Jonathan Lekkerimäki had a memorable NHL debut. While the Vancouver Canucks 2022 first-round pick didn’t end up on the scoresheet, he was able to generate some chances in the offensive zone while also playing strong defensively. Ultimately, Lekkerimäki didn’t look out of place in the 14:07 he played against the Calgary Flames.
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Starting with Lekkerimäki’s offensive game, he finished the night with two shots and featured on Vancouver’s first power play unit. According to Natural Stat Trick, he also registered an individual high-danger chance while recording an xGF% of 76.23. With an even-strength zone time percentage of 47.1%, the analytics show that for the majority of Lekkerimäki’s ice time, the Canucks were able to hold onto the puck and create chances in the offensive zone.
An underrated part of Lekkerimäki’s game last night was his work in the defensive zone. He didn’t float around while in the zone and was aggressive while pursuing puck carriers. Lekkerimäki was also featured late in the game when the Flames net was empty, indicating that his strong performance had earned Rick Tocchet’s trust.
As for Tocchet’s thoughts on Lekkerimäki, he had nothing but positive things to say about the rookie. When asked about his play in the defensive zone, Tocchet said, That’s one game for him… but for him, there’s a conscience there. You want to press the envelope, you want to score, you want to be creative, but there’s times when you got to be in a spot. For us, that’s critical. You have to show a conscience. If you’re the reload guy, two guys dive in, and you’re not really reloading. You’re kind of coming back slow. I have a tough time with those types of players. If you do, you better score 60 goals. That’s just my rule. I think the kid has a conscience… He’s obsessive about his game. I think he really wants to be obsessive about his play without the puck, but I’m nuts. I want him to be creative.”
Jonathan Lekkerimäki goes without the bucket for his solo rookie lap 🇸🇪
Catch his NHL debut vs. the Flames live on SN1 or stream it on Sportsnet+ pic.twitter.com/ctxnyaviYk
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 13, 2024
J.T. Miller was also impressed with his new linemate, saying, “He played really well today. Makes a lot of little subtle plays, and, yeah, I mean, he played fast. He seemed to be in the right spot most of the time. So really good. Very impressed, and hopefully, he can get more and more comfortable as we go.”
The biggest takeaway from Lekkerimäki’s NHL debut is that he didn’t look out of place. He performed well as a member of the top six and found ways to impact the game at both ends of the ice. Ultimately, Lekkerimäki’s first game in the NHL should be classified as a success and could be an indicator of what the 20-year-old could bring to the lineup on a nightly basis.
