Jonathan Lekkerimäki's Canucks Season Is a Huge Surprise

Jonathan Lekkerimäki wasn't exactly entering this season with the full confidence of the Vancouver Canucks fanbase behind him. Some had already made up their minds about what he couldn't do. He's not the quickest skater, he's not especially physical, and there were questions about whether his game would translate to the NHL.

Well, here's a thought. Maybe we were spending too much time looking at what Lekkerimäki lacks and not enough time watching what he can do.

Surprisingly, Lekkerimäki is the Canucks second-leading scorer.

He's emerged as Vancouver's second-leading scorer (he’s tied with Brock Boeser) and has become one of the more encouraging developments in an otherwise challenging rebuilding season. That's worth noticing, particularly because his production isn't just a matter of a few fortunate bounces.

Lekkerimäki's offensive skills are translating. He has a feel for finding opportunities, and there's something else in his game that deserves attention: anticipation. Watch how he reads the play on the forecheck. He doesn't necessarily have to win a foot race or overpower an opponent to make a difference. If he recognizes where the puck is going and gets himself into the right position, he can disrupt a play and create an opportunity for his team.

Lekkerimäki Is Learning to Use His Strengths.

That's an important distinction. Speed and strength matter in the NHL. Nobody is suggesting otherwise. But hockey has always made room for players who see the game a little differently and understand how to use their particular strengths. For Lekkerimäki, that understanding may be becoming just as important as his scoring touch.

Of course, questions remain. Opponents will get more familiar with his tendencies, and there will be nights when his skating or lack of physicality becomes a challenge. A promising start doesn't mean those limitations have disappeared. But perhaps that's the wrong way to judge his progress. Young players don't all develop along the same path, and not every prospect has to become a complete package overnight.

Lekkerimäki is finding ways to contribute to the Canucks.

For the Canucks, the encouraging part is that Lekkerimäki is finding ways to contribute while still working through the parts of his game that need improvement.

And for fans who had written him off before the season, there may be a reason to take another look. Sometimes a player doesn't need to become somebody else. He just needs a chance to show what he already brings to the game.