"Lekkerimaki's talent is undeniable. He's dynamic in control and threatening from anywhere in the offensive zone. He can beat you in an instant with a quick catch-and-release or curl-and-drag shot, or hang onto pucks and make things happen himself. He's got a knack for hitting holes in the net, frequently beating goalies low-blocker and five-hole. He's got A-level hands, a deceptive release, a lethal one-timer and a slyness to his game that allows him to get to spots to score with and without the puck. He's going to have clear power-play upside at the next level because of all of those things. He has slowly become more threatening on a consistent basis at five-on-five against men, coming and going less in games, fading to the perimeter in control less, and making sure he's getting touches by keeping his feet moving more and working to involve himself in the play more. He just played with more intention off the puck and on the forecheck and found more consistency in his approach and consequently his game last season, preparing himself for the jump to North America." Wheeler said.

He added, "And with all of that progress, he got to crank the puck more and flash that quick release and skill. With the right development and patience, he always had clear upside as a top-six/PP1 finisher — you want the puck in his hands."

"He's a strong-in-all-three-zones defenseman who plays a confident and decisive defensive game that uses his beautiful, balanced skating to swallow up opposing carriers and then push forward or fall back onto his heels and outlet the puck." Wheeler said.

He added, "Willander doesn't have dynamic skill or creativity on the puck, and his offensive-zone instincts are still coming, but he projects safely as an NHL defenseman and could become a two-way transition monster in a top-four role. Because of how high a level he defends and skates at, he rarely has bad games and play normally tilts in his team's favor, even though the offense doesn't yet pop."