We are back with the 2025 summer edition of our CanucksArmy top 20 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings.
We’ve officially hit our final two ranked prospects. Today, we bring you an elite scoring winger who’s fresh off his first official season as a North American skater. While it came with its share of bumps along the way, he showcased why he’s one of the system’s most exciting young prospects.
Our previously ranked prospects:
- #20 – Ilya Safonov
- #19 – Aku Koskenvuo
- #18 – Parker Alcos
- #17 – Wilson Björck
- #16 – Anri Ravinskis
- #15 – Josh Bloom
- #14 – Kieren Dervin
- #13 – Danila Klimovich
- #12 – Riley Patterson
- #11 – Anthony Romani
- # 10 – Vilmer Alriksson
- # 9 – Ty Young
- # 8 – Ty Mueller
- # 7 – Sawyer Mynio
- # 6 – Arshdeep Bains
- # 5 – Kirill Kudryavtsev
- # 4 – Aleksei Medvedev
- # 3 – Braeden Cootes
If you’re curious about our ranking criteria, you can find them in our HM installment.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Team: Abbotsford Canucks | Age: 21 | Position: Right Wing | Height: 5’11″ | Weight: 172 lbs | Shoots: Right | Drafted: Firth round, 15 overall, 2022 | Mid-season rank: 1
For the first time in many CanucksArmy ranking installments, Jonathan Lekkerimäki has given up his crown as our top-ranked prospect.
But don’t let that fool you — the young Swedish sharpshooter remains a tantalizing talent with high scoring potential.
This past season, Canucks fans finally got a glimpse of Lekkerimäki on North American ice after patiently waiting for him to develop overseas. While his rookie campaign showed flashes of brilliance, it also highlighted areas for growth.
Despite missing time throughout the campaign due to injuries and promotions to Vancouver, Lekkerimäki thrived in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks.
In just 36 games, he scored 19 goals — seventh highest among AHL rookies — averaging over half a goal per game (53%) while ranking third on his team in goals. Among that list of rookies ahead of him, he finished second with that 53% goals-per-game clip. Meanwhile, his 121 shots on goal translated to a 15.7% shooting percentage.
But it wasn’t just the totals that we liked, but the variety in which he was finding them. Known for his lethal perimeter shot, Lekkerimäki proved he’s more than a one-trick pony.
He scored from distance with his trademark release, battled at the net-front for deflections and tap-ins, and showed a willingness to mix it up in the gritty areas despite his slight frame.
But who are we kidding? It’s his incredible release that sets him apart from the pack. He can whip it on a dime, releasing it as quickly as it lands on his stick.
He showed off that release at the top level, scoring three goals in 24 games with Vancouver. While his time in the big leagues wasn’t always glamorous, he flashed potential, particularly on the power play. The poise displayed with the puck on his stick, combined with the vision and patience from the half-wall, added dynamism to an otherwise stagnant unit.
His ability to move the puck and create plays from his spot was a bright spot at both the NHL and AHL levels.
Then came the playoffs, which is where his season took a slight hit. Navigating through the longest hockey season of his young career, while transitioning to the North American game at both the AHL and NHL levels, Lekkerimäki struggled to find form through his team’s impressive Calder Cup run. Much like his NHL stint, he showed glimpses of the high-level producer we had seen earlier in the year, but his game appeared to lack its typical gusto.
His consistency waned, his shot volume dipped to uncharacteristic lows, and his confidence dropped to a season low. As a result, he was forced to catch games from the pressbox, working with the coaching staff to iron out the kinks.
Though he bounced back with a standout two-goal performance in a pivotal AHL Finals game, he never quite hit his regular-season form fully. Chalk it up to fatigue from a long season, a potential injury, or simply low confidence; he failed to become the constant top-six threat we know he can be.
Late-season struggles or not, the promise remains undeniable, and Lekkerimäki’s inaugural North American season provided a clear roadmap for improvement. Strength is a key area to address, as his slight build needs to be bolstered to handle the physical demands of the NHL. Consistency will also be critical as he refines his game. But with elite offensive flashes and a release that few possess, his upside remains high.
“The kid has ice in his veins.” Manny Malhotra told the media after his two-goal Calder Cup Final performance. “He doesn’t shy away from big moments, and tonight he had two quality looks and made them count. That’s the type of player he is when given the opportunity and put in the right spot.”
For those who’ve lost faith after just one season, remember that he just turned 21 on July 24, 2025.
Ceiling: Lekkerimäki has the potential to be a top-six NHL forward, capable of scoring 30-plus goals. His elite shot, growing versatility, and deadly scoring instincts make him a dynamic offensive threat. He could become a cornerstone power-play contributor and a reliable scoring option in all situations.
Floor: We firmly believe that his skillset should translate to an NHL career. Yet, if he fails to translate to the physical demands of North American hockey, he could eventually cross the pond to live out a potent SHL career. But that’s far from a conversation worth having at this point in time.
ETA: Full-time NHL deployment is on the horizon. While he may start the 2025-26 season in Abbotsford, Lekkerimäki is a prime candidate for call-ups. If he doesn’t secure a permanent roster spot this fall, expect him to don a Canucks jersey at some point during the season.
That’s our #2 spot. Stay tuned for our top-ranked prospect tomorrow here at CanucksArmy.
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