Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Jonathan Lekkerimäki (born 24 July 2004) is a Swedish professional ice hockey right winger for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL) on loan as a prospect from the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 15th overall by the Canucks in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Lekkerimäki made his professional debut for Djurgårdens IF during the 2021–22 season, where he recorded seven goals and two assists in 26 games. This made Lekkerimäki the second most-productive 17-year-old goal-scorer in SHL history after Peter Forsberg, who had seven goals in 23 games. He also appeared in 26 games for Djurgården's J20 team where he recorded 20 goals and 15 assists. He missed the last month of the season due to mononucleosis.

On 1 July 2022, Lekkerimäki was drafted in the second round, 70th overall, by the Vancouver Giants in the CHL Import Draft. Opting to remain in Sweden and continue his development with Djurgården's first season in the Allsvenskan in the 2022–23 season, Lekkerimäki recorded three goals and six assists in 29 games before missing the remainder of the regular season due to a foot injury. Returning for the playoffs, he recorded at a point-per-game pace through 15 games, before falling short of promotion to the SHL in a game 7 finals defeat to Modo Hockey.

On 6 May 2023, Lekkerimäki signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks. In order to continue his progress in development, Lekkerimäki left Djurgården and signed a two-year contract with SHL club, Örebro HK, on loan from the Canucks on 16 May 2023.

During the 2023–24 season, he recorded 19 goals and 12 assists in 46 games. Following the season he was named SHL Rookie of the Year, won the Elite Prospects Award as top SHL junior-aged player, and at the European Hockey Awards he won the Young Player of the Year Award. Lekkerimäki was also named MVP of the Season by the fans of Örebro HK, 14-3 Örebro.

On 25 March 2024, he was assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL.

Lekkerimäki made his NHL debut on 12 November 2024, against the Calgary Flames. He had his first NHL goal in his second NHL game on 14 November 2024, against the New York Islanders.

After a playoff run marred by injury and healthy scratches, Lekkerimäki scored the game-winning goal in Game 4 of the 2025 Calder Cup Final, en route to the Abbotsford Canucks' first Calder Cup.

International play

Lekkerimäki represented Sweden at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships where he led the tournament in scoring with five goals and ten assists in six games and won a gold medal. He was subsequently named tournament MVP.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2019–20 Djurgårdens IF J18 58 30 15 45 20 — — — — — 2020–21 Djurgårdens IF J18 8 12 4 16 0 — — — — — 2020–21 Djurgårdens IF J20 1 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2021–22 Djurgårdens IF J20 26 20 15 35 8 — — — — — 2021–22 Djurgårdens IF SHL 26 7 2 9 0 — — — — — 2022–23 Djurgårdens IF J20 2 2 3 5 0 — — — — — 2022–23 Djurgårdens IF Allsv 29 3 6 9 4 15 5 10 15 2 2023–24 Örebro HK SHL 46 19 12 31 10 3 0 1 1 0 2023–24 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 6 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2024–25 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 36 19 9 28 0 16 3 4 7 4 2024–25 Vancouver Canucks NHL 24 3 3 6 2 — — — — — 2025–26 Vancouver Canucks NHL 13 2 1 3 0 — — — — — 2025–26 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 21 13 7 20 8 — — — — — SHL totals 72 26 14 40 10 3 0 1 1 0 NHL totals 37 5 4 9 2 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2021 Sweden HG18 5 5 0 5 4 2022 Sweden U18 6 5 10 15 4 2022 Sweden WJC 7 0 3 3 0 2023 Sweden WJC 4th 7 1 3 4 4 2024 Sweden WJC 7 7 3 10 0Junior totals 32 18 19 37 12

Awards and honours Award Year RefSHL Rookie of the Year 2024 AHL Calder Cup champion 2025 World Junior Championship Media All-Star Team 2024