Last season, as an 18-year-old, Jonathan Lekkerimäki had nine points in 29 games in the HockeyAllsvenskan – Sweden’s second-tier pro league. Things clicked for him in the playoffs, though, when he recorded 15 points in 15 games.

This season, everything seemed to come together. With Örebro HK in the Swedish Hockey League, his 19 goals and 31 points led his team and were also the best totals for any under-20 player in the league. He was also MVP of the IIHF World Junior Championship. So what changed this season?

“I don’t know, really,” he shrugged. “I played with some good players and I just kept working hard. When things don’t go well, just keep going.”

His great season earned him the Fjällräven Young Player of the Year Award on Tuesday at the European Hockey Awards in Prague. Previous winners include William Wallinder, Elmer Söderblom, Moritz Seider, Nils Lundkvist, Aleksi Heponiemi, Elias Pettersson and Kirill Kaprizov.

“I think I’ve seen all of them play on highlights. There are a lot of good players on the list, especially Elias Pettersson,” Lekkerimäki smiled. “He was my favorite player growing up.”

You might soon be teammates with Pettersson. Have you had a chance to talk to him?
“No, we haven’t had time to talk yet. Hopefully this summer.”

Does it make the transition easier for you to have such a strong Swedish presence in Vancouver?
“I think so, yeah. It’s great to have players and staff like the Sedins and Patrik Allvin, of course. It feels good.”

Have you been in close contact with them?
“Not right now but when I was there in April (with the AHL Abbotsford Canucks), I talked with them a lot. But we’ll see now in the next few weeks.”

What’s next for you? What are your short-term and long-term goals?
“Now I just want to have a good summer of training and then hopefully make the team in Vancouver. My goal for the year is to play in the NHL.”