Inside Wheeler’s Shocking Summer 2025 NHL Prospect Rankings: Who’s the True Future Star?

After a disappointing post-draft season that included two lackluster performances at the World Juniors (first in the summer tournament in Edmonton and then in Halifax) and a challenging regular season in HockeyAllsvenkan, Lekkerimaki really hit his stride in the HockeyAllsvenskan playoffs at the end of the 2022-23 season and re-emerged as a top prospect, winning a World Juniors MVP on home ice in Gothenburg and then leading his SHL team in scoring as a teenager. Some of that progression was likely some natural catch-up given his late July birthday. Some of it was good health after his draft year was impacted by injuries and illness. And some of it was natural talent taking over, and some important work done on areas of his game that needed it. Last season, he then had an as-expected up-and-down first season in North America that saw him score his first three NHL goals and nearly break 20 in the AHL but also struggle in the Calder Cup playoffs and drift at times in games on a championship team.

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