The Vancouver Canucks could be reaping the benefits of their 2022 Draft class in the next couple of seasons. Despite the rollercoaster and overall disappointing 2024-25 campaign, there are three prospects in the form of Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Elias Pettersson and Kirill Kudryavtsev that the organization can point to as positives to come out of it. They have all had solid seasons in their first go-around in the professional leagues and appear to be destined for long NHL careers and maybe even part of the next core led by (hopefully) Quinn Hughes.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki Emerging as Future NHL Sniper
Lekkerimaki has come a long way from the disappointing draft-plus-one season that saw him battle injuries and underwhelming play (at least until the HockeyAllsvenskan Playoffs, where his turnaround began). He only had three goals and nine points in 29 games in the regular season before popping off for five goals and 15 points in the playoffs, leading his team to a silver medal.
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After that, Lekkerimaki was moved to Orebro in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and picked up where he left off, showcasing his lethal wrist shot/one-timer, not only for Orebro but Team Sweden at the 2024 World Juniors. He finished his swan song in the SHL with the most goals (19) and points (31) by a junior, and was named the SHL Rookie of the Year and Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year. He also shone at the World Juniors with a tournament-leading seven goals, winning the MVP Award and being named to the WJC All-Star Team and, of course, a top-three player on Sweden.
Lekkerimaki then made the trek to North America where he joined the Abbotsford Canucks until the end of the season. He ended up playing six games with the American Hockey League (AHL) club and hit two major milestones, his first goal and assist. Fast-forward to this season, and Lekkerimaki has not only thrived in the AHL with 19 goals and 28 points in 32 games, but the NHL as well, scoring his first three goals in Canucks colours and suiting up for 21 games (and counting) so far.
Lekkerimaki is still adjusting to life in the NHL, where he doesn’t get as much room to unleash his elite shot. But he seems to be improving every day, gaining the confidence of his head coach, Rick Tocchet, enough to put him on the first-unit power play in place of the injured…
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