Report: Canucks Prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki Headed To Vancouver Ahead Of World Championship

The 2022 Canucks first rounder is projected to play for Team Sweden at this year's World Championship.

After a stellar SHL season, it looks as though Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki is on his way to North America. According to "Donnie & Dhali," Rick Dhaliwal, the 2022 first-round pick, will arrive in Vancouver early next week and could spend "8-10 days" with the team before heading back to Sweden ahead of the 2024 World Championship. This year's World Championship is set to take place in Czechia, with the tournament running from May. 10-26.

Just like defenceman Elias Pettersson, Lekkerimäki is eligible to play games at both the NHL and AHL levels during his reported brief stay in Vancouver. He is also eligible to participate in the playoffs this year despite not being on the roster before the trade deadline. While it is unlikely, he sees game action, bringing Lekkerimäki in allows to player to get a bit more familiar with the Canucks system and coaches ahead of his full-time arrival next season. 

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Drafted 15th overall in 2022, Lekkerimäki is developing into a dangerous scorer. He was named MVP at the 2024 World Juniors after recording seven goals in seven games, while his 19 goals with Örebro HK ranked tied for sixth this year in the SHL. Still only 19 years old, the plan is for him to start with the Abbotsford Canucks next season so that he can adjust to the North American ice surface before eventually being called up to the NHL. 

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