Marc Bergevin made a mistake by choosing the wrong Finn
With the season he is having, Artturi Lehkonen is currently one of the most underrated players in the NHL and his trade market value, in view of the trade deadline, can only increase from here and until March 21st.
Kent Hughes' phone may be ringing a lot in the coming days for Lehkonen, but that probably won't be the case for fellow Finn of the Canadiens, Joel Armia.
After good playoffs in 2021, where he collected eight points, including five goals, in 21 games, Marc Bergevin immediately rewarded him with a new four-year deal for a total of $13.6 million.
Except that, for Armia, things are not going as planned this year with only 7 points in 41 games. The former general manager Bergevin clearly did not bet on the good Finn.
At least that's what The Athletic insider Pierre Lebrun said on TSN recently, as reported here by Stu Cowan of The Gazette newspaper via his Twitter account.
If we compare the numbers of Armia to those of Lehkonen, the two players are not in the same league this year and it is to wonder if the new direction of the Canadians will not be taken with this hot potato until the end of his contract, which is due to end after the 2024-2025 season.
Unless Kent Hughes manages to hand over the Finn's contract to a team that wants to reach the salary floor. That remains a possibility, but for now, Martin St-Louis will have to find a way to get him to produce by the end of the season.
