Prospect Info: Jonathan Lekkerimaki - Orebro, SHL

[LemonSauceD]

2022 was a deep draft for defenseman.

It feels awfully similar to the 2017 draft in that sense. It was probably more flat than any other draft I can recall and was dubbed as the worst draft since 99, worse than 2012, at that time and a year or so after. Well that draft ended up producing 5 superstars and a plethora of elite players.

Jiricek, Nemec, Korchinski, Mateychuk, Mintyukov, Luneau, Hutson, Bischel, Pickering, Casey, Chesley, Kyrou, Lamoreux, Salomonsson

Just in the first 2 rounds. There are other gems in the later rounds including our very own in Pettersson, and then Orlov, Spacek, and Engstrom.

By no means was this a bad draft. The top 10 lacked higher end forwards for sure, but the first round as a whole, there are some very good offensive talent selected, much like the 2017 draft. There are also a lot of under the radar forwards with very solid draft +1 seasons in the later rounds. The only real crapshoot of that draft was the 4th round, where a bunch of low upside overagers were selected like 10-15 picks consecutively. And then evaluating the significance of a draft beyond the 5th round is fruitless.

 

[Jyrki21]

Rutger McGroarty and Cutter Gauthier are the same person.

Both are bad guys in a Simpsons parody of an action movie.

 

[Siludin]

Both are bad guys in a Simpsons parody of an action movie.

Cutter Gauthier is the name of a villain when writers are trying to pander to a Canadian audience.

 

[DFAC]

This is pretty fair tbh lol. I mean, we could TRY to make it interesting. I am actually pretty high on Lekkerimaki, his release is pretty unreal, and if he rounds out his game and eventually cracks the roster--for the sake of making it interesting--I will be bold and say it will be between him and Pettersson for who has the best shot on the team.

Anyone have a good comparable for Lekk's release? I don't think we have a shooter on the Canucks right now who has as deceptive and as quick a release as does Lekk. Pettersson obviously has an elite shot with otherworldly accuracy and power, along with a very whippy release he can pull to change angles on, but I do think Lekk's release is more deceptive. Petey's release is very fluid through his whole body, and his body mechanics are like an instructional video of how to shoot with a whippy stick; it is beautiful to watch. Although his shot is too fast for it to really matter, the fluidity also telegraphs the timing of his release, and the puck leaves his stick more or less when you think it should. Lekk's release relies on quieter body mechanics, and he seems to be able to get it off despite being mid stride, off balance, or in more awkward postures. It often seems to leave his stick half a beat early. He is able to get his one-timer off from less than ideal passes, whereas Petey needs a damn near perfect pass, and he often won't shoot if the timing is a little off or if it isn't perfectly in his wheelhouse. Miller by contrast is very good at making the most out of mediocre passes in getting his one-timer off, and I believe Lekk will be similar to Miller in this regard. For my player comparison, I think Lekk shoots a bit like Jack Eichel, where he gets a lot of power and accuracy into it with a short wind-up and short follow-through while keeping a quiet and upright upper body posture.

His shot reminds me of rookie Boeser... they play a similar style I think. JL's playmaking is actually pretty decent and underrated part of his game like Brock

 

[Vector]

Key part is, once again, he’s going to the middle of the ice.

 

[TomWillander1RD]

Key part is, once again, he’s going to the middle of the ice.

There is another highlight clip in the same article showing his engagement.

Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki stays hot with another goal in SHL preseason

<i>Be sure to check out the latest <a href="https://betway.com/en/spor...

canucksarmy.com

 

[F A N]

Key part is, once again, he’s going to the middle of the ice.

Well he had a ton of space. With that said, his success is going to hinge on his ability to find space and time. I think the reality is that Lekkerimaki isn't afraid to drive to the net in the SHL for fear of getting hurt. But whether he's going to play fearless in North America is a different story.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Well he had a ton of space. With that said, his success is going to hinge on his ability to find space and time. I think the reality is that Lekkerimaki isn't afraid to drive to the net in the SHL for fear of getting hurt. But whether he's going to play fearless in North America is a different story.

SHL is plenty physical.

These practice games are not a good measure of the play.

 

[Vector]

Well he had a ton of space. With that said, his success is going to hinge on his ability to find space and time. I think the reality is that Lekkerimaki isn't afraid to drive to the net in the SHL for fear of getting hurt. But whether he's going to play fearless in North America is a different story.

SHL is plenty physical.

These practice games are not a good measure of the play.

I don’t disagree. All I’m saying is it’s an encouraging continuation of how he played in the playoffs. The next step is to see him do it during the regular season after taking a few hits.

 

[BluesyShoes]

Well he had a ton of space. With that said, his success is going to hinge on his ability to find space and time. I think the reality is that Lekkerimaki isn't afraid to drive to the net in the SHL for fear of getting hurt. But whether he's going to play fearless in North America is a different story.

To be fair he found that space by slipping through the coverage at the right moment as the puck moved cross-ice to the hash marks, and he had a split second to get that shot off before the goalie got set. It was a pretty smart play with the extra attacker, and although he is pretty wide open, the window of opportunity was brief. That kind of quick strike play is what works in tighter coverage on smaller ice.

 

[VanJack]

II assume that if Lekkerimaki's season ends early in the SHL, he could be a consideration for the Abbotsford Canucks next spring in March-April?

 

[F A N]

II assume that if Lekkerimaki's season ends early in the SHL, he could be a consideration for the Abbotsford Canucks next spring in March-April?

Certainly. He's under contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He's technically "on loan" to Orebro.

 

[Raistlin]

First game,13th Sept.

 

[nucksflailtogether]

First game,13th Sept.

Looking good so far.

 

[sting101]

Great to hear he's advanced to a top line position. I dont generally care much for pre season stats but what i do care about is seeing a player advance to bigger roles because he's impressed the coaching staff enough to be leaned on for putting the team in the best position for wins.

That has true meaning.

Lets hope he keeps building on it.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Great to hear he's advanced to a top line position. I dont generally care to much for pre season stats but what i do care about is seeing a player advance to bigger roles because he's impressed the coaching staff enough to be leaned on for putting the team in the best position for wins.

That has true meaning.

Lets hope he keeps building on it.

Yeah I’m always leery of using the injury excuse but if mono did really hurt him last season we should see a big improvement this year. Already moving up to the first line is a way bigger thing than a couple of preseason goals.

 

[Raistlin]

Great to hear he's advanced to a top line position. I dont generally care to much for pre season stats but what i do care about is seeing a player advance to bigger roles because he's impressed the coaching staff enough to be leaned on for putting the team in the best position for wins.

That has true meaning.

Lets hope he keeps building on it.

and hopefully for him to shutdown all his naysayers that he was stagnant against inferior competition in the allsvenskan league last year. Not saying it looks like he is going to be all world, but maybe he's on track to catch back up to the Kemells and Bystedts of his draft this year.

Its a very welcome about face from the media's doom and gloom of last year.

Yeah I’m always leery of using the injury excuse but if mono did really hurt him last season we should see a big improvement this year. Already moving up to the first line is a way bigger thing than a couple of preseason goals.

yes, its the most positive development. he was on the 4th line at times in Djurgarden. To illustrate how badly he performed after coming back. I want to know if he's going to be a complementary player or can he actually drive his line this upcoming season.

 

[ZEBROA]

Lekkerimaki translates as " Delicious(Lekkeri) Hill(maki)" .

So nickname "Cupcake?" Fierce hockeyname.

 

[Diversification]

Lekkerimaki translates as " Delicious(Lekkeri) Hill(maki)" .

So nickname "Cupcake?" Fierce hockeyname.

Sugarhill...

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

 

[WetcoastOrca]

What a snipe!

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

Ok let’s talk season projections
They play 52 regular season games, without looking into the amount of games he would miss for the world juniors, what do we hope to see for JL ( aka sugahill)
A 0.8 PPG would be great
17 goals 15 Assists

World Juniors it would be great to see him as a top producer.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

It certainly looks like he's having a promising start, hope he can carry it into the regular season and erase the memories of last year.

 

[arttk]

Ok let’s talk season projections
They play 52 regular season games, without looking into the amount of games he would miss for the world juniors, what do we hope to see for JL ( aka sugahill)
A 0.8 PPG would be great
17 goals 15 Assists

World Juniors it would be great to see him as a top producer.

30 goals?

 

[JanBulisPiggyBack]

30 goals?

Points per game