[Article] Benning's not looking to trade

[Hodgson!!]

Not sure if this has been posted already. Pretty good article.

Two days before the National Hockey League trading deadline, the Vancouver Canucks are closing in on a couple of major acquisitions that could determine whether the team makes the Stanley Cup playoffs or gets a ticket for the draft lottery.

The Vancouver Sun has learned that Canuck general manager Jim Benning is planning to add two first-pairing defencemen and a gritty third-line centre. He has been eyeing these transactions for weeks and the Canucks are close to adding the players, according to multiple sources.

And all it will cost Benning is patience. That’s a lot less than previous Canuck general managers have spent the last 10 years at the NHL trading deadline, which is noon Monday.

The players the Canucks are adding are defencemen Alex Edler and Chris Tanev, and centre Brad Richardson. Benning should get them and others off Vancouver’s injured list in the next couple of weeks.

Sorry to disappoint everyone.

The chances of the Canucks making a significant trade are slim because Benning isn’t willing to surrender draft picks or good prospects, no longer has an extra goalie to deal and wants to keep his three pending unrestricted free agents.

“That’s a fair assessment,” Benning said before the Canucks scuffed up a sparkling road trip with a 6-3 loss Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. “But the other thing is we’ve been really happy with our group, how on any given night they show up and compete. I really do like our team.”

Benning said he likes the Canucks a lot more than he did five weeks ago, when the current injury crisis began with defenceman Kevin Bieksa’s broken hand and Richardson’s deep ankle bruise. The number of injured Canucks peaked at eight in Sunday’s 4-0 win against the New York Islanders when starting goalie Ryan Miller sprained knee ligaments that will keep him out 4-6 weeks.

Yet the Canucks, missing three of their top four defencemen since Edler and Tanev were hurt two weeks ago, just went 3-2 on a road trip and are 6-3 since Feb. 9. All of the victories were against strong teams, four of them on the road.

Thursday’s loss left the Canucks at 35-23-3 — on pace for 98 points — and clinging to a playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

“You don’t really know what you have with your group until you face adversity,” Benning said. “Losing our top two defencemen plus Kevin Bieksa, who’s an emotional leader on our team, and losing two of our top three centre-icemen for a period of time ... was really tough.

“Our guys have stepped up. Young players bring energy to your room every day, and I think that has energized the whole group. You see the way (rookies) Bo Horvat and Ronnie Kenins are playing every night, and Bulldog (Alex Biega) on defence ... these guys are working and competing so hard for us. Right through the team, players have bought in. In Boston, you could see the Sedins (Henrik and Daniel) standing up for themselves, pushing back in the scrums. It’s a really good group.

“That’s not to say I’m not going to be active. I’m going to continue to talk to teams and stay involved so I know what’s out there, but I’m less inclined to do anything.”

For this trading deadline, at least, that makes Benning different than previous Canuck GMs Mike Gillis, Dave Nonis and Brian Burke.

Gillis’s big deal a year ago was a hockey trade: he unloaded goalie Roberto Luongo’s $64-million-US contract on the Florida Panthers in exchange for Shawn Matthias and Jacob Markstrom, which looks like an even better deal now that Markstrom has been recalled from minor-league Utica to back up Eddie Lack in goal.

But over the 10 years before that, starting in 2003 with Burke paying the Phoenix Coyotes a third-round pick for Brad May and ending in 2013 with Gillis’s awful rental of Derek Roy from the Dallas Stars for a second-rounder, Canuck managers surrendered 15 second-, third- and fourth-round draft picks at the deadline.

Benning, who said this week that “draft picks are like gold to me,” has already sent a 2016 third-rounder to the Islanders in the November acquisition of defence prospect Andrey Pedan. Benning also gave up his 2015 third-rounder last June in a swap of picks attached to the Ryan Kesler trade, allowing the Canucks to acquire Derek Dorsett from the New York Rangers.

Dorsett, Matthias and Richardson are the three Canucks eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1, but Benning said he’ll keep all three rather than leverage them for draft picks on Monday. Among the team’s few expendable assets, enigmatic winger Zack Kassian scored four goals in three games on the road trip after moving from the press box to the first line and is unlikely to be traded.

“We did the lion’s share of our work in the summertime when we changed our team and changed our culture a little bit,” Benning said. “We did a lot of work then, like, we added Derek Dorsett and Linden Vey to give us more depth, and we got Radim Vrbata to help with scoring, and we got Ryan Miller.”

Signing Miller to a three-year, $18-million free-agent contract, with Lack and Markstrom already in Vancouver on one-way deals, gave Benning a goalie to trade. Markstrom cleared waivers in October, but made himself valuable in the American Hockey League by building a 1.95 goals-against average and .932 save rate before his recall on Monday. And Lack is having a solid sophomore NHL season with a 2.53 GAA and .916 save rate.

“Nobody really even contacted me about our goalies, to be honest with you,” Benning said. “The goalie market is a tough market because most organizations have three guys. And now that Ryan is out, we’re really happy to have Eddie and Jacob. It was always in the back of my mind that if anything happened, we have good depth in goal.”

Something happened and now Markstrom looks like he’ll be here for a while past Monday.

Miller is expected to be the last of the injured Canucks back in the lineup. Besides Edler, Tanev, Bieksa and Richardson, Benning expects winger Alex Burrows and defenceman Frankie Corrado to play soon. Second-line centre Nick Bonino returned to the lineup for Tuesday’s 2-1 win against the Boston Bruins.

The cavalry is coming. Just not from the trade market.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Iain+MacIntyre+Benning+looking+trade/10849764/story.html#ixzz3T6zGrWsH

[Gstank29]

I read the article easier i think he said "But the other thing is we’ve been really happy with our group, how on any given night they show up and compete. I really do like our team.”

Doesnt mean he's not looking for a trade. he not aggresively shopping for players

[Mathew Barzal]

Was hoping for fireworks, but I guess that can wait till the draft.

[Hodgson!!]

I read the article easier i think he said "But the other thing is we’ve been really happy with our group, how on any given night they show up and compete. I really do like our team.”

Doesnt mean he's not looking for a trade. he not aggresively shopping for players

The title of my thread is the title of the article

[DeNiro]

Still think we make a deal for a 4th or 5th round pick.

[Fateless]

I'll be honest, I'm disappointed he's not looking to unload a few veterans.

I was really hoping to see players like Richardson and Higgins to be unloaded in favor of 2nd/3rd round draft picks. I want this team to get younger and this is the optimal draft to do it in. I'm really hoping he is willing to let some of those contracts go before draft day because its not every year that a draft this deep comes along.

[Sweathog]

I'll be honest, I'm disappointed he's not looking to unload a few veterans.

I was really hoping to see players like Richardson and Higgins to be unloaded in favor of 2nd/3rd round draft picks. I want this team to get younger and this is the optimal draft to do it in. I'm really hoping he is willing to let some of those contracts go before draft day because its not every year that a draft this deep comes along.

It could still happen,with the price some other veterans have been fetching the last couple of days I could see Benning being faced with an offer he can't refuse.

I also think what he said in the article might have been more for the other GM's benefit than for ours. With the team winning and him saying he likes the team, he's dealing from a position of strength.

[Brad Marchand]

I'll be honest, I'm disappointed he's not looking to unload a few veterans.

I was really hoping to see players like Richardson and Higgins to be unloaded in favor of 2nd/3rd round draft picks. I want this team to get younger and this is the optimal draft to do it in. I'm really hoping he is willing to let some of those contracts go before draft day because its not every year that a draft this deep comes along.

Considering that the Canucks have traded for an additional 1st round pick in the last two drafts on the day of the draft itself (albeit for two pretty important players), I wouldn't write off the possibility of Benning acquiring more picks.

There is a lot of time for deals to be made, even if they have to happen in the offseason.

[desiboynux4lifee*******]

He should trade some UFA's and veterans. Look Mr Benning, this team does this every year. They show they can compete, but come playoffs the fuel from the veterans run out. (Eg Sanjose series)Teams like LA man handle the veterans! Seems, Benning is falling into the trap from this core, which we as fans have seen for far too long.

He should trade many UFA's and guys like Higgins.

Why we should trade for picks?

- a deep draft, which you don't want to miss out on.

This team this year has shown me how fragile they are. Bad goals, bad breakdowns, bad goal-tending, letting in 2 goals in less than a 5 minute span, less then 5 shots a period. Bottom line Benning has to understand, now is the time to get rid of some of the UFAs because this team will not being making noise in the playoffs.

Nashville - got way better

Chicago - got better

LA - got better

Minnesota - on fire

St louis- will get better

Ducks - will make a trade

Vancouver- same line up, hopefully they can pull a "miracle" otherwise its a 1st round exit for this team. Far too many times has this team been inconsistent this year.

Retool by selling some UFAs and hope some of the young utica guys can fill in. Canucks don't need a perfect record they need a decent .500 record to get into the playoffs, so you might as well grab some decent draft picks.

[THERETOOL]

I'll be honest, I'm disappointed he's not looking to unload a few veterans.

I was really hoping to see players like Richardson and Higgins to be unloaded in favor of 2nd/3rd round draft picks. I want this team to get younger and this is the optimal draft to do it in. I'm really hoping he is willing to let some of those contracts go before draft day because its not every year that a draft this deep comes along.

i totally agree , and just as sweat hog said , it is still very possible it happens . Benning isnt just going to give those players away . I imagine he would love to move some of those vets for gold

[Junkyard Dog]

He should trade some UFA's and veterans. Look Mr Benning, this team does this every year. They show they can compete, but come playoffs the fuel from the veterans will run out. Teams like LA man handle the veterans! Seems, Benning is falling into the trap from this core, which we as fans have seen for far too long.

He should trade many UFA's and guys like Higgins.

Benning realizes that this team isn't one that will be contending for the cup. He is still going to try to keep this team as competitive as possible while building for the future so that our young guys are brought into a competitive environment. I am sure his decisions will change over the course of time however.

Example of a young guy brought into a competitive environment and it being successful.

Bo Horvat.

[desiboynux4lifee*******]

Benning realizes that this team isn't one that will be contending for the cup. He is still going to try to keep this team as competitive as possible while building for the future so that our young guys are brought into a competitive environment. I am sure his decisions will change over the course of time however.

Example of a young guy brought into a competitive environment and it being successful.

Bo Horvat.

Hanging on to UFAs in a deep draft is not a good idea because chances are they will walk in the off-season. What's worst is guys like Matthias will be paid big bucks by a team like Buffalo in the off-season.

[Junkyard Dog]

Hanging on to UFAs in a deep draft is not a good idea because chances are they will walk in the off-season. What's worst is guys like Matthias will be paid big bucks by a team like Buffalo in the off-season.

Considering the circumstances of the team I think JB would rather hang on then let go. Injuries is the biggest reason of all for him to hang on to our UFAs. We haven't been as healthy as we were during the first half of the season. We trade UFAs we risk not making the playoffs if we run into more injuries.

That's how I think JB looks at it. If the circumstances were different I am sure he would have a different mindset on it.

Perhaps he plans on re-signing a few of our UFAs as well.

[Trebreh]

Welp......... sigh

[Lui's Knob]

Hope Benning buys and sells. Team needs a 2nd line. Badly

[Junkyard Dog]

Hope Benning buys and sells. Team needs a 2nd line. Badly

I am not sure that is going to be addressed by TD or even this off-season.

Highly doubtful to happen this Monday.

[Outsiders]

I'll be honest, I'm disappointed he's not looking to unload a few veterans.

I was really hoping to see players like Richardson and Higgins to be unloaded in favor of 2nd/3rd round draft picks. I want this team to get younger and this is the optimal draft to do it in. I'm really hoping he is willing to let some of those contracts go before draft day because its not every year that a draft this deep comes along.

this

[Sean Monahan]

He should trade many UFA's and guys like Higgins.

Why we should trade for picks?

- a deep draft, which you don't want to miss out on.

This team this year has shown me how fragile they are. Bad goals, bad breakdowns, bad goal-tending, letting in 2 goals in less than a 5 minute span, less then 5 shots a period. Bottom line Benning has to understand, now is the time to get rid of some of the UFAs because this team will not being making noise in the playoffs.

Nashville - got way better

Chicago - got better

LA - got better

Minnesota - on fire

St louis- will get better

Ducks - will make a trade

Vancouver- same line up, hopefully they can pull a "miracle" otherwise its a 1st round exit for this team. Far too many times has this team been inconsistent this year.

Retool by selling some UFAs and hope some of the young utica guys can fill in. Canucks don't need a perfect record they need a decent .500 record to get into the playoffs, so you might as well grab some decent draft picks.

[Sean Monahan]

He should trade many UFA's and guys like Higgins.

Why we should trade for picks?

- a deep draft, which you don't want to miss out on.

This team this year has shown me how fragile they are. Bad goals, bad breakdowns, bad goal-tending, letting in 2 goals in less than a 5 minute span, less then 5 shots a period. Bottom line Benning has to understand, now is the time to get rid of some of the UFAs because this team will not being making noise in the playoffs.

Nashville - got way better

Chicago - got better

LA - got better

Minnesota - on fire

St louis- will get better

Ducks - will make a trade

Vancouver- same line up, hopefully they can pull a "miracle" otherwise its a 1st round exit for this team. Far too many times has this team been inconsistent this year.

Retool by selling some UFAs and hope some of the young utica guys can fill in. Canucks don't need a perfect record they need a decent .500 record to get into the playoffs, so you might as well grab some decent draft picks.

Anaheim went out and got bergenheim for heatley. They got better. I don't see how you can call Chicago better by adding Vermette and Timonen (sp) when they've lost the league's leading scorer til the WCF.

As for the UFA's...benning plans to keep them all? Is that even possible with where the cap is projected to be next year and the number of guys we have to lock up? I'm not calling for a liquidation or anything here but it would be nice to see one piece moved, likely Richardson, for a pick or two. The man is in for a raise this summer, as is Matthias, and without moving salary I don't think we can keep them all. However with that being said JB probably knows more about cap management than I do lol

[DownUndaCanuck]

We don't need to make a trade right now, especially considering we're not pushing for a Cup run right now OR rebuilding (we're an in-the-middle team, expecting to do both) so there aren't many trades that would help us now and in the future made at the trade deadline. Also, the cost of players right now is rediculous.