Avalanche's Arturri Lehkonen Could Price Himself Out of Colorado

Thursday, October 29, 2026
The Colorado Avalanche and winger Artturi Lehkonen aren’t close on an extension, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston, who said the pending unrestricted free agent could price himself out of the market if his hot start continues.

“The sense is there’s nothing really too close in terms of any extension work being done with the Avalanche,” Johnston said on Insider Trading Tuesday, adding that Lehkonen would like to stay in Colorado, all things being equal.

A Hot Start On An Expiring Deal

Lehkonen has 10 goals through 14 games, leads the Avalanche in goals, and is playing beside Nathan MacKinnon, though Johnston noted the shooting percentage is on his side.

He’s 31, will be 32 when next season begins, and is in the final year of the five-year contract he signed shortly after Colorado won the Stanley Cup in 2022, which carries a $4.5 million cap hit.

Johnston said Lehkonen is going to be due a big raise and called him an interesting one to watch if the start continues.

AFP Analytics projected in September that his next deal could be about five years at a little under $8.7 million a year.

The Cap Problem

Cale Makar’s eight-year, $163.2 million extension kicks in next season at $20.4 million a year, which leaves the Avalanche with limited cap flexibility.

GM Joe Sakic said before the season that the team would let it get underway before turning to extension talks, and he had said there was no urgency like there was with Makar.

Unless Colorado opens up more room, Lehkonen looks like he might be in his last season with the team, and Nic Roy and Scott Wedgewood are also pending free agents.

Over his five seasons with the Avalanche, Lehkonen has racked up 101 goals and 100 assists for 201 total points across 276 games.

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