During the early parts of the 2023-24 hockey season, there’s been a ton to like from Vancouver Canucks 2022 first-round pick Jonathan Lekkerimäki.
The SHL preseason is wrapping up and Lekkerimäki has been one of the hottest scorers in Sweden as the regular season looms. Lekkerimäki scored his fourth goal of the SHL preseason on Thursday in a match with Linkoping.
The 19-year-old winger was lined up on the fourth line but still saw some time on the power play unit, where he walked down from the blue line and ripped a wicked wrist shot past the goaltender to give him four goals in seven preseason games.
Another 🚨GOAL🚨 from Jonathan Lekkerimäki in the SHL preseason.
This one was ripped into the top corner. It's his fourth goal of the preseason.#CanucksProspect pic.twitter.com/OdzKrTpw0U
— 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 Faber 🔥🎙 (@ChrisFaber39) September 7, 2023
After a tumultuous season last year, Lekkerimäki is beginning to show why the Canucks drafted him 15th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. There’s a ton of offensive skill there with this kid and though he still needs to add a lot of muscle before coming over to North America, it’s great to see him finding his scoring touch as he is at his best in the offensive zone with the puck on his stick.
It’s clear that Lekkerimäki has made significant improvements to his game since last season. He’s fully healthy and is preparing to play a full season in the SHL with a hometown World Junior Championships this winter in Sweden. There’s a big spotlight on Lekkerimäki, especially after what he did, or didn’t do, last season.
This preseason has been good for his progression but in the end, this is still just the preseason and we will need to see Lekkerimäki have success when the games actually count.
The SHL regular season begins this coming Wednesday and Lekkerimäki, Elias Pettersson (D-Petey) and their club, Örebro will be in action against Leksands. The other Canucks prospect that will be in action for the SHL regular season kick-off will be Lucas Forsell, who just turned 20 earlier this week and his club Färjestad will play Växjö on the opening day of the SHL season.
Keep it locked here at CanucksArmy for all of your Canucks prospect updates and we will be back with a regular Tuesday Blackfish prospects report very soon.
