Canucks 2022 1st-rounder
Since the day we interviewed him when he was drafted 15th-overall in 2022, the conversation has been about Jonathan Lekkerimaki’s shot. It’s high end.
When the 20-year-old Swede makes his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night at Rogers Arena, his head coach Rick Tocchet wants him to use his strongest attribute.
“I just want Johnny to go play the game,” Tocchet said after practice on Monday, “and be who he is. I mean, we had these 2-on-1’s (drills) and he’s trying to pass to everybody; that’s not his job. I want him to shoot the puck.”
Lekkerimaki has five goals in seven games with the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL this season. He started the campaign nursing a minor injury that Tocchet referred to as a “tweak”. It’s apparently no longer a factor.
“I just try to be humble and try to do my best everyday,” the soft spoken winger said after practice in Vancouver on Sunday.
It appears Lekkerimaki will play on a line with J.T. Miller and Pius Suter.
“I think Millsy’s forechecking, able to get the puck, like how he gets the puck to Brock (Boeser),” Tocchet said. “Lekkerimaki’s got a great shot.”
“He’s a great guy, it’s going to be fun to play with him, ” Lekkerimaki said of Miller. “He’s a great player, knows (inaudible) to pass the puck, and with the small details, he does everything right out there.”
Oh yes, speaking of Boeser … this NHL opportunity for the young native of Tullinge, Sweden arrives due to a head injury to Boeser, who was blindsided by Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot last Thursday night.
Concussion symptoms come and go and can be unpredictable. Tocchet summed things up by saying Boeser was day-to-day.
“Next man up”, as they say. In this case, the long awaited debut of Jonathan Lekkerimaki.
