The Vancouver Canucks have called up top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki and have sent down goaltender Arturs Silovs in a move that involved five players this morning.
Following last night’s embarrassing 7-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin has opted to make sweeping changes to the team this morning. On top of calling Lekkerimaki up and sending Silovs down, the Canucks have also sent forwards Arshdeep Bains and Nils Aman to the AHL and have called up goaltender Ty Young.
The Canucks announced the moves on social media.
General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that F Arshdeep Bains, F Nils Åman and G Artūrs Šilovs have been assigned to Abbotsford (AHL) and F Jonathan Lekkerimäki and G Ty Young have been recalled from Abbotsford (AHL).
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 10, 2024
Vancouver fans have been anxiously awaiting Lekkerimaki’s call-up since the team traded away forward Daniel Sprong to the Seattle Kraken just a few days ago. The 20-year-old former first-round pick has five goals and seven points through seven AHL games this season and has looked ready to make that jump to the NHL.
Sending Silovs down is a bit surprising, but it’s likely just to get him some playing time. Young is a former fifth-round pick of the Canucks and has not even appeared in a single AHL game, making it very unlikely that he will see any NHL action with this call-up. He most recently played for the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings this season, where he has a 1-1-0 record through two games.
Both Bains and Aman have been jumping between the NHL and AHL all season long.
Vancouver will host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, making that a potential spot for Lekkerimaki to make his long-awaited NHL debut.