Canadiens trade forward Artturi Lehkonen, goalie Andrew Hammond and defenseman Brett Kulak

BROSSARD -

The Montreal Canadiens have traded forward Artturi Lehkonen to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for young defenceman Justin Barron and a second round pick in 2024.

Barron is a 6'2", 195-pound right handed shooter who has five goals and 15 assists in 43 games played for Colorado's AHL affiliate the Colorado Eagles.

The Halifax, NS-born 20-year-old was selected 25th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Lehkonen is having what is shaping up to be the most productive season of his career. The 26-year-old Finn has 13 goals and 16 assists in 58 games so far this season.

He could become an unrestricted free agent this summer and is eligible for arbitration. Lehkonen could command a serious salary increase over the US$2.3 million he is receiving this season.

In addition, the Habs dealt goalie Andrew Hammond to the New Jersey Devils for forward Nate Schnarr. 

Schnarr is a 6'3", 185-pound forward who scored 13 goals and added 13 assists in 43 AHL games with the Utica Comets. The 23-year-old was a third round, 75th overall Arizona Coyotes pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

General manager Kent Hughes said last week that he was not planning on a fire sale, but would be making trades if the deals were right after the team traded Ben Chiarot to the Panthers last week.

Defenseman Jeff Petry requested a trade and was one Hughes was actively shopping, but did not trade.

"I just said, 'Hey. We're going to try. We'll see,'" said Hughes. "Term contracts starting with a larger number are a little bit harder to do at the trade deadline because teams that are looking to trade don't typically have that kind of cap space."

Petry signed a four-year contract in 2021, and his cap hit is $6.2 million. 

The Habs also announced Brett Kulak will be traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Lagesson.

The Canadiens will retain 50 per cent of Kulak's salary for the remainder of the season.

At 6'2" and 207 lbs, Lagesson had four assists with the Oilers in 30 games.  

-- With files from The Canadian Press.