Jonathan Lekkerimäki Heats Up; Öhgren’s Early Impression: NHL Prospects In AHL – FloHockey

Every week, FloHockey prospect analyst Chris Peters breaks down notable performances within the AHL that NHL followers ought to be listening to.

Right here’s a have a look at among the gamers we have been monitoring this weekend together with a first-round choose whose objective scoring is heating up.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki Is Heating Up On The Energy Play

After getting a late begin on the season as a consequence of sickness that had him sidelined for the primary few weeks, Lekkerimäki is making up for misplaced time. The Swedish standout has scored 4 targets over his final 4 video games for Abbotsford, with a two-tally effort within the Canucks’ current loss to San Diego.

Lekkerimäki is as much as six factors via his first six video games this season and getting the reps wanted to imitate the function he’ll finally have an opportunity to play in Vancouver.

LET HIM COOK 🧑‍🍳

Oh ya, we’re formally on hatty watch 👀 pic.twitter.com/WTRHVdgxQn

— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) November 4, 2024

Whereas there may be pleasure within the manufacturing Lekkerimäki has dropped at the desk, three of his 4 targets to date have come on the ability play. There was little query he would produce in these conditions as he has an elite shot and may get it off in quite a lot of methods, particularly when taking pictures off the cross. Nevertheless, Lekkerimäki’s path to the NHL can be solid via what he does at five-on-five and enhancing his play away from the puck, each of that are clearly a piece in progress. 

That mentioned, objective scorers thrive on scoring and Lekkerimäki is displaying no bother with doing what he is anticipated to do when he has the puck on his stick.

The Canucks are subsequent in motion Wednesday evening towards the Ontario Reign.

Liam Öhgren Makes Rapid Impression In Iowa

The transition for any participant to the NHL is usually a troublesome one, even when they’d a style of it the season prior. That seems to have been the case for Öhgren, who went scoreless in seven video games and noticed his ice time drop with Minnesota in current weeks.

The Wild made the choice to ship him to Iowa and it didn’t take lengthy for him to interrupt the drought. In simply his second recreation within the AHL since being despatched do Des Moines, Öhgren lit the lamp, er he would have lit it if the shot wasn’t so onerous that it left the web sooner than anybody had an opportunity to see it was in. Öhgren knew immediately, and after overview of the play, the objective was confirmed.

You can see the aid written on his face with breaking the scoring seal.

Minnesota is off to a really robust begin within the AHL. If there ever was a time to permit a participant to go get some confidence and get some essential reps, that is it. There’s no telling how lengthy Öhgren can be down, but when he can’t get the ice time with the large membership, he’s bought an opportunity to be a difference-maker for Iowa, which has taken just a few large steps ahead after a really troublesome begin to their season.

Öhgren and the Wild have a school-day recreation on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. ET towards the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Konsta Helenius Discovering Consistency With Amerks

With targets in every of his final two video games, Helenius is beginning to discover his stride. I used to be lately speaking to an AHL head coach who mentioned consistency is among the hardest issues to attain as knowledgeable, nevertheless it’s crucial to being a high performer within the NHL.

Helenius is beginning to get there and is making the transition from Finland to North America fairly properly. He’s as much as 4 factors in eight video games to date, has had some success in some shootouts and is averaging shut to 3 photographs on objective per recreation. He’s discovering methods to impression the sport in additional methods than scoring, too, which can solely get higher as he will get expertise and continues to construct power. It will in the end be a season-long course of, presumably much more, however the early returns are promising.

Konsta Helenius with targets in back-to-back video games. @AmerksHockey | #ROCvsUTC pic.twitter.com/YNQW8IgtNC

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) November 2, 2024

The way in which Helenius is enjoying over the previous couple of weeks means that there could possibly be an actual breakout by way of his factors and his general impression. He hasn’t been bodily overmatched and is beginning to actually discover his approach by way of time and area at this stage.

The Amerks have a mid-week street tilt with the Cleveland Monsters on Wednesday.

Michael DiPietro Discovering Consistency In Bruins Group

Mikey DiPietro’s odyssey in his hockey profession ought to most likely be studied sooner or later. An incredible junior goalie within the OHL, he ascended the ranks shortly, even getting an emergency begin for the Vancouver Canucks again in 2018-19. He bought one regular professional season, the place he performed in 36 AHL video games with the Utica Comets, then he performed in simply 4 video games whole throughout the pandemic season the place NHL groups have been utilizing taxi squads. The next yr was a battle and DiPietro finally was moved to the Boston Bruins.

With the commerce and a stint with the Maine Mariners within the ECHL, DiPietro has discovered stability and this season he’s on monitor for the perfect of his professional profession with how he has began for Windfall.

The 25-year-old netminder has made 5 appearances to date with a .940 save proportion, however hasn’t fairly gotten the objective assist to have a extra engaging report with three wins and two losses. What’s been essential, nevertheless, is the consistency he has gotten in internet. DiPietro has allowed two or fewer targets in each begin to date this season, which incorporates one shutout towards the Sprigfield Thunderbirds.

It is onerous to know what his NHL future seems to be like at this level, however the perfect factor to see is that DiPietro is enjoying, enjoying properly and hopefully having fun with the renaissance of a profession that bought sidetracked via no fault of his personal.

The P-Bruins are on house ice Friday towards the Bridgeport Islanders.

Scorin’ Sam Colangelo A Vivid Spot For The Gulls

The San Diego Gulls made an incredible comeback from a 4-1 deficit within the third interval towards Abbotsford on Sunday. Sam Colangelo had the game-winner for his sixth objective of the season. The previous collegiate star is at present main all rookies in targets within the AHL and is shut to a degree per recreation for a Gulls staff that has had its ups and downs.

That comeback win was a season spotlight although, and Colangelo has been an actual vibrant spot. Anaheim goes to be a reasonably younger staff for some time now, however having prospects like Colangelo who’re slightly older and have had success at different ranges can be a profit to the staff in the long run.

🤩 Star boys 🤩#LetsGoGulls | #ABBvsSD pic.twitter.com/BHzyc4FpCI

— San Diego Gulls (@SDGullsAHL) November 4, 2024

The Gulls have had a heavy schedule to begin the season and can get a brief breather earlier than hitting the street for an away Saturday-Sunday collection towards the Tucson Roadrunners.

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