Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has a simple message to Jonathan Lekkerimäki ahead of his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, and it’s one Lekkerimäki has heard throughout his career before.

Shoot the puck.

“I just want Johnny to just go play the game and be who he is,” Tocchet said after Monday’s Canucks practice. “Like, we had these two on ones. He’s trying to pass to everybody. That’s not his job. I want him to shoot the puck.

“Like, these young guys — I always laugh, like even Bains last year, he had a couple two one ones and he’d be trying to pass. I want these young guys to be selfish and shoot.

“That’s what that’s what he is — he’s a shooter. Shoot the puck every time and Millsy [JT Miller] won’t be mad if you shoot, trust me.”

Lekkerimäki is expected to skate on the Canucks’ top line alongside JT Miller and Jake DeBrusk in his debut, despite spending the majority of training camp on a line with Elias Pettersson. Tocchet explained his thought process behind that decision after practice on Monday.

“I don’t know, I’d just rather have Gars [Conor Garland] back with Petey and Jake. I think Millsy’s forechecking, being able to get the puck, like how he gets the puck to Brock, you know, [Lekkerimäki’s] got a great shot. And, you know Suts [Pius Suter] is that Swiss Army knife that can play that defensive game if we need him to help out. So [there is] less pressure on [Lekkerimäki].”

Lekkerimäki, the Canucks’ 15th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has gotten off to a hot start in his first full season in North America. Through seven AHL games with the Abbotsford Canucks, Lekkerimäki is already up to five goals and two assists, and has taken a whopping 39 shots through seven games.

The Canucks lost one of their most lethal shooting threats after Brock Boeser went down with an upper body injury following a hit to the head from LA Kings forward Tanner Jeannot, and they are certainly hoping Lekkerimäki can help fill that void.

Our prospect expert Dave Hall wrote earlier today about what to expect from Lekkrimäki in his debut, and you can read that by clicking here.

Also be sure to check out the Pre-Game Crossover video with me and FlamesNation managing editor Ryan Pike below!