UPDATE: Artturi Lehkonen cleared! On way to Calgary!

So, disrerard everything I just wrote about 15 minutes ago. Artturi Lehkonen has been CLEARED by the immigration authorities and is flying BACK to Calgary to rejoin the team, team sources say.

It’s finally over. I’ll assume, for now, that Lehkonen will play tomorrow. But, I guess we’ll wait to see on that.

UPDATE II: Avs tweeted that Lehkonen is “expected” to play tomorrow.

PREVIOUSLY…

Lehkonen-Gate took another turn today. Acquired by the Avalanche seven days ago from the Montreal Canadiens, Artturi Lehkonen was unable to go on to Calgary with the team for their game tomorrow night against the Flames. In fact, Lehkonen skated this morning at the Avs’ practice facility in Centennial.

So, no, the immigration paperwork is not done yet and Lehhkonen could miss yet another game tomorrow as this stuff gets sorted out.

I have no idea why Lehkonen couldn’t go to Canada – where he had just played for years as a member of the Habs. Perhaps Jared Bednar will shed some light on this after practice, which was slated for 2 p.m. today at the Saddledome in Calgary.

I mean, this is turning into a prolonged absence now for Lehkonen. Bednar can’t use the lines he wants, to see what Lehkonen can do for him, as this drags on. I supposed this can change at any second. Let’s hope it does. It’s believed Lehkonen is waiting on an O-1 Visa from the INS.

Until then, the wait continues….