Prospect Info: Jonathan Lekkerimaki - Orebro, SHL

[Raistlin]

That is a bananas stat. I know it's a good league and doesn't give many chances to young players, but I would have to think that at least 6 or 7 or so players in the NHL have probably scored goals in 3 consecutive games while under 20 over the same span.

I think the stat is for their FIRST three games in the SEL/Eliteserien?

 

[Dessloch]

I think the stat is for their FIRST three games in the SEL/Eliteserien?

Yes, that is correct.

 

[Tables of Stats]

Jonathan "Nazzy" Lekkerimäki it is.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

I think the stat is for their FIRST three games in the SEL/Eliteserien?

But he played in the SEL 2 years ago, no?

 

[Vector]

I think the stat is for their FIRST three games in the SEL/Eliteserien?

But he played in the SEL 2 years ago, no?

The record is he’s one of four junior aged players to score in the first three games of an SEL season.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Man, all nice goals, too. Nothing washes down the memory of a bad season like starting red hot in the one following.

 

[TomWillander1RD]

If there is one takeaway I hope some ppl take, it’s that mono can F you up for up to a year. As I mentioned long ago, the other prominent example was Couturier. After he got mono, he looked like a completely different player who regressed in nearly every facet of his game. It perplexed many throughout his draft year, including me. I didn’t think mono could affect his play to that severity, but it did.

Then, our new drafting strategy should focus on identifying players who have showed signs of regression due to mono.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

The record is he’s one of four junior aged players to score in the first three games of an SEL season.

Ohhhh... gotcha.

So it's interesting and encouraging but it sort of veers into the baseball stat - most doubles on the 3rd Tuesday of a month beginning with M - type of stat.

 

[RobertKron]

Then, our new drafting strategy should focus on identifying players who have showed signs of regression due to mono.

That's probably legally a lot safer than making the development team focus on having the team's prospects get mono.

 

[Vector]

Ohhhh... gotcha.

So it's interesting and encouraging but it sort of veers into the baseball stat - most doubles on the 3rd Tuesday of a month beginning with M - type of stat.

 

[VanJack]

'Goal-scoring' is something you really can't 'teach'. You either have it, or you don't. And Lekkerimaki seems to have that 'X-factor'.

I have no idea the relative strength of his club team, but since the SHL is one of those leagues that ends early, assuming we could see Lekkerimaki in Abbotsford sometime in March. Hopefully just in time for the Calder Cup playoffs.

 

[Raistlin]

'Goal-scoring' is something you really can't 'teach'. You either have it, or you don't. And Lekkerimaki seems to have that 'X-factor'.

I have no idea the relative strength of his club team, but since the SHL is one of those leagues that ends early, assuming we could see Lekkerimaki in Abbotsford sometime in March. Hopefully just in time for the Calder Cup playoffs.

I think Farjestads, Orebro, Skelleftea and Vaxjo are favorites to be good teams this year. I say just leave him there a full year to develop physically before you get him over here.

 

[Hallzy]

Love to see it... seems to always get in the right spot and hes a lethal finisher. Could look nice next to EP soon

 

[VanJack]

Would be huge if Lekkerimaki follows in the footsteps of Pettersson and Karlson and becomes a big-time scorer in the SHL. And he's still so young. He'll be fun to watch in this year World Junior Tournament.

He's already signed by the Canucks, so he could show up in Abbotsford late in the year. But would probably be better if his SHL club team goes on a long playoff run.

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

Let’s go for four!!!!!

 

[Raistlin]

didnt watch. But streak ended. under 12 minutes TOI, but at least EP(D) got some minutes! (under 3)

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

LETS GO FOR ONE!!

 

[Coffee]

didnt watch. But streak ended. under 12 minutes TOI, but at least EP(D) got some minutes! (under 3)

Lol I knew it was gonna end when everyone got attached /s

 

[TomWillander1RD]

didnt watch. But streak ended. under 12 minutes TOI, but at least EP(D) got some minutes! (under 3)

Is this due to the coach's clear preference for veteran players, the team's strong defensive depth, or should we be expressing concerns about EP2? On a positive note, the coach is giving Lekk some playing time, which shows a more balanced approach rather than solely favoring veterans.

 

[1440]

didnt watch. But streak ended. under 12 minutes TOI, but at least EP(D) got some minutes! (under 3)

I watched the third. It was frustrating from a Lekkerimäki-watch perspective because Örebro had a 1 goal lead and then took a bunch of penalties which meant that he didn't get much ice-time. I think he had 3 shifts total in the period. Still better than the Pettersson watch since he didn't see the ice in the third.

It is partially up to Lekkerimäki to establish the defensive part of his game such that he earns the trust to be played in all situations, but he will struggle to keep up his offensive production if he continues to be deployed so sparingly. Örebro is a competitive team (currently 4-0 to lead the league) and has played a bunch of close games so far. It will be interesting to see if he gets more ice when they are trailing (he is their most offensively gifted player) or if they establish a 2+ goal lead in any of the upcoming games.

He is currently averaging 13:48/game and his 55:12 total ice time is 6th lowest among players with 3 or more points so far. One thing I noticed is that he keeps his shifts very short (I can't find SHL shift length stats, so if anyone has them let me know) and will most often change as soon as the puck changes offensive zones; clearly a sign of a young player on a short leash who doesn't want to be seen as overextending himself.

If this continues we should endeavor to judge him on his per-minute production rather than raw production. He is currently second in the league in G/60 at 3.26, so if he can continue to score despite not getting much ice-time it will be a positive sign even if the counting stats aren't as good.

 

[Diversification]

I watched the third. It was frustrating from a Lekkerimäki-watch perspective because Örebro had a 1 goal lead and then took a bunch of penalties which meant that he didn't get much ice-time. I think he had 3 shifts total in the period. Still better than the Pettersson watch since he didn't see the ice in the third.

It is partially up to Lekkerimäki to establish the defensive part of his game such that he earns the trust to be played in all situations, but he will struggle to keep up his offensive production if he continues to be deployed so sparingly. Örebro is a competitive team (currently 4-0 to lead the league) and has played a bunch of close games so far. It will be interesting to see if he gets more ice when they are trailing (he is their most offensively gifted player) or if they establish a 2+ goal lead in any of the upcoming games.

He is currently averaging 13:48/game and his 55:12 total ice time is 6th lowest among players with 3 or more points so far. One thing I noticed is that he keeps his shifts very short (I can't find SHL shift length stats, so if anyone has them let me know) and will most often change as soon as the puck changes offensive zones; clearly a sign of a young player on a short leash who doesn't want to be seen as overextending himself.

If this continues we should endeavor to judge him on his per-minute production rather than raw production. He is currently second in the league in G/60 at 3.26, so if he can continue to score despite not getting much ice-time it will be a positive sign even if the counting stats aren't as good.

How is Lek's play off puck? Is he in position to cover for his line mates? Is he drifting into soft spots in coverage?

 

[Vector]

 

[1440]

How is Lek's play off puck? Is he in position to cover for his line mates? Is he drifting into soft spots in coverage?

The first thing to say is that he hasn't been played in any sort of defense-specific role. He plays RW and hasn't had any PK time or been put on to defend leads late.

He isn't terrible by any means, he gets into the right spots, but is maybe a little tentative, which can lead to him being a moment behind in his reads. He is also one of the smaller, weaker players on the ice, so he is not going to outmuscle guys at this point and will have to win pucks with guile. That said, he skates well enough, has good hand-eye, and clearly sees the ice well, so with some physical growth you could project him as being a better defensive player than he currently is.

Lovely bit of skill, I was hoping someone clipped this. This clip also cuts off just before he set up another chance that went off the post (edit: maybe it was a save, hard to tell - in any case a good scoring chance for Leino - edit2: they just interviewed Leino after the second and he confirms it was a post, also says he is really enjoying playing with Lek).

Earlier in the period he made another nifty play were his stick was tied up along the boards, so he just dropped it, kicked the puck free and then made a kick-pass to his team-mate. This play led to another post (by Leino), so he is unlucky not to have been on the ice for a goal for thus far.

He has been directly involved in three good scoring chances so far, and his puck skills really stand out at this level.

 

[F A N]

Then, our new drafting strategy should focus on identifying players who have showed signs of regression due to mono.

Or susceptible to catching it. McCann caught mono prior to his first Young Stars and Cassels caught it the same summer.

 

[1440]

A much less noticeable second for Lekkerimäki. Örebro trails 2-1. Robert Leino finally gets a goal on a point shot that bounces in off his shin. Lek was not on the ice since it was in the middle of a line change.

Örebro to the PP to start the 3rd after Lek drew a penalty with 2 seconds left (had his stick held as he went to the net). He will not be involved in the powerplay since it was called as offsetting minors (hook+hold) and a second Malmö player got the extra penalty for interference (a strange way of calling what was a blatant stick-hold).

Edit: The third was also fairly uneventful for Lek. Örebro equalized on the PP that he drew, but he was in the box when they scored. He had a couple plays that show the warts in his game at the moment. He can tend to curl on the half-wall after entering the zone, and if the pass isn't there he doesn't have the breakaway speed (not saying he is slow by any means) or the strength to hold off defenders and he got stripped a couple of times doing this.

He got a little time at the end of OT and made some good passes. Also looked very slick in the shootout scoring his first attempt and then ringing iron with the goalie beat on his second attempt (SHL allows teams to keep sending out the same shooters after the first 3). He is clearly Örebro's first choice shootout guy since he shot twice in this one. That said Malmö scored 3/4 to take the win and hand Örebro their first loss.