Two Vancouver Canucks Ranked High on The Athletic's Top 100 Drafted Prospects List
Photo credit: Daily Hive
A pair of Vancouver Canucks prospects have landed on The Athletic's winter edition of their top 100 drafted NHL prospects list for 2025.
Last week, Vancouver Canucks prospects Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander were named to TSN's top 50 NHL affiliated prospects list by former NHL General Manager Craig Button and today, they've landed on another list, this time from The Athletic.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Tom Willander named to The Athletic's top 100 drafted prospects list
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic released his annual top 100 drafted NHL prospects list on Tuesday and it's loaded with talent from teams across the league, headlined by 2024 fifth overall pick Ivan Demidov (Montreal), who's having a record-breaking season in the KHL.
While the Vancouver Canucks do have some nice pieces in their prospect pool, Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander stand out above the rest and are two of the most talented prospects the organization in the last five years.
Both Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander have come in relatively high on Scott Wheeler's list this year, with the former landing at 32nd, while the latter has been ranked 34th.
Wheeler identified Jonathan Lekkerimaki's release, hands and his one-timer as key attributes, while adding that if he has the right coaching and development, he'll become a finisher in a top-six role for the club as well as on the first power play unit.
"Lekkerimaki's talent is undeniable. He's dynamic in control and threatening from anywhere in the offensive zone...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." Wheeler said.
He added, "With the right development and coaching, he always had clear upside as a top-six/PP1 finisher - you want the puck in his hands."
He added, "With the right development and coaching, he always had clear upside as a top-six/PP1 finisher - you want the puck in his hands."
As for Tom Willander, who's in the midst of his second season in the NCAA with Boston University, Wheeler says that he's one of the better skating defensive prospects in all of hockey and is strong in all three zones.
"One of the better-skating D prospects in hockey." Wheeler said.
He added, "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."
He added, "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."
Jonathan Lekkerimaki has already made an impact on the NHL roster, scoring twice in 11 appearances in Vancouver and Tom Willander isn't far behind him as he's expected to sign with the Canucks when Boston University's season ends.
Lekkerimaki and Willander have bright futures for the Vancouver Canucks and it's going to be an exciting time for fans when the two of them hit their prime and become stars for the club.
Source: Scott Wheeler/The Athletic
Top 100 drafted NHL prospects ranking: Demidov, Buium lead Wheeler's winter 2025 list
Top 100 drafted NHL prospects ranking: Demidov, Buium lead Wheeler's winter 2025 list
Previously on CanucksDaily
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 12 | 283 ANSWERS Two Vancouver Canucks Ranked High on The Athletic's Top 100 Drafted Prospects List Which Vancouver Canucks prospect do you think will have a bigger impact at the NHL level? | ||
| Jonathan Lekkerimaki | 167 | 59 % |
| Tom Willander | 116 | 41 % |
| List of polls | ||
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