Canucks staff address Jonathan Lekkerimäki's development

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Cooper Godin
September 14, 2024 (2:19 PM)

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The Vancouver Canucks organization is pretty happy with Jonathan Lekkerimaki's development over the last year.

As we head into training camp next week, one name to keep an eye on for the Vancouver Canucks is top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki, who had a strong season in Sweden during the 2023-24 campaign.

Lekkerimaki is among those participating at the 2024 Young Stars Classic in Penticton this weekend and his development so far since being drafted has impressed plenty of members of the Canucks organization including Abbotsford General Manager Ryan Johnson.

"Something we talked about extensively after the draft process was how exhausting everything was on him - the draft, world junior camps, suddenly playing in the SHL. We intentionally just backed off for a year to let him get caught up mentally." Johnson said.

He added, "And not to our surprise, once having a full offseason to just take a breath, (we saw) the success that he had in Sweden and the growth in his game, the details in his game, and all those things. The major cherry on top was being able to get him over here and get him into games in Abbotsford."

Lekkerimaki is going to show the Canucks what he's capable of during training camp starting next week, but with the influx of wingers signed by the team this summer, the Swedish forward may have a tough time landing a roster spot on opening night. If he's unable to, it's not a bad thing at all. Sending Lekkerimaki down to the minors for at least a couple of months could help him significantly down the road and with him only having six games of experience here in North America, a stint in the AHL would do him wonders.

While Abbotsford is his most likely landing spot to start the 2024-25 campaign, Rick Tocchet will give Jonathan Lekkerimaki plenty of opportunities during preseason to prove himself and the first opportunity Canucks fans will have to see their top prospect in action after the Young Stars Classic is September 24th against the Seattle Kraken.

Source: Iain MacIntyre/Sportsnet
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