How Jonathan Lekkerimaki Can Break Into the NHL with the Canucks…
As the Vancouver Canucks’ 2024 training camp kicked off, head coach Rick Tocchet was only somewhat familiar with their 2022 first-round pick, Jonathan Lekkerimaki.
While he had read reports from the development staff and was aware of the buzz surrounding the prospect, he hadn’t seen much of Lekkerimaki firsthand and was curious about the young player’s readiness.
Now that he’s watched Lekkerimaki in action, Tocchet understands why there’s excitement surrounding him. The young forward has shown impressive growth, particularly in his play away from the puck. In the first two pre-season games, Tocchet praised Lekkerimaki for doing the little things well.
He cited a specific breakout play where Lekkerimaki, as the low forward, made a smart, timely move, demonstrating the kind of awareness that wins games. It was a play that impressed both Tocchet and assistant coach Adam Foote.
Lekkerimaki’s intelligence and instincts have put him on the brink of breaking into the NHL. The Canucks view him as a future star, but the question remains: how soon will he make it? Starting the season on the NHL roster may be challenging.
He doesn’t require waivers to be sent to the minors, unlike other forwards like Nils Aman and Phil Di Giuseppe, who the team values and must protect from waivers.
In the long run, Lekkerimaki’s skill will likely propel him past players like Aman and Di Giuseppe, but there’s no need to rush. The Canucks want him to build confidence in North American pro hockey, where the rink is smaller and the competition is more physical.
Lekkerimaki has yet to score in North America, something crucial for a player known for his goal-scoring ability. He’s already had five AHL games last spring and two NHL exhibition games, showing overall promise, but for a spot on the Canucks’ roster, he needs to find the back of the net.
There’s a potential roster spot open due to Dakota Joshua’s ongoing treatment for testicular cancer. With Joshua and goalie Thatcher Demko potentially starting the season on injured reserve, the Canucks could make room for Lekkerimaki without sending Aman or Di Giuseppe through waivers.
However, there’s a cap issue. Both Joshua and Demko have significant cap hits, and keeping them on regular injured reserve would leave the Canucks with limited flexibility.
To avoid waiving players, Vancouver might need to place Tucker Poolman on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), freeing up about $1.8 million in cap space. Poolman isn’t expected to play this season, so placing him on LTIR could open the door for Lekkerimaki’s call-up.
The Canucks are hesitant to use LTIR because they want to accumulate cap space for later in the season, but it may be necessary to avoid losing players on waivers. Once Joshua and Demko return, the team will need to reconfigure the roster and cap situation again.
