The Vancouver Canucks will lastly see their high prospect play near house this season as 2022 first-round decide Jonathan Lekkerimaki might be enjoying within the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Abbotsford Canucks. It has been a protracted highway for the fifteenth total decide as he has battled by means of damage and adversity however he’s now a lot nearer to his NHL dream. That dream could happen this season as he may very well be referred to as as much as play video games in Vancouver. The larger query is will he get referred to as up and in that case, for what number of video games?
Will Lekkerimaki Play within the NHL This Season?
The Canucks really consider in Lekkerimaki and really feel as if he’s going to be an NHL participant, if they didn’t then they’d not have initially drafted him in 2022 and signed him to an entry-level contract (ELC) again in 2023. The group has preferred what he has developed into and is trying ahead to seeing what he can deliver on the AHL stage. Nevertheless, he nonetheless must show to the group that he may be an NHL participant this season, play vital minutes for the staff, and be a contributor. So he’ll want a minimum of 20 video games within the AHL enjoying with the Abbotsford Canucks earlier than normal supervisor Patrik Alvin and firm can contemplate the choice of calling him as much as play video games in Vancouver. However that doesn’t imply that he’s unable to do this stuff as a result of he’s.
In solely six video games with Abbotsford after ending his 2023-24 season in Sweden, Lekkerimaki was capable of put two factors on the board and even scored his first profession AHL aim. He has already proven that he can a minimum of play on the North American stage and even grow to be efficient for his staff. He was productive at each single stage in his time in Sweden even after he missed time with damage. He was additionally dominant on the World Junior event for Sweden this previous Christmas as he scored 10 factors in seven video games main Sweden to a silver medal. He has the aptitude and ability set to grow to be a really distinguished AHL participant and somebody followers ought to watch whereas he’s in Abbotsford. If he can maintain that latest success from his previous into his time within the AHL, I might see him getting the favored nine-game tryout that groups like to offer their younger gamers.
Canucks’ Winger Depth
An issue that Lekkerimaki faces is the depth chart that the Vancouver Canucks have at ahead and particularly on the fitting wing. Proper now, the staff is ready with Brock Boeser, Conor Garland, and new signings Daniel Sprong and Keifer Sherwood. Even when Lekkerimaki felt snug enjoying left wing, the Canucks are additionally set there with Nils Hoglander, Dakota Joshua, and newly acquired free brokers Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen. It seems like Vancouver has lots of religion in these eight gamers and expects that they would be the winger core for this upcoming season. That’s dangerous information for Lekkerimaki as he hopes to crack the roster out of coaching camp or a minimum of get a great stretch of video games with the staff in some unspecified time in the future this season.
What might work in Lekkerimaki’s favour is the unlucky actuality of hockey, which is accidents. Somebody in some unspecified time in the future this season goes to get injured in Vancouver and the staff might want to substitute them. Relying on who will get harm, Lekkerimaki could also be on the high of Vancouver’s record of gamers that they will name up. Or if he performs higher than a few of the NHL gamers, he might soar up the winger depth chart and show that he does deserve a spot on the Canucks roster. Though that does appear extremely unlikely as that is his first full season of North American hockey, he has the ability set to impress Canucks administration and doubtlessly earn a chance to play NHL video games.
The potential for Lekkerimaki enjoying within the NHL this season is 50/50 in my eyes. He has the abilities to be an NHL participant and may get referred to as up for a few video games. However he nonetheless must develop extra and with the Canucks depth chart being already set, I don’t consider we might be seeing a lot of him within the NHL this season. He can have a a lot better likelihood at being on the Canucks’ roster come coaching camp in 2025.
