The Canucks have made a pair of roster moves heading into their game tonight against Los Angeles. The team announced (Twitter link) that winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki has been recalled from AHL Abbotsford. To make room for him on the roster, goaltender Jiri Patera has been sent down.
Lekkerimaki started the season with Vancouver but suffered an upper-body injury in the fourth game of the season. That landed him on injured reserve for more than three weeks and upon being activated, he was sent to Abbotsford for what felt like a conditioning stint. The 21-year-old played in five games in the AHL and was productive, notching three goals and two assists.
Lekkerimaki has a goal in his four outings at the top level this season in just under 10 minutes a night of playing time. For his career, the 2022 first-round pick has four goals and three assists in 28 NHL outings. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him jump right back into a bottom-six role with Lukas Reichel being a candidate to lose his spot once again.
As for Patera, he was brought up on Tuesday when Kevin Lankinen stepped away from the team for a personal matter. He didn’t see any game action on this recall but did get into one game earlier this month where he allowed seven goals on 40 shots. The 26-year-old has a 3.10 GAA and a .894 SV% in five games with Abbotsford. While not announced by the team, this move suggests that Lankinen is back with the team with he and Nikita Tolopilo comprising the tandem that should dress against the Kings.