Even contending teams these days desperately need young guys on entry-level contracts. It's just a fact of life in a salary cap world.
Trading any of our prospects right now , but particularly Lekkerimaki or Wilander, would be a major mistake. And even if you deal them for immediate help, there's still no guarantee of success.
How many splashy acquisitions at the trade deadline actually work out? I seems, not many. Last year the Canucks blew four draft picks out the door including their first rounder, plus a couple of prospects, to acquire Zadorov and Lindholm.
In the end, it still wasn't enough for them to get past the conference semi-finals.