Abbotsford Canucks fans will likely be seeing highly touted prospect Jonathan Lekkerim盲ki in green, blue and white later this season.
Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin was asked by TSN reporter Kenzie Lalone earlier this week about the timeline of the 2022 first round draft pick and he said he expects to see him in Abbotsford.
鈥淥nce the [Swedish Hockey League] season is over we hope he is going to be on Abbotsford and we take it from there,鈥� he said.
Allvin added he was pleased with Lekkerim盲ki鈥檚 most recent off season and has had a good season playing against men with 脰rebro HK in the SHL, which is considered the top hockey league in Sweden. He is also looking forward to seeing how the 19-year-old looks at Canucks training camp later this year.
Lekkerim盲ki is currently on loan from 脰rebro HK and representing Sweden at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. He has been one of the better players at the tournament, which is being held in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Lekkerim盲ki scored two goals for Sweden to help them defeat Czechia 5-2 in the tournament semifinal on Thursday (Jan. 4). He is now tied for the tournament lead in goals with six and his nine points has him just two behind the tournament scoring leader Cutter Gauthier from the USA.
Another goal for Jonathan Lekkerim盲ki, and the Swedes are pulling away with this one! 馃毃馃毃
鈥� 饾棖饾椀饾椏饾椂饾榾 Faber 馃敟 (@ChrisFaber39)
馃摴: IIHF
Sweden will play the winner of the Finland vs. United States semifinal, which occurs on Thursday.
Lekkerim盲ki has 10 goals and 16 points in 24 games this season in the SHL. 脰rebro HK sits in 11th place in the SHL standings and the playoffs see the top 10 teams qualify. The SHL regular season ends on March 11 and playoffs begin shortly after.
The Abbotsford Canucks have 16 games after March 11 and 10 of those are home games. It鈥檚 also likely that the Canucks will qualify for the AHL playoffs, which occur near the end of April and Lekkerim盲ki would be eligible to play in those as well.
