Jonathan Lekkerimäki | RW

[Fanuck]

 

 

From Canucks.com:

Montreal, QC - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the Canucks have selected right wing Jonathan Lekkerimäki 15th overall at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Quebec.

Lekkerimäki, 17, split 2021.22 season between the SHL and J20 Nationell leagues with Djurgårdens IF. In 26 regular season games played with the J20 club, Lekkerimäki recorded 35 points (20-15-35) and eight penalty minutes, ranking third on the team in goals (20) and sixth in points (35). He also made his SHL debut with Djurgårdens IF, collecting nine points (7-2-9) across 26 regular season games.

The 5'10", 171-pound forward spent the two previous seasons in various leagues with Djurgårdens IF, including at U16, J18, and J20 levels. In 2020.21, Lekkerimäki recorded 16 points (12-4-16) in eight games in the J18 Region, leading the team in both goals and points.

A native of Tullinge, Sweden, Lekkerimäki has represented his home country on multiple occasions, highlighted by a recent gold medal victory at the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championship where he led the tournament in scoring with 15 points (5-10-15) in six games. He also contributed five goals in five games at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and one goal in three games at the 2021 Four Nations Tournament.

 

 

 

 

From NHL.com:  

15. Vancouver Canucks -- Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Djurgarden (SWE)

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 6 (International skaters)

Lekkerimaki (5-10, 171), who missed a month of the season with mononucleosis, is a shoot-first forward who plays a two-way game and has good hands and explosiveness. The 17-year-old led all skaters at the 2022 Under-18 World Championship with 15 points and 10 assists for first-place Sweden, and had nine points (seven goals, two assists) in 26 games with Djurgarden of the Swedish Hockey League, the top professional men's league in Sweden.

NHL.com analysis: Lekkerimaki's shot is among the best in this year's draft class and his skating allows him to create space for himself to get it on net. He needs to get bigger and stronger, especially after missing time with mononucleosis. But with high-end forward depth already in Vancouver, the Canucks have the luxury of allowing Lekkerimaki develop at his own pace.

 

Bob MacKenzie's last pre-draft ranking:

8. Jonathan Lekkerimaki: The somewhat undersized (5-foot-10-1/2) Swedish winger has a big-time shot and high-end finishing ability and performed at a high level at the 2022 U-18 World Championship. He might not have quite the same offensive pizzazz as Kemell, but he still projects as a top-six scoring forward. Our scouting survey ranked him as high as No. 4 and as low as No. 17.

 

THW profile:

https://thehockeywriters.com/jonathan-lekkerimaki-2022-nhl-draft-profile/

 

From Habs Eyes on The Prize:

Lucky Lekkerimäki, just like Lucky Luke, draws faster than his own shadow and is just as accurate as the cartoon character. The right-winger has scored in each competition he entered this season, be it internationally in the IIHF Under-18s, in the SHL where he made experienced goalies look like rookies, or in Swedish U20 competition where he was just as dominant as you can expect from a top-10 talent for the 2022 NHL Draft. Jonathan Lekkerimäki has one of the best, if not the best, shots in the draft class; the only other player that I can see coming close is the Finnish phenom Joakim Kemmell.

Lekkerimäki stepped up when it really mattered. In the U18s, he recorded five goals in six games, including an empty-net goal in the final, where he also had three assists (including on the game-winning goal).

Birthplace: Huddinge, Sweden
Date of birth: July 24, 2004
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 172 lbs.
Team: Djurgårdens IF, SHL

There are questions, though. Is Lekkerimäki a one-trick pony? Having been out of the spotlight due to Djurgården having a terrible season, and being caught in the limbo of being a bit too good for the U20s and not really good enough for the SHL, it is tough to make a fair assessment of the problem.

He handles the puck well, keeping it in close in order to make it difficult for the opponents to steal it from him. This also gives him the chance to dangle the opponents that are more often caught off balance as they try to reach for the puck, or off speed if they wait too long. The defenders are damned if they do, and damned if they don’t.

The thing is that Lekkerimäki isn’t really great at everything else. He is average at best when it comes to skating, and while he reads the game well he doesn’t push the envelop in any regard defensively. It is the one-dimensional play that makes it difficult to project his success down the line. In a way he reminds me a bit of Victor Olofsson of the Buffalo Sabres; while his overall game isn’t the best, it may not matter when you can score from anywhere on the ice.

 

Elite Prospects

The shot that he possesses is one-of-a-kind, and he can use it effectively whether it’s a slapshot or wrister. If the puck is passed with speed or if it’s dead on his stick, it doesn’t matter, Lekkerimäki will generate such power and force that it will beat the goalie anyway, reminiscent of Cole Caufield’s. Lekkerimäki’s shot cannot be taught; it is a natural gift and he knows exactly what to do any time he is in a shooting position.

His overall game is what brings the perception down. He has trouble when his first read doesn’t work. He competes in the defensive zone, but it does not come natural to him. He has to think about what he’s supposed to be doing at times, which slows down his reactions and adjustments. When you look at the Gold Medal Game of the U18s, you can also see that he cheats a bit for the empty-net goal, it might be that the coaches want to force the defencemen to be aware of an attacker, but it could be something to keep an eye on with regard to his overall defensive play.

 

 

 

[D.B Cooper]

Ok.  Looks decent?  
Not who I would have chosen, but I’m dumb.  
Im gonna trust the scouts on this one! 

Edited July 8, 2022 by D.B Cooper

[73 Percent]

With who was left on the board I like this pick.

[King Heffy]

I have second thoughts but I'm willing to give him a chance.

[kacholu]

Looks raw with a ton of potential 

[250Integra]

Pretty much drafted a Swedish Boeser replacement if he’s gone in 3 years. 

Edited July 8, 2022 by 250Integra

[Mustard Tiger]

Will 100% be replacing boeser when we trade him in 2 years. If this kid can become a debrincat producer. Oh yesssss

[nuckin_futz]

[Provost]

Meh… you can’t expect much from this position.

 

JR says he likes a big fast team, they draft a small slow player.

 

 

 

 

[Ronaldoescobar]

Not a bad pick. Not a guy that will join the club anytime soon as he’ll need to fill out (hopefully not affecting his shot) but can see him with the Nucks in a few years for sure.

Edited July 8, 2022 by Ronaldoescobar

[kanucks25]

1 minute ago, nuckin_futz said:

He looks like he's going to be one of the main characters in the Game of Thrones Targaryen prequel series.

[AlwaysACanuckFan]

I'm stoked about this pick, welcome aboard kid

[Smashian Kassian]

[JustABandwagoner]

Another sniper = Another Boeser? 

[nivlek604]

Lets go boeser 2.0 

[austy]

is he quite young? 17yrs, July birthday

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[Smashian Kassian]

Just now, -Vintage Canuck- said:

 

 

Nice thought but would rather him continue playing in the SHL.

[Warhippy]

I am about as MEH as a person could be with this pick.  Don't love it, don't hate it.  We drafted right in the middle, we had numerous options.  Picked what was supposed to be the more skilled player left on the board.  Doesn't fill an immediate need.  Is 2-3 years away at least.  Another Swede.  He's young.  He has a shot.  Meh skating.  Little thin.

 

I mean if this isn't a meh pick I don't know what is.

 

Slap this in the time will tell category, will be fun to watch grow and develop but until then...meh

 

On a side note, since 2008, the Canucks have drafted 10 Canadians over 4 drafts; 1 Dane, 3 Americans, 1 Russian, 1 Finn and now 2 Swedes

Edited July 8, 2022 by Warhippy

[BabychStache]

Swedish with a rocket shot.

 

it’s kinda our thing.