Vancouver Canucks Prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki Opens up About Possibly Being on Opening Night Roste
Photo credit: Bob Frid – Imagn Images.
Vancouver Canucks forward prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki opened up post-game on Friday about potentially being on the team’s opening night roster next week.The Vancouver Canucks wrapped up the preseason on Friday night at Rogers Arena against the Edmonton Oilers, and it was the final time for some of the team’s younger players to show that they deserve to be on their opening night roster, which has to be submitted to the NHL by Monday at 2 p.m. PT.Adam Foote’s group was down by one heading into the final frame last night, but was able to pull out the victory in overtime thanks to a great individual effort from forward Conor Garland.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki opens up about potentially being on Vancouver Canucks’ opening night roster
In the first period, just as a power play ended, 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes found Jonathan Lekkerimaki alone at the top of the circle in Edmonton’s zone, with the Swedish forward rifling a shot top corner past Oilers netminder Calvin Pickard.
“COOTES TO LEKKER! TOP CORNER 🎯”
Then on the power play in the third period, Lekkerimaki was back at it again, firing a one-timer home off a sweet feed from Canucks captain Quinn Hughes to tie the game at 2-2.
With a performance like that last night, against the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers, the Tullinge, Sweden native has certainly earned himself a spot on the Vancouver Canucks’ opening night roster.
Lekkerimaki opened up about that possibility last night, saying that he feels good about his game right now, but knows he has to work hard in practice this weekend to ensure that becomes a reality on Monday.
Note: the following is translated from Swedish
It feels good today, but tomorrow I have to work hard to stay up here. I just tried to play relaxed and play my game.” Lekkerimaki said.
He added, “I want to be an offensive player, so of course I try to score some goals, but of course the details are also important.”
The 2022 first-round pick should worry too much this weekend, as he’s more than likely going to be taking to the ice on opening night next Thursday against the Calgary Flames and with the injury to Nils Hoglander, has an opportunity to play a big role early on this season.
Previously on CanucksDaily
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Vancouver Canucks Prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki Opens up About Possibly Being on Opening Night Roster
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