As confirmed by Rick Tocchet, Jonathan Lekkerimäki will make his much anticipated NHL debut Tuesday night when the Vancouver Canucks take on the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena. The 2022 first-round pick has been lighting up the AHL this season with five goals and 39 shots through his first seven games. A special night that should feature plenty of nerves for the 20-year-old right winger, Lekkerimäki is looking to follow in the footsteps of Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser by scoring in his NHL debut.
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The Canucks are putting Lekkerimäki in a great position to produce offensively during his NHL debut. He is projected to play beside J.T. Miller and Pius Suter and may even get some power play time with the second unit. While the lines may be shuffled depending on the game’s overall flow, it looks as though Vancouver’s coaching staff is doing everything it can to ensure Lekkerimäki gets some opportunities in the offensive zone.
To have success in his NHL debut, Lekkerimäki needs to shoot the puck like he has been in the AHL. This is a sentiment that Tocchet echoed with the Canucks coach saying, “That’s the only advice I gave him yesterday is be a shooter tonight.” Through his seven games this season, Lekkerimäki is averaging 5.57 shots per game, which is the most in the AHL among players who have played at least three games. While not every shot will be a high-danger chance, getting pucks on the net is crucial as they can create tips or rebounds that can lead to scoring opportunities.
The best way for Lekkerimäki to succeed in his NHL debut is not to overthink and just play his game. He is one of the best prospects in the NHL for a reason, and he has already shown that he can be successful at the pro level in North America. If Lekkerimäki can create some offensive chances while playing positionally sound defensive hockey, his NHL debut will be considered a success even if he doesn’t find a way onto the scoresheet.
