While the Vancouver Canucks are embroiled in drama and anticipated changes roster-wise and behind the bench, their prospects continue to impress across North America and overseas.
In this edition of the latest Canucks Prospect Report, McDonough continues his assault on the NCAA leaderboard, three prospects from the 2022 Draft class kick into high gear, and Arshdeep Bains is rediscovering the scoring touch that he had in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Red Deer Rebels.
Lekkerimaki Returns to the J20 Nationell With a Bang
Over the weekend, Jonathan Lekkerimaki was sent back to the league that he dominated in his draft year and promptly put up five points (two goals, three assists). He will now return to the HockeyAllsvenskan and hope that the goals and points follow him. Since being drafted 12th overall by the Canucks in 2022, he has struggled to find the same success he had in 2021-22 at both the J20 Nationell and Swedish Hockey League (SHL) levels. With only a goal and five points in 22 games this season, he knows he has to make some improvements in his game if he wants to develop into an elite winger.
I think I haven’t been my best with the men’s team. I think I can be better at some parts of the game…The play along the boards and being stronger on the puck. To get stronger off the ice.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki (from ‘Canucks prospects tracker: The trials of Jonathan Lekkerimaki, in his own words’, The Province, 1/16/23)
After an average performance at the 2023 World Juniors where Lekkerimaki was benched in Sweden’s semi-final match against Czechia, the hope will be that he can return next year and be a leader offensively when his nation hosts the event in Gothenburg. He has all the tools to do so, from his NHL-caliber wrist shot and hockey IQ to his vision and knack for finding the high-danger areas on the ice, the potential is there for him to be a legit top-line winger. He knows what he has to do to get there, now everyone just has to wait for him to organize his toolbox.
Gardner Continues to Light Up the USHL
Unfortunately, Gardner suffered a torn MCL during the preseason, and could not start the 2022-23 season on time. Luckily, he’s healthy now and is tearing up the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Tri-City Storm. With an impressive four goals and 11 points, he’s already had a five-game point streak and recorded points in 10 of his first 14 games so far.
Related: Vancouver Canucks 2022 Draft: Meet the New Prospects
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