Jonathan Lekkerimaki has spent the past four years idolizing Vancouver Canucks star centre Elias Pettersson.
Now heB次元官网网址檚 poised to be his favourite playerB次元官网网址檚 teammate.
The Canucks chose Lekkerimaki with the 15th overall pick in the NHL entry draft Thursday.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing,B次元官网网址� said the Swedish right-winger. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 describe it.B次元官网网址�
The native of Tullinge said heB次元官网网址檚 been a fan of Pettersson, a fellow Swede, since he cracked the CanucksB次元官网网址� lineup in 2019. While heB次元官网网址檚 had discussions with Vancouver, he didnB次元官网网址檛 anticipate hearing the club call his name.
B次元官网网址淚 had some talks with them with the combine. But I didnB次元官网网址檛 thought it was coming,B次元官网网址� he said.
Lekkerimaki turned heads at the 2022 Under-18 World Championship, leading Sweden to gold with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in six games.
B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 start so well but got better in the tournament and then ended up with a gold medal,B次元官网网址� he said of the performance. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 nice.B次元官网网址�
With the 15th overall selection in the 2022 , the Canucks select, Jonathan Lekkerim盲ki!
B次元官网网址� Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks)
Welcome Jonathan 馃憦 |
The five-foot-10, 165-pound forward spent part of last season playing for Djurgarden in the Swedish Hockey League and registered nine points (seven goals, two assists) in 26 games.
Lekkerimaki is a dynamic player, said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin.
B次元官网网址淗e has an ability to score goals, but also make a lot of plays,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think his hockey sense is great. And heB次元官网网址檚 a threat in so many different ways there.B次元官网网址�
Hired by Vancouver in January, this is AllvinB次元官网网址檚 first draft as a general manager.
The rookie was busy on the draft floor, assessing whether it would make sense for his team to trade for a later pick.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have a second-round pick so we were checking if it makes sense for us to pick up another second-round pick and still get one of the players we like,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut we were extremely happy to see (Lekkerimaki) at 15 there.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver is set to make five more selections, starting with No. 80, when the draft continues Friday.
After a rough start to last season, the Canucks rebounded under head coach Bruce Boudreau and finished 40-30-12, missing the playoffs by five points.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
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