A way too early look at which Vancouver Canucks players and prospects could compete at the 2030 Winter Olympics.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are about to begin, meaning for the first time in over a decade, the men's hockey tournament will feature best-on-best. The last time NHLers attended the event was back in 2014, when Canada picked up a Gold Medal. In total, seven players from the Vancouver Canucks will be competing at the Olympics, which should create plenty of excitement over the next few weeks.
On top of the 2026 Winter Olympics, NHLers are also scheduled to participate in the 2030 games, which will take place in the French Alps. Just like in 2026, there should be some Canucks content in 2030, as younger players in the organization continue to develop into everyday NHLers. While it may be early, here is a look at which young players could feature for their national team in four years.
Note: To qualify, a player must be younger than 25 and be either signed or drafted by the organization. They must also play for a country that is featured in the 2026 Winter Olympics men's tournament.
Sweden:
There are a handful of young players who could feature for Team Sweden in the future. On the blue line, the most likely player is Tom Willander, who is developing into a top-four defender at the NHL level. This season, Willander has 16 points in 45 games and is averaging 15:12 per night.
As for up front, Liam Öhgren and Jonathan Lekkerimäki are two Swedish players who look to have bright futures. Both have played for Sweden multiple times on the international stage and have skated away with medals. The two have also built up some chemistry during their playing days and could be part of the next Swedish wave in the NHL.
USA:
Patrolling the blue line for Team USA in 2030 could be Zeev Buium. The 20-year-old has already represented the Americans at the World Championship, where he helped them win a Gold Medal. Buium has a bright future ahead as he has the potential to be a top-pair defender in the NHL for years to come.
Jan 23, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (24) handles the puck against the New Jersey Devils in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn ImagesFinland:
One player who could get some consideration for Team Finland is center Aatu Räty. The 23-year-old is still developing, but has the potential to be a solid third-line center at the NHL level. If Räty can secure a spot in the lineup and keep winning faceoffs at a high rate, there could be a spot for him on the Finnish roster in 2030.
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