The Canucks have returned top forward prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki to AHL Abbotsford, per a team announcement. They now have an open roster spot, which is expected to go to Nils Höglander as he nears an activation from long-term injured reserve.
Lekkerimäki, 21, had made the team out of camp but was in and out of the lineup to begin the campaign, only skating in four of their first six contests before sustaining an undisclosed injury against the Capitals on Oct. 19. That kept him out of commission until mid-November and, when he was activated from injured reserve, was sent to Abbotsford.
The skilled Swedish sniper had 19 goals in just 36 games for the AHL club last year, and he picked up where he left off with three goals and a pair of assists in five minor-league games. That earned Lekkerimäki a quick recall back to the NHL roster on Nov. 29. He’d suited up in the Canucks’ last four games, notching his first assist of the season on Friday against the Mammoth, but was relegated to fourth-line duties in yesterday’s win over the Wild and skated just 6:35 of ice time. He also only managed one shot on goal during this stint on the roster, coming back on the 29th against the Kings.
With their highest-ceiling offensive prospect not getting much of a leash, there’s little use keeping him in limited NHL minutes when he could be continuing to gain confidence in the minors. His continued improvement there and impressive small-sample production on an Abbotsford team scoring an atrocious 1.96 goals per game this season should have him walking right into an opening-night job and top-nine role next season, if not sooner.