Lekkerimaki hoping renewed confidence paves way to future with Canucks

VANCOUVER --Jonathan Lekkerimaki knows his first professional season did not measure up to the expectations that come with being the No. 15 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

But the skilled Vancouver Canucks forward prospect is focused instead on the lessons learned from adversity and is determined to build off a strong finish to a disappointing 2022-23.

The 19-year-old dealt with lingering effects of mononucleosis, a concussion and a foot injury that limited him to 29 games with Djurgardens in the Allsvenskan, the second-division league in his native Sweden. Recognized as a goal-scorer, he finished with nine points (three goals, six assists) in those 29 games after he had nine points (seven goals, two assists) in 26 games for Djurgardens in the top-tier Swedish Hockey League the season before.

Lekkerimaki (5-foot-11, 172 pounds) also was expected to play a big role for Sweden at the 2023 World Junior Championship after being drafted, but finished with one goal in 14 games over two tournaments.

"Ups and downs, but I learned very much this year," said Lekkerimaki, who admitted there were times he was trying to live up to the hype of his draft status "at the beginning, but I learned not to focus on that so much."

Instead, he worked closely with Mikael Samuelsson, who joined the Canucks last May as a player development coach, to shift his focus to things he could control, including his work ethic. They had a long conversation after Lekkerimaki sustained what was thought to be a season-ending foot injury during a February practice. He returned to score 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 15 Allsvenskan playoff games.

"I had some injuries and came back and [had] a new injury, and then the playoffs felt pretty good actually," Lekkerimaki said. "I got some confidence and the puck went in."

Samuelsson, who played 13 seasons as an NHL forward, draws an important distinction between that and gaining confidence from the puck going in.

"Confidence comes from preparation," Samuelsson said. "When the puck is going in, players feel confident, but that can't be the whole thing. He prepared to be a force in the playoffs. When he was injured, he prepared to become a much better player than he was before Christmas. We discussed it and he embraced it, and that tells me he is on the right path. He's not done yet."

Lekkerimaki signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks on May 6 and brought that renewed confidence to his second Vancouver development camp last month.

"This year he looks like a completely different player, more sure of himself," said Chris Higgins, the Canucks assistant director of player development. "He looks quicker. I think for him, it's mental. He understands he's got to put a premium on his training, on getting better in-season when the schedule allows. But he looks much more confident and that may be in part some of the messaging he's receiving."

Lekkerimaki will play this season on loan to Orebro in the SHL, continuing to work with the Sweden-based Samuelsson to focus on daily preparation rather than expectations.

"Sometimes I think he felt like, 'OK, should I be there next year? Should I be all these things next year?' No, just relax," Samuelsson said. "If it takes five years, it takes five years. If it takes two, it takes two. If other people say it's a disappointment, leave that up to them.

"This is your path to success. It can't be only success. Learning is key to everything, and you're not learning much when everything goes right."