There are still questions about Lekkerimaki’s status this week after a nasty spill at the end of Saturday’s victory in Tucson
There are more pressing issues for the media relations staff, of course, considering all the continued noise about rifts and rigamarole with the big club.
A Canucks spokesman said Sunday morning that Lekkerimäki, 20, was still being evaluated. There’s been no further news from the club.
Lekkerimäki lost an edge and didn’t seem to get his hands up to protect himself when he tumbled into the end wall on the backcheck on Saturday with about seven minutes to go in the game.
Lekkerimäki leads Abbotsford in goals (14) despite seeing duty in just 24 games with the team to date. The Canucks’ 2022 first-round draft pick (No. 15 overall) missed some Abbotsford action early on with an undisclosed injury, and also with being called up to Vancouver for 11 games. His last stint with Vancouver ended on Jan. 19.
Abbotsford (22-15-1-1) is rolling, winners of eight straight going into a Wednesday visit to the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Thousand Palms, Calif. They are home Friday to face the Calgary Wranglers.
Abbotsford lost centre Aatu Räty on Tuesday morning via a call up to Vancouver. Räty, 22, has three goals and 13 points in his past seven games with Abbotsford, giving him eight goals and 23 points in 23 games with squad this season. He’s already played 20 games with Vancouver as well.
With all that in mind, here’s the latest instalment of our Canucks top-10 prospect rankings. Räty and Pettersson come off the list since they’re with the big club. As well, only players born in 2000 or later are eligible.
Last week’s rankings are in parenthesis.
Lekkerimäki (24-14-7-21) clinched Friday’s 3-2 triumph in Tucson with a goal with 21 seconds left. It was his fifth game winner of the campaign, which ties him for second in the AHL. Calgary centre Clark Bishop has six in 39 games to date.
2. Tom Willander, D, Boston University Terriers (2)
BU (13-9-1) lost both ends of a weekend home-and-home with nationally ranked No. 1 Boston College, falling 6-2 Friday at home and 2-0 Saturday on the road. BU dropped two spots in this week’s rankings as a result, now coming in at No. 10. Sophomore Willander (22-2-10-12) had an assist Friday. The 19-year-old was Vancouver’s first-round pick (No.11 overall) in 2023.
3. Kirill Kudryavtsev, D, Abbotsford (5)
The 20-year-old, who was a 2022 seventh rounder, had two assists in Saturday’s victory. Kudryavtsev (33-2-16-18) is Abbotsford’s top scoring defenceman and third on the team in plus-minus, trailing recently returned rearguard Erik Brännström(plus-10 in seven games) and the recently elevated Pettersson (plus eight in 36 games).
4. Nils Åman, C, Abbotsford (6)
The 24-year-old had one goal, one assist and a plus-three rating Saturday and was named the game’s second star. Åman (29-7-19-26), who signed as a free agent in 2022, has 11 points (5-6) in his past eight games and is Abbotsford’s top scorer.
5. Sawyer Mynio, D, Calgary Hitmen (9)
The 2023 third rounder had one goal, one assist, three shots and was named third star in a 6-4 triumph over Moose Jaw on Wednesday. He had no points but five shots in a 3-2 decision over Lethbridge on Saturday and put up two goals, one assist, five shots and was named first star in a 6-1 victory over Red Deer on Sunday. The 19-year-old Mynio (26-9-18-27) is a part of an 8-1-0-1 run with Calgary (28-12-3-2), who are home to Edmonton tonight.
The 24-year-old Bains (23-3-15-18) had an assist on Saturday. The 2022 free agent signing was a plus-three in the two games.
7. Ty Mueller, C, Abbotsford (8)
He had an assist Saturday and was plus-two in the games in Tucson. The 21-year-old Mueller (36-7-14-21) was a 2023 fourth rounder.
8. Riley Patterson, C, Barrie Colts (NR)
The 18-year-old had two assists in a 3-2 win over Brampton on Thursday and one goal and one assist in a 6-4 triumph over Brantford on Saturday.
Patterson (43-19-21-40), who was a 2024 fourth rounder, now has five points (2-3) in his past four games and Barrie (29-14-1-1) has won five straight. Barrie hosts Ottawa Thursday.
9. Artūrs Šilovs, G, Abbotsford (No. 10)
The 23-year-old, who had a brief call-up to the big club last week due to Kevin Lankinen falling ill, has won his past four decisions with Abbotsford after his 20-save outing in Saturday’s 6-2 victory. Šilovs (6-3-0, 2.47 goals against average, .906 save percentage) was a 2019 sixth rounder.
10. Danila Klimovich, RW, Abbotsford (NR)
Klimovich (34-13-4-17) had two goals Saturday. It ended an 11-game pointless streak for the 22-year-old, who was a 2021 second rounder. He’s second in goals and first in shots (93) with Abbotsford.
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