Here’s a look at promising updates on Artturi Lehkonen’s recovery from off-season shoulder surgery. With uncertainty surrounding Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin’s availability for the upcoming season, the Colorado Avalanche could greatly benefit from a healthy Lehkonen. While questions remain about whether he’ll be fully ready for training camp in three weeks, there are positive signs that he might be in good shape by the Avalanche’s season opener on October 9 in Las Vegas.
Lehkonen has been skating at Family Sports over the past two days with other players preparing for the new season. Although he seems to be easing up on his shot—understandably so—it’s encouraging to see him back on the ice handling the puck. The Avalanche had mentioned that they would have a clearer picture of his recovery around Labor Day, which is just a few days away.
Artturi Lehkonen
Here’s some footage I captured of Lehkonen during an informal skate today. While I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts camp with some limitations, since there’s no need to rush him early in the season, this is definitely a positive sign. The 29-year-old winger is crucial for the Avalanche in multiple areas—he plays significant minutes on both the powerplay and penalty kill and is vital at even strength. Though his style of play makes him prone to injuries, it’s also what makes him so effective.
You might also spot Logan O’Connor in some of the clips; he appears to be on track for the start of camp, which has been the expectation for some time.
For now, it’s still a relatively small group of players skating at Family Sports, but with Labor Day approaching, we should see a larger group next week.
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