Jonathan Lekkerimaki - Arrived in Abbotsford

[Blue and Green]

Lekk wont be Pastrnak. I can see why the comparison was made stylistically. But a 110 point producer? That's a bit ahead of ourselves.

I don't even see much of a stylistic comparison. Pastrnak was/is much more dynamic.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Kid has NHL level offensive chops. Getting the rest of his game rounded out will take time but looks promising.

 

[VanJack]

Lekk wont be Pastrnak. I can see why the comparison was made stylistically. But a 110 point producer? That's a bit ahead of ourselves.

Pastrnak was nothing special in his first two pro seasons in NA. which he split between Providence and Boston.

He was a ppg player in the AHL in 2014-15 with 11 goals and 17 assists and then was called up and added another 10 goals and 17 assists in 46 NHL games.

His next year was even more pedestrian in 2015-16 with 15 goals and 11 assists in 51 games and also spent little more time in Providence.

Granted he was younger than Lekkerimaki is now, but there was nothing in his first couple of years to indicate he'd be a breakout player. And it's worth noting he played in three World Jr. Tournaments for Czechia and scored just one goal in each of the three tournaments. As we all know, Lekkerimaki played in two, and was the tournament MVP last season.

So while I agree it's doubtful that Lekkerimki ever hits the 100-point mark, I could easily see him at 30-30 consistently in the 60-70 point range. And Pastrnak didn't hit the century mark until he was 26-27. So Lekkerimaki has a lot of time yet.

 

[F A N]

Pastrnak was nothing special in his first two pro seasons in NA. which he split between Providence and Boston.

He was a ppg player in the AHL in 2014-15 with 11 goals and 17 assists and then was called up and added another 10 goals and 17 assists in 46 NHL games.

His next year was even more pedestrian in 2015-16 with 15 goals and 11 assists in 51 games and also spent little more time in Providence.

Granted he was younger than Lekkerimaki is now, but there was nothing in his first couple of years to indicate he'd be a breakout player. And it's worth noting he played in three World Jr. Tournaments for Czechia and scored just one goal in each of the three tournaments. As we all know, Lekkerimaki played in two, and was the tournament MVP last season.

So while I agree it's doubtful that Lekkerimki ever hits the 100-point mark, I could easily see him at 30-30 consistently in the 60-70 point range. And Pastrnak didn't hit the century mark until he was 26-27. So Lekkerimaki has a lot of time yet.

I think what Patrnak did was special. There aren't that many 18 year old late first round picks who make the NHL. And your stat watching doesn't tell the whole story. Both Reinhart and Draisaitl were sent back to juniors. Draisaitl had 2 goals 9 points in 37 games when Pastrnak had 10 goals 27 points in 46 games.

In other years, a player like Jack Hughes had 7 goals 21 points in 61 games.

What Pastrnak did as an 18 year old is impressive considering that he wasn't a top 3 pick. His trajectory and breakout was absolutely in line with other star players who made the NHL as an 18 year old and wasn't a star immediately.

Everything requires context. Lekkerimaki was slightly built and I think struggled as he recovered from mono. And also, unlike Pastrnak, keep in mind that the Canucks reportedly had Lekkerimaki ranked 7th overall (I do consider the 2022 to be a weak draft). I believe that no team ranked Pastrnak as a top 10 pick at the time.

 

[sandwichbird2023]

Pastrnak was a legitimate NHLer at ages 18 and 19, a good first-line player at age 20 and is probably on track for the Hall of Fame. Lekkerimaki has shown nothing close to that level. Boeser minus the size is about the best that I can see for Lekkerimaki.

Bruins fans said that they can see the skills in Pasta even in his teen years, but he was too slight to be too effective during those years. As he grown and add strength/mass, he starts to take off.

I don't see an exact parallel between Lek and Pasta, but I do see that, if developed properly, Lek can also become more effective as he gains weight/strength, similar to the path of Pasta but at a lower ceiling. 30ish goals and 70ish points should not be outlandish for Lek in his prime. He will be a good player.

 

[bossram]

Pastrnak was nothing special in his first two pro seasons in NA. which he split between Providence and Boston.

He was a ppg player in the AHL in 2014-15 with 11 goals and 17 assists and then was called up and added another 10 goals and 17 assists in 46 NHL games.

His next year was even more pedestrian in 2015-16 with 15 goals and 11 assists in 51 games and also spent little more time in Providence.

Granted he was younger than Lekkerimaki is now, but there was nothing in his first couple of years to indicate he'd be a breakout player. And it's worth noting he played in three World Jr. Tournaments for Czechia and scored just one goal in each of the three tournaments. As we all know, Lekkerimaki played in two, and was the tournament MVP last season.

So while I agree it's doubtful that Lekkerimki ever hits the 100-point mark, I could easily see him at 30-30 consistently in the 60-70 point range. And Pastrnak didn't hit the century mark until he was 26-27. So Lekkerimaki has a lot of time yet.

Yeah, this is a fundamental misunderstanding of player development from you.

Pastrnak was a top AHL forward and then became a middle-six NHL forward as a relatively young 18 year old. That is extremely impressive and a huge sign that he was going to be star player. To say it was "nothing special" is hilariously inaccurate.

At the same age, Lekk turned in a disappointing season in the Allvenskan. Lekk's current NA pro season is less impressive than Pastrnak's 18 year old NA pro season.

 

[Canucker]

If he can develop a chemistry with a good playmaking center I think he could end up a pretty reasonable 35-40 goal scorer...the shot is there, the willingness to go to the tough areas is there, the skating is there...I look at Kyle Connor as a possible comparable (a RH version obviously) but I haven't seen some of the playmaking creativity that Connor has yet...maybe its not there, but the shot and skating will keep him a very effective weapon.

 

[DFAC]

Allvin preaching skill first at the 2:45 min mark.

I like going back to this video from time to time.

Except when building a competent defence... they only look for tall

 

[VanJack]

Yeah, this is a fundamental misunderstanding of player development from you.

Pastrnak was a top AHL forward and then became a middle-six NHL forward as a relatively young 18 year old. That is extremely impressive and a huge sign that he was going to be star player. To say it was "nothing special" is hilariously inaccurate.

At the same age, Lekk turned in a disappointing season in the Allvenskan. Lekk's current NA pro season is less impressive than Pastrnak's 18 year old NA pro season.

Well for context, according to Hockey DB Pastrnak never played a single game in the SHL, as a teen-ager, and split time between the Swedish Jr. Leagues and the Allvesnskan. His stats in those two leagues were pretty mediocre.

By comparison, Lekkerimaki was the 'teenage player of the year' in the SHL last season. In the World Jr. Hockey championships, Pastrnak played in three tournaments for Czechia, and was underwhelming. We all know what Lekkerimaki did in the same tournament.

Sure Pastrnak had an impressive start to his NA career as a teenager, but there was very little in his background to ever suggest he'd be an all-star and a 100-point player. If there had been, maybe even Benning would have drafted him instead of Jared McCann.

 

[bossram]

Well for context, according to Hockey DB Pastrnak never played a single game in the SHL, as a teen-ager, and split time between the Swedish Jr. Leagues and the Allvesnskan. His stats in those two leagues were pretty mediocre.

By comparison, Lekkerimaki was the 'teenage player of the year' in the SHL last season. In the World Jr. Hockey championships, Pastrnak played in three tournaments for Czechia, and was underwhelming. We all know what Lekkerimaki did in the same tournament.

Sure Pastrnak had an impressive start to his NA career as a teenager, but there was very little in his background to ever suggest he'd be an all-star and a 100-point player. If there had been, maybe even Benning would have drafted him instead of Jared McCann.

Pastrnak was a top-six forward in the Allvenskan in his draft year. He played 1 game in the J20 (and had 2 points). You literally don't know what you're talking about.

You're actually delusional if you think breaking into the NHL at 18 and playing at middle-six or top-six level does not suggest he would be an all-star player. Go put together a list of 18 year olds producing 0.58 points-per-game or more in the NHL and see who's on it.

I don't know why anyone is valuing WJC results that much. It's a short, weird tournament. It's interesting, but isn't really much of an indication of a player. And now your appeal to authority is Jim Benning of all people? LMAOOOOOOOO.

Lekk is a good prospect. He is not comparable or even close to what Pastrnak was at the same ages.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

I don't even see much of a stylistic comparison. Pastrnak was/is much more dynamic.

Much better skater for sure. Pasta wasn't always a 110-point line driver, he had to work at it.

Like, they are called "prospects" for a reason, no?

Pastrnak was nothing special in his first two pro seasons in NA. which he split between Providence and Boston.

My correct assumptions of other people's thinking here scares me sometimes. Enough HF for today I think

 

[Bertuzzzi44]

Keep him around in the bottom 6, we can sure use more bottom 6 scoring.

 

[wetcoast]

Bruins fans said that they can see the skills in Pasta even in his teen years, but he was too slight to be too effective during those years. As he grown and add strength/mass, he starts to take off.

I don't see an exact parallel between Lek and Pasta, but I do see that, if developed properly, Lek can also become more effective as he gains weight/strength, similar to the path of Pasta but at a lower ceiling. 30ish goals and 70ish points should not be outlandish for Lek in his prime. He will be a good player.

I remeber having Pasta on my prospects list in a keeper fantasy league and just for fun I offered him and some serviceable players to the alst place team which ahd Malkin even though I knew that I would lsoe the deal and the guy balked saying I was trying to fleece him.

The deal included some other nice pieces as I had too many keepers and couldn't protect them all.

 

[Svedu]

Will Aatu make the NHL roster in the end? How has he looked this far? Is his skating horrible or decent nowadays?

Have Lekkerimäki and Aatu had any chemistry while together in Abbotsford? Because if Miller or someone gets traded? That could be of interest of trying with the A team.

 

[F A N]

Bruins fans said that they can see the skills in Pasta even in his teen years, but he was too slight to be too effective during those years. As he grown and add strength/mass, he starts to take off.

I don't see an exact parallel between Lek and Pasta, but I do see that, if developed properly, Lek can also become more effective as he gains weight/strength, similar to the path of Pasta but at a lower ceiling. 30ish goals and 70ish points should not be outlandish for Lek in his prime. He will be a good player.

I recall reading draft guides noting his high end skill along with the typical needs to get bigger and stronger and work on his D.