Artturi Lehkonen Bio
Artturi Aleksanteri Lehkonen, born on 4 July 1995, is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who plays left wing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He first came to North America after being selected 55th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, where he developed into a trusted two-way forward. Known for his calm play in high-pressure moments, Lehkonen scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in 2022 and remains a key contributor on one of the league’s most competitive rosters.
Standing 180 centimeters tall and weighing 81 kilograms, Lehkonen built his reputation as a defensively minded winger who can also produce offensively when games tighten up. His journey from the youth ranks in Turku, Finland, to the top of the hockey world is one rooted in patience, steady improvement, and a willingness to embrace bigger responsibilities with every step.
Early Life and Background
Artturi Lehkonen was born in Piikkiö, Finland, but grew up in the nearby city of Turku. The region has long been a strong breeding ground for Finnish hockey talent, and Lehkonen benefited from that environment from an early age. He began his organized hockey with local junior programs, including TuTo and TPS, two well-known clubs in the Turku area that have produced numerous professional players.
Hockey runs in the Lehkonen family. His father, Ismo Lehkonen, is a former professional hockey player and coach who later worked as a hockey commentator for the Finnish broadcaster Yle. Ismo’s experience gave Artturi an inside view of the professional game during his formative years and helped shape his understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Path to Professional Hockey
Lehkonen logged his first minutes in Finland’s top professional league, the Liiga, with TPS during the 2011–12 season, while still a teenager. After one season with TPS, he moved to fellow Liiga side KalPa ahead of the 2012–13 campaign, where he continued to develop his two-way game. His steady progress in Finland drew the attention of NHL scouts, and the Montreal Canadiens selected him in the second round, 55th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Seeking a new challenge and a different style of play, Lehkonen left KalPa in March 2014 and signed a two-year contract with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). The move to Sweden proved transformative. During the 2015–16 season, he emerged as one of the league’s most dangerous playoff performers, helping Frölunda claim the SHL championship and the Champions Hockey League title in the same campaign.
Artturi Lehkonen Career
Early Career in Finland and Sweden (2011–2016)
Lehkonen’s professional career began in earnest with TPS in the 2011–12 Liiga season, marking him as one of Finland’s promising young forwards. After transferring to KalPa for the 2012–13 season, he refined his game in a top professional league and earned international recognition with his 2013 draft selection by Montreal.
His time in Sweden with Frölunda HC cemented his reputation as a big-game player. In the 2015–16 playoffs, he posted 11 goals and 8 assists across 16 games, setting a new Frölunda single-postseason record with 19 points and surpassing Daniel Alfredsson’s previous mark. He then added 12 points in 13 Champions Hockey League games as Frölunda captured the European title.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2016–2022)
Lehkonen signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on 8 May 2016. In his rookie NHL season, he scored 18 goals and added 10 assists across 73 games, immediately establishing himself as a dependable contributor. He continued to play a strong defensive role while gradually building his offensive totals, culminating in a career-best 31 points during the final year of his entry-level deal in 2018–19. On 11 July 2019, the Canadiens rewarded his consistency with a two-year, $4.8 million contract extension.
During the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, Lehkonen’s offensive output dipped, but his playoff performance became legendary. On 24 June 2021, he scored the series-clinching overtime goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Semifinals against the Vegas Golden Knights, sending Montreal to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1993. The goal was widely described as the biggest for the franchise in nearly 30 years. Following a Finals loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Lehkonen signed a one-year, $2.3 million extension.
The 2021–22 campaign proved turbulent for the Canadiens, but Lehkonen’s defensive reliability kept him in trade discussions as the team entered a rebuild. His steady, professional approach during a difficult season reflected the maturity he had developed across six years in Montreal.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2022–Present)
On 21 March 2022, the Canadiens traded Lehkonen to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Justin Barron and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Visa delays briefly postponed his debut, but he quickly joined the lineup and contributed 6 goals and 3 assists across 16 regular-season games, helping him set new career highs of 19 goals and 38 points overall.
Lehkonen’s impact grew even larger in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He scored the series-clinching overtime goal against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, becoming the first player since Gordie Drillon in 1938 and 1939 to score series-winning overtime goals in consecutive playoff rounds. He then scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 of the Final, delivering Colorado its third championship in franchise history.
Since joining the Avalanche, Lehkonen has remained a fixture on the team’s checking lines while continuing to produce timely scoring. His two-way play, penalty-killing ability, and calm demeanor in tight games have made him a trusted option for the coaching staff.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lehkonen is best known for his defensive reliability, strong two-way play, and hockey IQ. He reads the game well, positions himself effectively in all three zones, and excels at killing penalties. While not the flashiest offensive player, he has consistently delivered important goals at critical moments, including two series-clinching overtime strikes in the 2022 playoffs. His skating, work ethic, and willingness to embrace a defensive role make him an ideal complementary winger.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lehkonen’s most celebrated moments came in the 2021 and 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His overtime winner against the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021 ended Montreal’s long Final drought, and his overtime winner against Edmonton in 2022 placed him in rare historical company. His Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 of the 2022 Final stands as the defining achievement of his career so far.
Artturi Lehkonen Career Wins
Artturi Lehkonen has collected several major titles across his professional career, beginning in Finland and Sweden before reaching the summit of the sport in North America. His championship resume highlights his growth from a top-flight Liiga teenager into a Stanley Cup champion.
Championship Highlights
Lehkonen won the SHL championship and the Champions Hockey League title with Frölunda HC in 2015–16, where his playoff performance set a new franchise record for points in a single postseason. In North America, his most significant victory came with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, when he scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
International Medals
Representing Finland, Lehkonen has earned medals at both the IIHF U18 World Championships and the IIHF U20 World Championships, reflecting his standing among the country’s top young talents during his development years. He later debuted with Finland’s men’s national team during the 2015–16 Euro Hockey Tour.
Artturi Lehkonen Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey has always been central to the Lehkonen family. Artturi’s father, Ismo Lehkonen, played and coached professionally before transitioning into sports broadcasting as a commentator for Yle. Ismo was on hand at Amalie Arena in 2022 to cover his son’s Stanley Cup-winning goal, a memorable full-circle moment for the family.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Lehkonen is known to be a supporter of Arsenal F.C., reflecting his broader interest in international sports. He tends to keep his personal life private, focusing public attention on his professional career and family ties.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2025 NHL season, Artturi Lehkonen remains an established member of the Colorado Avalanche’s forward group. Coming off a Stanley Cup victory and several seasons of consistent two-way contributions, he is expected to continue anchoring one of the team’s checking lines while providing secondary scoring. His familiarity with the Avalanche system and his strong relationship with the coaching staff position him for another productive year.
The Avalanche remain among the Stanley Cup favorites, and Lehkonen’s track record of rising to the occasion in high-leverage games will be a valuable asset throughout the regular season and into the playoffs. His ability to deliver key goals and shut down top opponents makes him a player Colorado can lean on in any situation.
With a stable roster, a proven championship pedigree, and continued trust from head coach Jared Bednar, Lehkonen is well placed to play an important role in the Avalanche’s pursuit of another championship in 2025.