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Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Jonathan Lekkerimäki (born 24 July 2004) is a Swedish professional ice hockey right winger for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL) on loan as a prospect from the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 15th overall by the Canucks in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Lekkerimäki made his professional debut for Djurgårdens IF during the 2021–22 season, where he recorded seven goals and two assists in 26 games. This made Lekkerimäki the second most-productive 17-year-old goal-scorer in SHL history after Peter Forsberg, who had seven goals in 23 games. He also appeared in 26 games for Djurgårdens' J20 team where he recorded 20 goals and 15 assists. He missed the last month of the season due to mononucleosis.

On 1 July 2022, Lekkerimäki was drafted in the second round, 70th overall, by the Vancouver Giants in the CHL Import Draft. Opting to remain in Sweden and continue his development with Djurgårdens first season in the Allsvenskan in 2022–23, Lekkerimäki recorded three goals and six assists in 29 games before missing the remainder of the regular season due to injury. Returning for the playoffs, he recorded at a point-per-game pace through 15 games, before falling short of promotion to the SHL in a game 7 finals defeat to Modo Hockey.

On 6 May 2023, Lekkerimäki signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks. In order to continue his progress in development, Lekkerimäki left Djurgårdens and signed a two-year contract with SHL club, Örebro HK, on loan from the Canucks on 16 May 2023.

During the 2023–24 season, he recorded 19 goals and 12 assists in 46 games. Following the season he was named SHL Rookie of the Year, won the Elite Prospects Award as top SHL junior-aged player, and at the European Hockey Awards he won the Young Player of the Year Award.

On 25 March 2024, he was assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL.

International play

Lekkerimäki represented Sweden at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships where he led the tournament in scoring with five goals and ten assists in six games and won a gold medal.

Lekkerimäki represented Sweden at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he led the team in scoring and recorded seven goals and three assists in seven games and won a silver medal. He scored the game-winning-goal against Team Czechia to send Team Sweden to the gold medal game. He was subsequently named tournament MVP.