Vancouver Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra didn’t mince words behind closed doors — and he didn’t need to. Top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki’s struggles in Abbotsford have become impossible to ignore, especially as the Canucks chase Calder Cup glory.
Since being returned to the AHL on April 8, Lekkerimäki has failed to register a single point. It’s been five games of frustration for the 20-year-old winger, who was once touted as a game-breaking sniper with a shot that could tilt ice. Right now, he looks anything but.
Lekkerimäki has just one assist in his last 10 contests. For a player who was selected 15th overall in 2022 and billed as a future top-six NHL threat, those numbers are alarming. Even factoring in a recent surgery, the drop-off in his production has been steep — and the timing couldn’t be worse.
The Abbotsford Canucks are fighting for their lives in a best-of-three playoff series, and their most talented forward on paper has been a non-factor. Five shots on goal and a -2 rating over two games simply won’t cut it for a player expected to lead.
After a narrow 4–3 victory in Game 1 against the Tucson Roadrunners, the Canucks fell flat in Game 2, managing just a single goal in a 4–1 loss. Lekkerimäki was on the ice for key defensive lapses and failed to generate any meaningful scoring chances.
By contrast, Linus Karlsson — another Swedish winger — has stepped up in the spotlight. Karlsson has scored in back-to-back games and is making a serious push for a full-time NHL role next season. He looks hungry. Lekkerimäki looks hesitant.
The Canucks’ center depth has been equally under the microscope, but Aatu Räty has answered the call. With an assist in each playoff game, the Finnish pivot is building a case for NHL readiness in 2025. It’s becoming increasingly clear who’s rising — and who isn’t.
While no one inside the Canucks organization is writing Lekkerimäki off, there’s a growing sense of urgency surrounding his development. For a player with 22 goals in 60 combined games between the NHL and AHL this season, expectations were considerably higher.
Yes, this is his first full year in North America. Yes, the transition can be difficult. But the NHL is a results league, and Lekkerimäki hasn’t delivered in the moments that matter most.
Malhotra, now in his first year as head coach of Abbotsford, has done well to steer the team into playoff contention. But he’s also sending a clear message: ice time is earned, not given — regardless of draft status.
If Lekkerimäki wants to wear a Canucks jersey full-time next fall, he’ll need to rediscover the urgency and swagger that made him a top pick. Right now, that shot everyone feared looks like a firecracker in a thunderstorm — loud, but not dangerous.
The Canucks are watching. And so far, Lekkerimäki has left them waiting for lightning that refuses to strike.