2 Canucks Top Prospects That May Not Be Long-Term Options

The Vancouver Canucks are in an interesting spot. They have depth, but not great center depth. When Thatcher Demko is healthy, he is elite, as he's proving this season again. The defense is solid, and Quinn Hughes is an excellent talent with a potential ticking clock in Vancouver. And the prospect group isn't the greatest.

With all that said, the direction of the Canucks over the next couple of years is still in the air. A lot depends on Hughes staying or not and how the Canucks can maneuver that if he wants to leave. They could continue building and once again be in a position to compete for the Stanley Cup, or much of it could come crashing down and a rebuild would have to be in order.

Whichever outcome comes to fruition, they have some prospects to keep an eye on. Frank Seravalli said, "Keep a really close eye on (Jonathan) Lekkerimaki and (Tom) Wallinder. I'll be curious to see how married to these players the Canucks are in the long haul."

Lekkerimaki made the Canucks out of training camp and is playing on the third line, having scored a goal through three games so far. Wallinder is in the AHL and should find himself in the NHL at some point in the near future. He did well in the NCAA last season, but needs a bit more seasoning and a spot to open up on the NHL roster.

It would make much more sense to hang on to both of these young players if the Canucks are eventually going to fall into a rebuild. Lekkerimaki is 21 years old, and Wallinder is 20. These could be pieces to build around, but there's no guarantee that either will turn out the way Vancouver hopes. The other way it could go is that one or both may be traded to upgrade and keep the hope alive. Plenty of teams would be interested in the prospect of bringing in talents like them and plugging them into the lineup in the hopes they reach their full potential.

The Canucks have some time to see what they have in an important season for them both and the team as a whole.