The Co-President of Hockey Operations, Henrik Sedin, summarized how the Vancouver Canucks are navigating the rebuild: "To do this as fast as possible, we need to be careful and go slow."
But this sentiment should not apply to Aatu Räty, Johnathan Lekkerimäki, and Victor Mancini. All three players have been in the organization for a few years, all have failed to make a significant impact at the NHL level, and all are important pieces for this franchise moving forward.
Based on each of these players' strengths and weaknesses, these are the skills they need to hone and develop in this off-season.
Aatu Räty
Räty was acquired in the trade for Bo Horvat. Once the presumptive first overall pick, a tough season in his draft year playing for Oulun Kärpät in Liiga, the top-tier league in Finland, plummeted his draft stock. He was ultimately selected 52nd overall by the New York Islanders.
His scouting report describes him as an "elite puck handler (possessing) a solid 200-foot game", therefore projected to be a second- or third-line centre. Unfortunately, he has not shown these skills consistently enough at the NHL level.
Strengths: He finished sixth in the league in face-offs won at 60.5%. Even more impressive, he is 4th all-time in face-off winning percentage (minimum 500) at 59.18%. He was heavily relied on for defensive zone draws (59% defensive zone starts), and averaged 0:53min per game short-handed.
Weakness: His speed and offensive game need to dramatically improve in order for him to play more than the 12:01mins he averaged this season. Although his puck possession numbers are average to above-average on the team, his shooting percentage was dreadful at 6.7% and he generated less than one shot on goal per game.
Off-season Focus: He needs to improve both his explosiveness and overall pace as he sits well-below average in skating bursts and skating speed. Ironically, Bo Horvat had similar flaws in his game at that age. By lengthening and generating more power in his stride, he is now one of the best skating centres in the NHL. Räty can draw inspiration from this.
Side Note: Räty has had a very good start to the IIHF World Championships with 3 points including 2 goals in his first 3 games. Ongoing success in this tournament will provide him with momentum and confidence heading into this important off-season.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Lekkerimäki was drafted 15th overall in 2022 and his production has been good everywhere except the NHL. As a 19 year old, he scored 19 goals in 46 games playing for Örebro HK in the Swedish Elite League. In the last two years, he has scored 32 goals in 57 games (0.56 GPG) for the Abbotsford Canucks but only 5 goals in 37 games (0.14 GPG) with the parent club. Injuries have limited him to playing only 94 games (AHL and NHL) in that same period of time.
Strengths: His shot is elite. His release is world class. And he has swagger. This shootout goal against the New Jersey Devils highlights all of these skills.
His ability to find soft spots in the offensive zone along with his quick release are a lethal combination as evidenced by this goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Weakness: At 5'11" and 172lbs, he lacks the physical strength to compete for pucks along the boards. His puck-possession stats are some of the worst in the league. And when combined with his well-below average foot speed and inconsistent positioning in the defensive zone, he spends far too much time in his own end and far too little time in the offensive end. As a result, his ice-time vanishes when the Canucks are protecting a late lead.
Off-season Focus: The last two off-seasons have been cut short due to injury and Abbotsford's long Calder Cup run. He needs to use the next four to five months to add "hockey strength". If he wins more board battles, retrieves more pucks, creates more turnovers, and skates to places on the ice faster, he will be a consistent 30-goal scorer in this league.
Side Note: To the next coach of the Vancouver Canucks, "play him on the left half-wall on PP1!".
Victor Mancini
On paper, this man is a BEAST. He is 6'3", 230lbs, and is an excellent skater for an individual his size. The New York Rangers were reluctant to include him in the trade for JT Miller given his potential as a top-four right-handed defender. Mancini felt that the Calder Cup playoffs last year "helped me establish a base and re-establish my confidence and I just want it to transfer to the next level."
Strengths: Size and skating. He is only 24 years old and will likely put on even more muscle to fill out his frame.
Weakness: His scouting report in 2020 read "effective when he kept things simple and made quick, short-range plays to stay out of trouble". These are the things with which he has struggled in the NHL. Mancini agrees that his success will stem from "being physical and ending plays quickly...It’s getting [the puck] into the forwards’ hands and being able to transition."
Off-season Focus: Despite being an excellent skater, he skates himself into trouble more than he does out of trouble. He needs to "read and react quicker with more physicality". Therefore, training exercises with simulated game-play focused on improving his decision-making are paramount. If successful, he will be an effective third-pair defenceman in the NHL next year.
Side Note: The defensive strategy implemented last year by Adam Foote was atrocious. But Mancini excelled under Manny Malhotra. It behooves the next coach of the Canucks to recognize Mancini's strengths and design a gameplan that better suits him.
Carpe "Seäson"
The organization need not be "careful and go slow" with Aatu Räty, Johnathan Lekkerimäki, and Victor Mancini. They know their weaknesses and know how to rectify them. Expectations should be high and the opportunities will be there. It is time for them to capitalize on those opportunities and Carpe "Seäson".
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