Vancouver Canucks Top Prospect Playing with Major Chip on His Shoulder After Demotion
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Photo credit: Peace Arch News
Vancouver Canucks top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki must be playing with a major chip on his shoulder ever since he was sent back down to the AHL Abbotsford Canucks.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki has not played a game for the Vancouver Canucks ever since he got sent down in mid January and may be taking it a bit personally, as his play on the ice has been exceptional.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki proving to the Vancouver Canucks he deserves to be in the NHL
It has been an up and down year for the 20-year-old former 15th overall pick, as he has dominated the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks but can't seem to fully translate his game to the NHL level.
In 11 games with the big club, Lekkerimaki has only 2 goals and 1 assists for 3 points with a -6 rating.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki
490th player to score a goal in a #Canucks uniform
490th player to score a goal in a #Canucks uniform
Don't get us wrong, the young sniper has played well all season long in the AHL, but ever since his recent demotion just under a month ago, his confidence is beaming and has taken his game to the next level.
The 20-year-old sniper has already 16 goals and 8 assists for 24 points in just 27 games which places him 5th among all American League rookies in goalscoring,
The most impressive aspect of of this is he has done it while playing far fewer games than the players ahead of him.
His talent and production is even more glaring when you compare him to other stars at the same age.
That's just a sampling of the stars that had comparable goalscoring to Lekkerimäki in the AHL at the age of 20. The list of players with similar goalscoring is littered with quality NHL players: Kyle Palmieri, Josh Norris, Logan Stankoven, Tyler Toffoli, Markus Granlund, Logan Couture, Dylan Strome. - Daniel Wagner
The quiet young man feels he has done enough to deserve to be in the NHL right now as he is doing all of the talking with his play on the ice.
Organizations like players that are playing with a chip on their shoulder as it breeds performance and effort to be the best one can be, and that is exact what their top goal scoring prospect is doing.
Do not be surprised if you hear his name get called when the Vancouver Canucks return from the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Source: Vancouver Is Awesome
Canucks prospect Lekkerimäki is a goalscoring machine in the AHL
Canucks prospect Lekkerimäki is a goalscoring machine in the AHL
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