The Vancouver Canucks are seeing some of their young talent step up in crucial moments — but one of their top prospects, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, has yet to find his footing when it matters most.
Since being reassigned to the Abbotsford Canucks on April 8, Lekkerimäki has struggled to make an impact offensively. The 20-year-old forward has gone five consecutive games without recording a point and has managed just one assist over his last 10 appearances. It’s a surprising slump for a player long praised for his lethal shot and offensive instincts.
Reports indicate that Lekkerimäki may still be working through lingering effects from a recent surgery, but expectations remain high for the former 15th overall pick. Simply put, he’s capable of far more than what his recent numbers — just one point since March 26 — suggest.
The Abbotsford Canucks are currently battling for their Calder Cup lives under first-year head coach Manny Malhotra. While the team captured a gritty 4-3 win in Game 1 against the Tucson Roadrunners, they faltered in Game 2, managing just one goal in a 4-1 loss. In that series so far, Lekkerimäki has recorded five shots on goal but carries a -2 plus-minus rating — not the kind of production Abbotsford needs from one of its most talented forwards.
Meanwhile, other young players are rising to the occasion. Fellow Swede Linus Karlsson has found the net in back-to-back games, bolstering his case for an NHL roster spot next season. Center Aatu Räty, another important piece of the Canucks’ future, has an assist in each of the playoff games and looks poised for a full-time NHL promotion later in 2025.
In fairness, this is Lekkerimäki’s first full season playing in North America, and adjustments were always going to be part of the process. Over 60 games split between Vancouver and Abbotsford, he posted an encouraging 22 goals — a sign of the skill that made him a first-round pick in the first place.
The Canucks remain confident that Lekkerimäki can find another gear. But with Abbotsford’s season hanging in the balance and NHL jobs up for grabs next fall, the time is now for the young sniper to remind everyone what he’s capable of.
Leave a Reply