awalk

Sounds to me like the change is going to come from Benning actually doing a ton of amateur scouting himself, going into the trenches with the guys. Seems to me like that is uncommon for a GM.

I'm also not sure if he has ever blinked in his life.

Joey Kenward always looks like he thinks he is asking a super secret, super silly question

He's not exactly eloquent but cares? Listen to what he is saying, not how he is saying it. Too much emphasis on media in this town. Linden will be the media guy.

Linden is very clearly in charge and at the top of the pecking order, and Benning is going to be focused a great deal on scouting and player development. This looks to be a great set up.

Wont be afraid to ask players to waive NTC

"We want our players when they have the puck to have the freedom to skate with the puck and use their skill to be creative, but then when they do not have the puck to be positionally sounds and defensively responsible"

He's very familiar with the players we drafted last year! Says he thought we had a very good draft last year. Dig it.

Talking about scouting now and giving the scouts a very strong direction and indication of the exact type of player they are looking for. Is going to be working directly with the scouts to make them better.

Not really much of interest right now. Linden and Benning very much on the same page. Benning loves the fans and the desire of the team to win. Met the Sedins this morning, great people, great hockey players. Likes the core that the team has, thinks they can turn the team around in a hurry. Talking about existing management right now. Linden saying they are a great support cast to help Jim with his vision.

Nervous in front of the camera a bit. T Linden is going to be a good bridge for the media-GM relationship. Seems like a true hockey guy. Love it.

McDonagh is running show on Gallagher tonight

I'm really not arguing against trading Kesler. At all. In fact it seems to be the main move that makes sense, and good franchises move good players like that because it helps them in the long run. Simple point was that the move has to make sense for the Canucks, and to me that either = getting at least one reallllly good player back who will be as good if not better than Kesler down the road, or a more lateral move that refreshes your lineup while not losing out on the offense that Kesler brings. Maybe I just don't want to watch this team struggle to score 2 goals a game any time the Sedins go through one of their "slumps" any more...just me. And Maybe that is another reason why Kesler has to go. All depends on the return...but certainly it will be refreshing to have a GM not afraid to pull the trigger on a big player move, and one who likely won't spend his time whining to the media about how hard it is to make a trade, effectively lowering that player's value significantly.

Fair. Maybe Weber is a real bad example since the guy is all worldly and on a different level.

Well that is actually a pretty common viewpoint on trading guys like Kesler. You don't typically look towards a lateral move, at least it doesn't seem like most GMs or analysts do. Trade doesn't necessarily equal rebuild and there are certainly past moves that have proved that. My point was and is still really simple...if you trade Kesler you probably need to replace his offensive output or you are looking at another year of watching the Canucks struggle to score goals...possibly even worse than last year. So why trade Kesler, a good player, for an equally good player? I suggest you trade him to get better in the future, or you package him for a guy like Weber to get better now. But again, you make a deal like that, which I would love, you have a hole on offense you have to fill which is not just going to magically come from somewhere else. I'm definitely agreeing with a lot of what you are saying, just not necessarily the basis from which it is founded upon.

That's my appreciation of it. I really liked Mike Gillis. But he always took too long to make key moves, Luongo especially.

Well I think your suggestion of Kesler bullying players out of the organization is a pretty personal belief not really based on fact. But I agree that IF his value in trade outweighs his value to the Canucks then you pull the trigger. All depends on his market value though. Young players and draft picks are great but an unknown quantity.

Well yea, I mean duh it's better! Weber is all world. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on Kesler as your hate for him seems to stem from personal beliefs aside from the fact that I agree that he is a bit of a puck hog...but I do believe he is a positive contributor to this team and the only reason I trade him is to garner pieces that will build a new foundation for the future.

Again, not arguing the merits of trading Kesler OR acquiring Weber. Suggesting that without Kesler this team will be even more in tough to score goals. Also there is no way in hell Kesler gets traded straight up for Weber. Weber is a far better player.

You aren't really addressing the point of my post. Who are you going to replace his 20-30 goals with? Regardless of whether or not it is the right thing to do, flipping him for a defensman is going to create a hole on offense that is going to be difficult to fill. Not sure how you can debate that. Although "um...no" IS one of the best arguments I have ever experienced.

Multiple sources have confirmed that he will be working the draft, from Team1040 to Botchford on the Province.

I think "he is able to start right away" pretty much states unequivocally that he is starting right now and will be working the draft.

Would be real cool to get Weber...but if you add that extra salary while taking away Kesler's offense they are gonna be in some big trouble next year trying to score goals.

I'd say it'd be the other way around, based on experience if nothing else. Something like, Trotz as head coach, Oates as associate coach OR offensive coach / PP specialist

They played some audio clips of Benning from "Behind the B" earlier today on Team1040. Benning has a very strong voice and is solidly opinionated. A good balance between he and Trev, methinks.