Canucks’ Jonathan Lekkerimaki to join AHL Abbotsford ahead of push to make Swedish World Championship team

Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali – the Team reported last week that Lekkerimäki is coming over from his native Sweden for a little over a week to stay in shape, before returning to his homeland in hopes of making the national team before the World Championships next month.

If the timeline holds true, Lekkerimäki will get a chance to play in four games with Abbotsford. Two against the Colorado Eagles, and another pair against the Manitoba Moose.

Lekkerimäki is coming off his second full season in the SHL in Sweden, playing with Orebro HK. In 46 games, the Tullinge native scored 19 goals and 31 points, putting up an assist in three playoff games before his team was eliminated seven days ago.

The 19-year-old was also on the Swedish national junior team that fell to the United States in the gold medal game at this year’s World Junior Championships. He led the tournament in goals (7) and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Given Lekkerimäki’s performance this season and his overall development over the last few years, he will certainly get an honest look at making the senior national team’s roster.

Lekkerimäki, who was selected 15th overall by Vancouver in the 2022 NHL Draft, is in the first year of his three-year, entry-level contract with the Cancuks, which he signed last May. The AAV of his contract is $1.425 million.

Vancouver (45-18-8) is still atop the Pacific Division, 10 points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, but it is also tied with the New York Rangers for the best record in the NHL. Abbotsford (32-34-6) is currently seventh in the AHL’s Pacific Division, which is the last playoff spot in the division.