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F Jonathan Lekkerimaki (2022, 15th, VAN)

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vildurson said:
Nasty deceptive shot. Shoot first mentality. Good hands. Good skating. Plenty to like. Most likely will be out of top 10 in this draft because of his size, defensive side and questions of how he can deal with larger players taking his time and space away. Probably somewhere in 15-20 range, like Cole Caufield as an example in his draft class?
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He was already at the 12th spot in Bob's mid-season poll of scouts, and there's no way he's falling from where he was in December. If the draft was today, He'd probably go in the 9-12 area.
 
Doug Prishpreed said:
He was already at the 12th spot in Bob's mid-season poll of scouts, and there's no way he's falling from where he was in December. If the draft was today, He'd probably go in the 9-12 area.
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If he can keep his hot streak going on, there is strong argument for that spot.
 
vildurson said:
Nasty deceptive shot. Shoot first mentality. Good hands. Good skating. Plenty to like. Most likely will be out of top 10 in this draft because of his size, defensive side and questions of how he can deal with larger players taking his time and space away. Probably somewhere in 15-20 range, like Cole Caufield as an example in his draft class?
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Lekkerimaki plays a completely different game as compared to Caufield. Caufield as a prospect had a plain better arsenal of shots to deploy, was much more agile as a skater, and his main strength lied (and still does) in his preternatural ability to find holes in coverage to exploit, position himself in to try and score goals. It is only post-draft, in his first and second years in Wisconsin, that Caufield began to exhibit primary puck carrier/distributor qualities in addition to his wonderful sense for opportunities to score goals.

Lekkerimaki on the other hand isn't as pure of a sniper as Caufield was in his draft year, but he is just more versatile on the offensive side of the puck as a prospect. He can play the cycle game much more successfully, he is a more proficient playmaker, better defensively (not that besting Caufield as a prospect in that sense is hard at all), much bigger and stronger than Caufield while also being quite the quality goalscorer and puckhandler himself.

I think a better comparable for Lekkerimaki would be Alexander Holtz, although that comparison is still far from perfect as Holtz had plain better tools overall aside from hockey sense which is pretty much level between the two if we compare them in their respective draft years.

Then you also add in the fact that Holtz has/had a tendency to try and extend plays offensively whenever he could whereas Lekkerimaki will play a faster pace of game, holding possession of the puck for less time in favor of faster passes instead of trying (and sometimes failing) to hold and wait for that "most optimal" play to become open. Again, stylistic comparisons rarely if ever truly match all that well. They are there simply to give us an idea of how a certain prospect approaches and plays the game.

Anyways, as far as ranks go you'd be more or less right in how things would play out for Lekkerimaki if the draft happened now, 15-20 sounds reasonable.

But the thing is that Lekkerimaki has really impressed in his last couple games playing elevated minutes with Djugarden. As such, his status as a prospect appears to be very much on the rise and so he might yet still go higher in the draft as the season continues to progress. I personally think Lekkerimaki could go 6th-10th if he continues on his current tear, although top 10-15 is a lot more likely
 
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Scored again today and was an offensive threat all game. Really doing well right now.
 
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With Miroschnichenko's health situation, and Kemmell cooling down, I think Lekkerimakki is the best goal scorer in the draft now.
 
What's the gap between him Lambert Yurov and Kemell?

For the sake of Yurov let's ignore the Russian factor and current events.

He's intriguing tbh

Formenton-Stutzle-Lekkerimaki

Has the markings of an interesting second line.
 
NHL Dude 120 said:
What's the gap between him Lambert Yurov and Kemell?

For the sake of Yurov let's ignore the Russian factor and current events.

He's intriguing tbh

Formenton-Stutzle-Lekkerimaki

Has the markings of an interesting second line.
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I'd have those players ranked as follows: Yurov (5th overall for me if we follow your rules), Kemmell (7th overall), Lekkerimaki (11th overall), and finally Lambert (22th).

Yurov and Kemmell are pretty much on the same tier as prospects to me, with Lekkerimaki a small but noticeable notch behind as I don't think some of his tools are as good as those of the others. However, Lambert is several steps behind as a prospect compared to the other three.

I like Lambert's game defensively, I really like his effort level, and he has great speed as well as astounding energy/cardio given that there is very little to no drop in his play quality despite the incredible distances he crosses on the ice at high-speed each shift. Then you add in the fact that Lambert has good moves and footwork handling the puck, will go dig out pucks in the corner without problem, is no slouch on the strength department despite the need to bulk up quite a bit (same old same old for prospects), receives passes really well even with awkward placement, drives puck-possession like an absolute champ, is exceedingly good in transition, shoots well, has a nice sense of touch/timing on his passes, and owns a pretty sweet release when he shoots.

Seriously, with such incredible hockey attributes you'd think Lambert would have virtually all the makings of a perennial all-star at the NHL level and be a favorite for first-overall pick in this year's draft.

But then you start the evaluation on Lambert's hockey sense and things go south pretty quickly.

I'll say it straight out; I absolutely hate Lambert's hockey sense. It makes Broberg's in his draft year look very advanced (!). Despite having sweets mitts Lambert doesn't have the hockey smarts / hasn't learned how to create anything individually against tighter checking, often defaulting the puck back to teammates, putting them in awkward positions on the ice at times. His offensive play selection is woefully lacking as far as decision-making speed goes, but worst of all is his vision and anticipation, as Lambert very often misses or overlooks the "optimal" play to make, often opting for telegraphed back passes that seem to get picked-off every damn time and becomes a turnover.

One of the only things I do like about Lambert's reads offensively is that he is pretty aware of board passes and plays by defenders and will stifle the breakout really well as a forward along the boards, maintaining possession.

If not for Lambert's potential as a bottom-6 NHLer and the small but unlikely chance that he sorts out his IQ problems he wouldn't even be a first-round pick for me, but that potential is there and so he stays at 22 for me right now.

So yeah, I would draft Lekkerimaki 10/10 times ahead of Lambert at this point in time. Lekkerimaki just seems more likely to put it all together at the NHL level.
 
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Very interesting prospect. Has all the tools I love in a hockey player. How’s his physicality? Can he hold his own? Any mean edge in his play?

Can’t wait to see him on NHL ice and hear how the annoucers try to butcher his name.
 
MartinBe said:
Love his game, hopefully he stays with Djurgården in Allsvenskan next year.
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Sounds like it unless the team drafting him has a different idea.

Djurgården's GM wants that whole 2022 quartet to play for the men's team next season. Considering the type of players he has signed(defensive forwards) there should be a good chance all of the forwards at least get more offensive roles.
 
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theslatcher said:
Sounds like it unless the team drafting him has a different idea.

Djurgården's GM wants that whole 2022 quartet to play for the men's team next season. Considering the type of players he has signed(defensive forwards) there should be a good chance all of the forwards at least get more offensive roles.
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Yes hopefully not a team who want to rush him over. Can´t imagine a better opportunity for them three in DIF considering that and the all the experience Kruger has.
 
How's the skating and IQ? from the looks of his highlights he's got some good hands and a laser beam of a shot
 
KaprizovSaveUs said:
How's the skating and IQ? from the looks of his highlights he's got some good hands and a laser beam of a shot
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Above average, not elite (like his shot). Underrated passer, since most people see him as a pp/shooting specialist.

When he was younger his game was a lot more about dekes and dangles. He was quite spectacular and successful at that. I do not see those kind of moves as frequently now when the opposition is stronger and better.

My main issues with Lekkerimäki is consistency I think. Previously I did not like his skating or defensive game. Skating has improved a whole lot over the course of the last two seasons though and I think most see him as an above average skater by now.
 
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KaprizovSaveUs said:
How's the skating and IQ? from the looks of his highlights he's got some good hands and a laser beam of a shot
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Intelligent player, but not a Kucherov/Aho/Fox mastermind of the game. His skating is above average overall as we saw in the previous few games where players had trouble keeping up with him. But it's a mixed bag. He's very good on his edges, but his straight ahead stride has a flaw. I think it's fixable, and he has decent straight speed anyways.
 
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He did win the scoring charts with 15 points at the U18s. That should obviously raise his draft stock. His great shot is well known, and it was also nice to see him show his great 1v1 skill a lot during the tournament. One of the best players in the draft at beating his man with dangles, for sure. His vision, passing and creativity is great. Really has an intriguing skillset. I absolutely do not think he is a worse prospect than Holtz or Eklund who both went 7th overall.
 
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