He showcased this move a few times at this year’s World Juniors, as well.

While he may get away with this and similar perimeter plays in the SHL or among his U20 competition, he likely doesn’t get the time and space to make this move at the NHL level.

At least, not as often.

A summer devoted to working with the Canucks staff, a showcase in the Young Stars Classic along with a full NHL training camp followed by a stint in Abbotsford are both the best and likeliest outcomes for Lekkerimäki come fall 2024.

Unless his game translates right out the gate — which could certainly still happen — sit back and enjoy the slow development a little closer to home. Perhaps he’s ready by Christmas, but it could just as easily take the entire campaign to fully adjust.

The important thing is that he is on his way and will be in a Canucks uniform for the 2024-25 campaign, whether it be Abbotsford or Vancouver.

Elias Pettersson

As a third-round selection, it’s not as if his game came out of left field. However, Elias Pettersson’s strong World Junior showcase may have taken you somewhat off guard.

His two-way ability and heavy frame were all well-known facets of his game heading in, but his ability to play robust, shutdown hockey, was taken to another level during these last two weeks.

Whether it was on the rush, in the corners, or at the net front, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound defender made his opponent’s nights incredibly difficult, asserting his physicality and delivering bone-crushing checks on multiple occasions.

He often found himself matched against top opponents and played a crucial role in the tournament’s second-best penalty kill.

Additionally, his strong transition game, marked by a great first pass and the ability to initiate rushes quickly, has been a consistent feature throughout the season – whether at the WJC or in the Allsvenskan.

Patrik Allvin’s comments in the above-mentioned interview suggest a swift transition for Pettersson, and we can likely expect him to join the Abbotsford Canucks’ blueline immediately following his season overseas.

Västerås, his current club team, is set to conclude its regular season on March.8th. However, they currently hold a playoff spot, which would set the transition back several weeks.

Unlike Lekkerimäki, his imposing frame should allow him to adapt to the North American game quickly, at least from a physical standpoint. On top of his size, he skates well, and he can chip in from the point from time to time.

So, for him, it’s more of a system and timing adaptation.

Pettersson provides a strong outlet pass, as he curls from behind the net with his head up. However, given the stronger pressure and less time to react in the North American game, there is always the possibility of an adjustment period, which is common for those transitioning from overseas.

While he provides Vancouver with a solid call-up option for the bottom pairing next season, a full year in the AHL is the likely landing spot for now.

In fact, with injuries and his movable contract, the likelihood of him seeing NHL minutes next season, assuming his game develops accordingly, is relatively high. But ultimely, he’s poised to push for a role in 2025-26, which likely comes in the form of a bottom-pairing, penalty killer.

Tom Willander

Tom Willander had a solid tournament, especially considering his relatively modest role as an 18-year-old.

While he wasn’t sheltered, by any means, he did not see any time on the power play and was not utilized in many crucial moments in the dying minutes.

Instead, he played a prominent role on the penalty kill, and skated second-pairing minutes, alongside the tournament’s leading scoring defenceman, Theo Lindstein.

He showcased his strong skating ability, aggressiveness in closing gaps, and overall sound two-way play. While he only posted a modest three points, including a game-winning goal against the Canadians, he showcased his strong outlet ability and saw several opportunities to provide much more offence.

His most notable contribution came in the plus/minus department, finishing third tournament-wide with a plus-nine, and was only on the ice for two goals throughout the entire event – none before the Gold Medal match.

As an 18-year-old getting his first reps, this tournament was more about the experience, than the counting statistics.

Of course, there were moments of lapse, notably in his decision-making on some of his transitions, which led to some costly turnovers, and at times, he was beaten as a result of his overly aggressive demeanour.

Overall, however, the tournament should be considered a success and an encouraging foreshadowing of what’s to come.

As a 19-year-old, Willander is expected to return next year and play a much more pivotal role, which likely includes time on the team’s secondary power play, at the very least.

The same can be said for his time in the NCAA, as it was made clear that Allvin and company will not be rushing their prized 11th overall’s development.

They feel strongly encouraged by what they saw in Sweden, and are content to allow him to stew, eating up valuable minutes with the Boston University Terriers for another season.

Being a first-round pick, there is pressure for him to develop quickly, but the decision to keep him in Boston for another year should be viewed as nothing but a positive.

Staying put allows him to continue adjusting to his new environment, while taking on a much heavier role as the go-to option for BU, especially with the likely departure of Lane Hutson next season. By all accounts, he should be considered the ‘guy’ next season and likely take over the top spot, both on the power play and even strength.

Fans can rest easy knowing they have a strong, right-shot defender waiting in the pipeline, with the likeliness of him joining the organization, in some capacity, at the tail-end of the 2024-25 campaign.

While the prospect of having all three in the lineup is an exciting thought, it’s important to allow the proper development and refrain from rushing players who are poised to be key contributors in just a few short seasons. Canucks fans have seen first-hand what rushing youngsters can do, and with this new regime, it finally appears that those days are over.

With that said, the 2024-25 should be a fun campaign in Abbotsford.