Former Canuck reveals what it'll take for Jonathan Lekkerimaki to make the team

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Cooper Godin
September 26, 2024 (7:56)

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Former Canucks defenceman Frank Corrado believes Jonathan Lekkerimaki needs an impressive camp to make the opening night roster.

Vancouver Canucks top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki has appeared in both of the team's preseason games so far, picking up a pair of assists on Tuesday night against the Seattle Kraken.

Given the amount of depth the Vancouver Canucks have, especially on forward, Lekkerimaki faces an uphill battle to try and make the team's opening night roster next month.

Former Vancouver Canuck Frank Corrado was a guest recently on Sekeres and Price where he said that Lekkerimaki needs an impressive camp to show to the coaching staff he's ready for the National Hockey League.

"The effort and the production would have to be so far above and beyond what I think management and the brass would have expected for him coming in. Like you would really have to blow everyone away to I think just say, you know we're not even going to bother with Abbotsford, we're going to have him here and he's going to be here. Like I think the SHL is a really good league in Europe, it's done a great job of developing players. There is something to be said though for learning the North American game at the American Hockey League level, it just takes away some of the pressures and in certain situations, gives you a little more comfort." Corrado said.

He added, "I think for a guy like that to kind of get his feet wet, but I just think for him, to be starting night one for them, for them to tell him you're going to be here, you're on this team, his performance is going to have to blow everyone away to the point where it's just like, we had no choice, we had to keep him. I think it's going to be difficult for him to do that because it's crowded and there is something to be said for just, go over there, learn play, this will be here for you as long as you hold up your end of the bargain. There's no rush to getting a guy like that here. It's exciting to think about, but I think when we kind of look at it practically, it makes more sense for him to be starting in Abbotsford."

While it's still quite early, Lekkerimaki has looked pretty good so far in camp and will be given several more opportunities over the next eight days to prove himself before the Canucks wrap up their preseason slate on October 4th against the Edmonton Oilers.

It seems more likely than not that Jonathan Lekkerimaki will start the year in the AHL with Abbotsford, but we'll have to wait and see what he has in store over the next week and if he's able to impress the team's staff enough to earn a spot on the opening night roster.