Pair of Canucks named to The Athletic's Top 100 drafted prospect list

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Cooper Godin
July 16, 2024 (4:29 PM)

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A pair of Vancouver Canucks named to The Athletic's Top 100 drafted prospect list on Tuesday morning.

In a post on The Athletic, Scott Wheeler released his Summer 2024 edition of the Top 100 Drafted NHL Prospects list and it featured two members of the Vancouver Canucks organization - Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Vancouver's first round pick in 2022, comes in at number 32 on Wheeler's list. Wheeler says that Lekkerimaki has strong hands, a deceptive release and a lethal one-timer in his game. He added that the Swedish forward, with the right development, could become a top-six forward and see time on the Canucks' first powerplay unit.

"Lekkerimaki's talent is undeniable. He's dynamic in control and threatening from anywhere in the offensive zone. He can beat you in an instant with a quick catch-and-release or curl-and-drag shot, or hang onto pucks and make things happen himself. He's got a knack for hitting holes in the net, frequently beating goalies low-blocker and five-hole. He's got A-level hands, a deceptive release, a lethal one-timer and a slyness to his game that allows him to get to spots to score with and without the puck. He's going to have clear power-play upside at the next level because of all of those things. He has slowly become more threatening on a consistent basis at five-on-five against men, coming and going less in games, fading to the perimeter in control less, and making sure he's getting touches by keeping his feet moving more and working to involve himself in the play more. He just played with more intention off the puck and on the forecheck and found more consistency in his approach and consequently his game last season, preparing himself for the jump to North America." Wheeler said.

He added, "And with all of that progress, he got to crank the puck more and flash that quick release and skill. With the right development and patience, he always had clear upside as a top-six/PP1 finisher � you want the puck in his hands."

In 46 games last season for Orebro HK in the Swedish Hockey League, Lekkerimaki put up 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists), ten penalty minutes and was a plus-six. He also had an incredible showing at the 2024 World Juniors, taking home MVP honours after registering ten points in seven games. Lekkerimaki also got into six games with the Abbotsford Canucks at the end of the 2023-24 season, scoring his first professional goal in North America against the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

Tom Willander

As for Tom Willander, he comes in at 45th on Scott Wheeler's list after a solid freshman season in the NCAA with Boston University. Wheeler says that Willander is one of the better-skating D prospects in all of hockey, is strong in all three zones, plays a confident defensive game. He added that Willander could become a "two-way transition monster in a top-four role" in the NHL at some point.

"He's a strong-in-all-three-zones defenseman who plays a confident and decisive defensive game that uses his beautiful, balanced skating to swallow up opposing carriers and then push forward or fall back onto his heels and outlet the puck." Wheeler said.

He added, "Willander doesn't have dynamic skill or creativity on the puck, and his offensive-zone instincts are still coming, but he projects safely as an NHL defenseman and could become a two-way transition monster in a top-four role. Because of how high a level he defends and skates at, he rarely has bad games and play normally tilts in his team's favor, even though the offense doesn't yet pop."

Willander, 19, put up 25 points (four goals, 21 assists), 12 penalty minutes and was a plus-28 during 38 games during his freshman season for Boston University in 2023-24. He also went to represent Sweden at the 2024 World Juniors, recording three points in seven games and took home the silver medal after losing to the United States in the gold medal game.

Which prospect do you think will make their NHL debut first - Jonathan Lekkerimaki or Tom Willander? Let us know what you think in the poll below!

Source: Scott Wheeler/The Athletic
Top 100 drafted NHL prospects ranking: Celebrini, Michkov lead Wheeler's summer 2024 list