LATEST | Recent progression of a prospect makes three veterans expendable

The latest name whose play has raised eyebrows, is the team's 2nd Round Pick in 2018, Jet Woo. While the Canucks are trying to shed salary off the cap, they will need low-cost options who can perform at the game's highest level. Woo just may be part of what the Canucks need.

This comes as good news for the Canucks, especially on the right side since the Canucks future on the right side seems to look much clearer. However, the latest emergence of Woo along with the singing of the NCAA top prospect, Cole McWard makes three Canucks veterans expendable.

With Filip Hronek and Ethan Bear taking on the top4 responsibilities, there will not be any need for a $6M defenseman on the team's 3rd pair. The Canucks will then have a great opportunity to shed some salaries.

The hometown warrior will be a UFA on July 1st and while he's been great for the Canucks the recent play of Woo, McWard, the addition of Hronek, and the place Ethan Bear has been taking since he got in Vancouver will drive Burroughs out of Vancouver. Burroughs will turn 28 over the summer and it makes much more sense for them to start growing the younger players in their depth chart.

This one surely comes as a surprise, Travis Dermott never fully got the opportunity to prove his worth in Vancouver due to the multiple injuries he faced. He only played through 28 games over two seasons, but the Canucks left side is now filled. Guillaume Brisebois and Christian Wolanin were extended, Hirose will be re-signed, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is still in Vancouver for a while, and add to that the team's superstar Quinn Hughes.

The way this is trending, here's what the Canucks defensive core could look like into the season:

Hughes - Bear
Hirose - Hronek
OEL - McWard

Brisebois / Wolanin

Woo, Rathbone and Filip Johansson would all be options that could join the team at some point too. Do you like the defensive core's new face? Does it need more work?