. This day sucks already.

 

[26Mats]

Its his stupid penalties and turnovers that is pissing me off, not his lack of production. I do not believe he is movable for much regardless.

Those are uncharacteristic of him. He's not Hudon. I have faith that he can turn it around.

 

[Zorba]

I can definitely tell you that with a straight face, as would most here who watches the games. He's on pace for about 30pts this year and you say he can't reach 40 pts, it's inconceivable to you. I'll leave it at that.

For one reason or another he’s NEVER cracked 30’pts and you say he can reach 40. That’s too funny

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Those are uncharacteristic of him. He's not Hudon. I have faith that he can turn it around.

I don't think so. He's regressing, he didn't score in an empty net and he did get a stupid penalty. He is now an unidimentional defensive player who just lost his confidence in scoring and offense. He can have a second chance elsewhere in the league if he can eventualy explode offensivly. There must be something in the water in Montreal that makes him regressing.

 

[26Mats]

I don't think so. He's regressing, he didn't score in an empty net and he did get a stupid penalty. He is now an unidimentional defensive player who just lost his confidence in scoring and offense. He can have a second chance elsewhere in the league if he can eventualy explode offensivly. There must be something in the water in Montreal that makes him regressing.

I think this is over-reaction. He turns the puck over way less, and gets way less dumb penalties than guys like Domi and Shaw. Lehkonen is very good with the puck and he's on the lower end of our top 9 forwards in terms of penalties taken.

What's wrong with him on the 4th line? His cap hit is low and he's better than any other 4th liner we have.

 

[1909]

I think this is over-reaction. He turns the puck over way less, and gets way less dumb penalties than guys like Domi and Shaw. Lhekonen is very good with the puck and not getting penalties.

What's wrong with him on the 4th line? His cap hit is low and he's better than any other 4th liner we have.

Right now, He's fine on the 4th line, and hopefully can re-gain a third line spot in a not so far future. Confidence is everything with kids like him.

 

[The Great Weal]

I've said it from the start of his career, he looks so much better on RW. Peca-Thompson-Lehkonen would be my 4th line right now.

 

[ottawa]

If he has a great year next year, why would he be a black hole?

Black hole referred to his current state. Didn't know I had to break down the obvious.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Black hole referred to his current state. Didn't know I had to break down the obvious.

Nice try, but no that wasn't obvious or likely even true.

You DID say that you hoped he had a great year so that he would be someone else's "problem" not "asset".

"Black hole" or "problem" - not much difference. Either way, you stated he would have a great year and still be a negative at age 24/25. Wow.

 

[montreal]

You don't do it because he's slumping. You do it because in a trade, you have to give to receive. Nobody is giving him for a 7th rounder. If you want to get a Kreider and somehow the Rangers want a roster player, tell me who you are giving? You are giving him 'cause he's the most expendable while having surely some kind of value. I'd give Drouin ahead of him. But I think most teams would/should/will get away as fare as they can from that kind of player. So if not Drouin or Lehkoknen, tell me which roster player we could do without? Sure, Lehkonen could rebound as I would expect him to do.....but the player we should be getting is not scheduled to be a 4th liner either.

I'd trade anyone for the right price but certain players that price would be very high for players like Kotka, Brook. I'd be all for trading Drouin if the price was right, if we could package him for an upgrade, someone like Huberdeau. Leks if the price was right I'd trade him but I wouldn't be in a rush to trade anyone, we clearly aren't good enough to go very far this year and I would expect us to be around the same next year. What we need is guys like Kotka, Brook, Suzuki, Poehling, etc... to come in and be as good as we think they are. I don't see UFA's or trades that are suddenly going to put us on the same track as TB, leafs, etc..

I wouldn't have any interest in Kreider, he just doesn't move the needle much at all. But I prefer to sell high on guys, trade them for peak value. Petry, Domi, Tatar, Drouin, Danault, all having career years, strike while the iron is hot, not all of them of course but if the deal is right where we can get a high end player that is still young enough to be an impact player in a few years when hopefully Kotka, Brook etc.. are starting to become impact players for us.

 

[ahmedou]

Shots on goalies chests are less seeable. Becoming opportunist and giving difficult wrist shots.