Canucks’ roster puzzle has surplus of wingers

With youngsters playing like seasoned veterans in the Stanley Cup playoffs — especially David Pastrnak and Patrik Laine and rookies Pierre-Luc Dubois and Marcus Sorensen — the question begs in this market:

Are the Vancouver Canucks inching closer to returning to the postseason by committing to bonafide NHL prospects, or are they going to be sitting on the sidelines years from now still trying to punch their ticket to the dance?

“That’s a hard question to answer,” said Canucks’ general manager Jim Benning. “We have to see some of these kids and see where they are when they get to camp. Elias Pettersson had a hell of a year and he’s skilled enough that he can make that transition.

“But you still have to see.” Left-winger Jonathan Dahlen also had a hell of a year. Centre Adam Gaudette showed promise in his five-game debut and Thatcher Demko is ready to challenge Jacob Markstrom for the net.

The Canucks need a motivated, short-term veteran centre to replace Henrik Sedin. The possibility of luring 34-year-old Jason Spezza from Dallas — and having the Stars eat a big chunk of his expiring US$7.5-million cap hit — has already polarized this market.

Spezza’s detractors say he’s a mefirst guy, soft and not the right fit. Other say he would be extremely motivated to increase his freeagency worth and would buy development time for Pettersson, who will start out on the right wing.

The Canucks also need to take a hard look at being contractually handcuffed to a back end — Troy Stecher and Derrick Pouliot are restricted free agents — and either rationalize a beat-up bunch or do something about it. And they need to address a glut of forwards.

Even if the Canucks keep 14 for-

wards next fall, they’re going to run out of room for those who played here this season. That doesn’t even address the ongoing need for a proven first-line left-winger. That’s just one dilemma.

If Loui Eriksson is going to be more than good defensively and effective on the penalty kill, he needs to show it by being more engaged. He has 21 goals in the first two years of a franchise-choking six-year, $36-million commitment.

He could get a left-side look with Brandon Sutter and Jake Virtanen and because Virtanen will get pucks to the net, Eriksson has to be in position to finish.

The promise of Pettersson and Dahlen on a third line that can learn the NHL game by playing in transition will be buoyed by finding the right TBD centre.

All of this is why something could and should give before camp.