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Lekkerimäki feels fully healthy and excited to test surgically repaired shoulder at Canucks camp

Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images

By Jeff Paterson

Sep 5, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 5, 2026, 02:56 EDT

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It’s early September, but the Vancouver Canucks already have a win to celebrate – and not just the Zeev Buium extension.

The fact that Jonathan Lekkerimäki is on the ice with his teammates and a fully active participant in captain’s skates this week is good news for both the player and the organization. There is no day-to-day. There is no non-contact jersey. There is no holding him back. He has returned to the ice as scheduled and is ready to jumpstart his National Hockey League career this season.

As a refresher, Lekkerimäki underwent surgery in Vail, CO, in February to repair a wonky right shoulder that was causing the right winger problems. The idea was to sacrifice the remainder of the 2025-26 season, get the work done so Lekkerimäki could fully recover, have time to train in the offseason, and be ready to hit the ground running and put his best foot forward at training camp.

It appears the plan has come together as it was drawn up last winter.

“I feel good now and it’s good to be back,” the 22-year-old said after a spirited scrimmage on Friday. “It’s good to skate with the guys again.”

Lekkerimäki says his recovery period amounted to just one month of inactivity before he was able to turn his attention to this coming season. He insists the surgery really didn’t limit his offseason training.

“That’s why we did it so early,” he said. “I had a good summer. I took like four weeks off to get the scar settled down. Then I went back to hit the legs and bike, so it was not that long. I think it went well.”

The real proof will come in the weeks ahead when Lekkerimäki tests the surgically repaired shoulder in training camp battles and in the National Hockey League preseason. But for now, he says the early signs are promising.

Opportunity is certainly knocking for the 2022 first-rounder. With the Canucks in a rebuild and needing young players to take steps forward, Lekkerimäki should find himself in positions to succeed. On Friday, he spent part of the scrimmage on a line with former junior teammate Liam Öhgren along with centre Marco Rossi.

And Lekkerimäki has the added benefit of familiarity with head coach Manny Malhotra. He scored 32 regular season goals and three more in the playoffs in two seasons under Malhotra in Abbotsford.

“I think I have a good opportunity here – we’re a young team, but we’re young and hungry,” he said. “I’ve had him (Malhotra) for two years now so it’s great to have him up here. He’s a great coach and I’m really excited.”

In addition to a clean bill of health, Lekkerimäki is also sporting a new number this season. As he returns to Vancouver, he’s traded in the 23 he’s worn in his first couple of seasons in the organization and is now wearing 88.

“Marco wanted 23, so I gave it to him,” Lekkerimäki laughed as he explained the switch, claiming he wasn’t emotionally tied to his old number. “And I had 88 in Sweden.”

In making the swap, Lekkerimäki replaces Nils Aman, who had worn the number for the past couple of seasons. Before that, it belonged to Adam Gaudette, Nate Schmidt and Nikita Tryamkin.

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