Jonathan Lekkerimaki Finally Explains Why He Vanished During the Canucks' Calder Cup Push

Hockey season is finally upon us, with Rookie Camps around the NHL opening up in recent days, followed by followed by main training camp for all teams later next week.

After missing out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, the Canucks are hoping for a bounce back this year and will require the help of some younger players in order to accomplish that goal, including 2022 first round pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki.

As the Vancouver Canucks gear up for their first game of the Prospects Showdown against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, with a stacked roster making the trip to Everett, Washington, Swedish forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki spoke with reporters and gave information regarding his absence from some of Abbotsford's postseason contests in the spring.

According to Lekkerimaki, he was suffering from an infection in his wisdom teeth which required them to be removed and when he was able to return, he certainly didn't look like his normal self and ultimately, he found himself in the press box as a healthy scratch for a five games - three during the Western Conference Final against Texas and the first two of the Calder Cup Final against Charlotte.

With the injury now in the rearview mirror and a Calder Cup championship in his back pocket, the Tullinge, Sweden native has his sights set on making the Vancouver Canucks' opening night roster out of training camp.

It's going to be tough, there's no doubt about that as upwards of six players compete for one or two spots on the roster, but it feels like the 21-year-old has the inside edge over others such as Max Sasson and Arshdeep Bains.

Vancouver will open up their training camp next Thursday before kicking off their preseason slate, potentially with Jonathan Lekkerimaki in the lineup, on Sunday, September 21st against the Seattle Kraken.

Source: Canucks Army
Canucks' Lekkerimäki details playoff injury, offseason training, and more