MAJOR | Canucks top prospect could be in Vancouver sooner than expected: The addition the Canucks needed?
Patrik Allvin played with a cautious hand during this year's deadline. After he had already acquired Casey DeSmith, Sam Lafferty, Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm via trade earlier this season, the GM didn't feel the need to pull off another blockbuster, especially if it meant giving away some of the team's most prized future assets.
There's been development earlier this week regarding the arrival of one of the team's top defensive prospects; the younger Elias Pettersson (D-Pettey) is expected to join the Abbotsford Canucks as soon as next week. The Canucks could be getting additional support since Jonathan Lekkerimaki's SHL team is on the verge of not making the playoffs and could also be in Vancouver very soon.
With a loss or a Modo win on Monday, Lekkerimäki's season will be over.
Lekkerimaki, 19, had a tough draft +1 season, but he was tremendous in the SHL this year. With Obrero, he collected 30 points (19 goals and 11 assists) through 45 games. His dominance carried to the World Juniors, where he was named the tournament's best forward with seven goals and three assists through 10 games.
Some raised the question of whether Lekkerimaki could help in the NHL immediately. The Canucks were in the market to add a scoring top-six winger, and that is Lekkerimaki's exact description? Could he be the addition the team needed?
Few years ago, the Montreal Canadiens took a similar path with one of their young scoring wingers when they brought Cole Caufield up from the NCAA. The American managed 4 points in 2 AHL outings then helped the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup final with 12 points in 20 Playoff Games.
