The Colorado Avalanche re-signed Artturi Lehkonen to a five-year contract extension through the 2026-27 season and defenseman Josh Manson to a four-year deal through 2025-26 on Wednesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, however TSN reported both contracts were worth $4.5 million per season.
Also on Wednesday, the Avalanche re-signed forward Darren Helm to a one-year deal reportedly worth $1.25 million contract.
Colorado also announced the signings of forward Charles Hudon, defensemen Andreas Englund and Josh Jacobs and goaltender Jonas Johansson to one-year contracts. Forward Spencer Smallman signed a two-year deal.
Lehkonen, 27, set career-high totals in goals (19) and points (38) while splitting last season with the Montreal Canadiens and Avalanche.
He turned it on in the playoffs, totaling 14 points (eight goals, six assists) and posting four game-winning goals.
“Artturi was a great fit to our team last season and obviously played an essential role in our championship run,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a news release. “He is incredibly versatile, can play anywhere up and down the lineup. He has a non-stop motor and never takes a shift off. He’s really smart, highly competitive, knows his role no matter what is asked of him.
“Getting length and term for a player of his quality was a top offseason priority and we’re thrilled to have him for the next five years.”
Lehkonen has 158 points (80 goals, 78 assists) in 412 career games with the Canadiens and Avalanche.
Manson, 30, recorded 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 67 games last season split between the Anaheim Ducks and Avalanche. He totaled seven points (two goals, five assists) in 22 games with the Avalanche after being acquired from the Ducks on March 14.
“Josh was a huge addition to our back end down the stretch and into the playoffs,” MacFarland said. “He played big minutes on our second pairing throughout the postseason, providing a tough, steady presence in the defensive zone while also contributing on the offensive end with some key goals. Getting him under contract for the next four years helps further solidify our blue line.”
Manson has 120 points (28 goals, 92 assists) in 475 career games with the Ducks and Avalanche. He was selected by Anaheim in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Draft.
Helm, 35, totaled 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 68 games with Colorado last season.
He has 266 points (119 goals, 147 assists) in 812 career games with the Detroit Red Wings and Avalanche. He was selected by the Red Wings in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL Draft.
Hudon, 28, last played in the NHL with Montreal in 2019-20. He posted 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 125 games over parts of five seasons with the Canadiens.
Englund, 26, last appeared in the NHL with Ottawa in 2019-20. He has three assists in 33 games over parts of four seasons with the Senators.
Johansson, 26, posted a 3-4-1 record with a 4.81 goals-against average and .852 save percentage in 11 games (eight starts) last season split between the Florida Panthers and Avalanche.
Jacobs, 26, played in one game for the New Jersey Devils in 2018-19 and two games in 2019-20. He was a second-round pick in 2014.
Smallman, 25, was a fifth-round pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015 and has not made his NHL debut.
–Field Level Media
