I disagree, apprentices do get advised, but also offer valuable insight.
Both Smyl and Jarvis have been here long before the Benning era:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Smyl
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Jarvis
Read the bios, both have had years in coaching and experience. Their relationship is with the Canucks organization and valued in that capacity. Not so much a relationship with Benning.
In later years, ‘Benning era’, they were probably involved more in the business side, admin, daily operations etc. rather than the ‘hockey side’ and player decisions.