The Daily Faceoff Show: Could Artturi Lehkonen net a first-round pick for the Montreal Canadiens?

Artturi Lehkonen has never scored 20 goals in a season. He’s never registered more than 31 points.

Yet as the cellar-dwelling Montreal Canadiens head towards the trade deadline, Frank Seravalli reports that Lehkonen may receive as much interest on the trade market as any other Hab.

That although Lehkonen has never blossomed into a top-line player, his all-around game and clutch performances in the playoffs last summer have significantly raised his stock around the league.

His stock has risen to the point where Lehkonen – who is an RFA this summer, when he turns 27 – could net the Canadiens a first-round draft pick in return.

Seravalli: “I believe Artturi Lehkonen, if the Habs decide to part ways, is in the first-round pick category.

“A lot of teams view him as sort of the, this year’s version, potentially of Blake Coleman or Barclay Goodrow, a guy that could fetch a first-round pick, that does just about everything right for your team.

“The one thing that’s been missing in Lehkonen’s career has been the consistent point production. But his game is complete, for the most part. He has developed the trust of coaches. He brings energy. He’s well respected in the locker room.

“And I think he’s someone that could surprise teams in terms of the amount of interest and the potential return.”

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