Vancouver Canucks top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki is making the transition to North American hockey look easy.
The 20-year-old is playing his first full season on this side of the pond and is off to a fast start in the AHL. After missing the first few games of the year due to illness, Lekkerimaki has been filling up the box score.
He’s got four goals and two assists in his first six games. He’s also been creating a ton of offence, with 34 shots so far. That’s just one behind three different players for the lead-league, even though he’s played at least three fewer games.
He leads the AHL in goals-per-game among all players who have scored multiple goals this season.
The Swedish sniper has been showing off his deadly shot, including on a goal against the San Diego Gulls recently. Lekkerimaki beat the goalie cleanly with a great one-timer on the power play. That was the first of a two-goal performance for the prospect.
Lekkerimäki(ng) things happen 🤩 pic.twitter.com/K2X8q5Jw6o
— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) November 4, 2024
Reports from last weekend suggest that the Canucks are thinking about calling-up Lekkerimaki. The team has struggled a bit as of late, winning just one of their last three games, and the young winger could add a shot of energy.
Lekkerimaki has also been thriving on the power play, an area where the Canucks have been struggling in the NHL. While expectations must remain reasonable, it’s not outlandish to think his shot would add another interesting dimension.
After a post-draft season that was far from ideal, the past 12 months have gone much better for Lekkerimaki. He’s firmly established himself as the organization’s best prospect and seems set to make his NHL debut sometime this year.