Canucks GM Patrik Allvin talks prospects’ performance at World Juniors, Lekkerimäki’s NHL timeline, and more

Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin discussed the future of his team, including the status of top Swedish prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki, in an interview on TSN on Tuesday.

Allvin spoke with TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde in an intermission segment during Tuesday’s semifinal game between Sweden and Switzerland at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Göthenburg.

The Canucks have three prospects taking part at this year’s World Juniors, and all three of them play for Team Sweden: Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Elias Pettersson, and Tom Willander. The Swedes defeated Team Switzerland 3–2 in overtime on Tuesday, with Lekkerimäki setting up Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka for the winning goal.

“Our scouts obviously did their homework,” Allvin said. “We’re very pleased with how they’re performing in the tournament. It’s great to see Lekkerimäki in this tournament taking a big step and taking shots and being a leader on the team here.”

Allvin added that tournament offered an opportunity for Willander “to come home” after spending the first part of the season playing at Boston University, and that Pettersson had impressed him as a “steady presence on the back end” for the Swedes.

But with Lekkerimäki, who Lalonde singled out as being “a step above” many of his teammates, Allvin indicated that the plan is for him to join the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks this spring before reporting to training camp in the fall.

“He’s had a good season here in Sweden,” Allvin said. “He’s been working hard since the off-season. Another eight months from him and we’ll be excited to see him in training camp. Once the season is over, we hope he’s gonna be on Abbotsford and we’ll take it from there.”

Team Sweden is set to take on Team Czechia in the semifinals at the World Juniors on Thursday at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time.