The Canuck Way
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Vancouver Canucks Faced with Untimely Confusion

By David Joun

Feb 9, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller (30), defenseman Ryan Stanton (18) and defenseman Yannick Weber (6) look on after allowing a goal to Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter (not pictured) during the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Vancouver Canucks goalie Ryan Miller (30), defenseman Ryan Stanton (18) and defenseman Yannick Weber (6) look on after allowing a goal to Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter (not pictured) during the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning announces Jake Virtanen (not pictured) as the number six overall pick to the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Benning vs. Logic: Squeeze Nine Defencemen to Make Six

To add to the Tryamkin story,  Jim Benning has expressed that he would like to have the Russian playing Vancouver before the 2015-16 season is over. The Canucks lineup currently without Alex Edler will delight to have him here.

But next year gets messy. Again, the future, eh?

Tanev – Edler
Hutton –  Biega
Sbisa – Larsen
Pedan – Tryamkin

In addition to the group above, Dan Hamhuis might get re-signed and slot in on the second or third pairing.

Yes, Benning. You have just guaranteed nine “NHL defencemen”  each a spot on the blueline, whether it be verbal promise (Hamhuis, Pedan, Tryamkin), acquisition of rights (Larsen), or contract obligations (Biega, Edler, Sbisa, Tanev, Hutton).

Maybe stop saying things like this?

You are a GM of an NHL team. Your words translate to millions of dollars in salary. Think before you speak Jimmy. Please. How are you going to sign Hamhuis with this mess already on the blueline? Nevermind the Garage Sale Seven, is this a sign that one of Sbisa, Edler, Tanev, or Biega could be traded in the offseason?

Why not, if the return is a Jonathan Drouin? How about packaging a pick with a player to upgrade in the draft? After all, I am sure Benning really likes some of the defencemen in the free agent pool, especially after he said this:

To add to the mix, if the Canucks draft in the top five, the chances of getting Jakob Chychrun, the top-ranked defenceman in this year’s draft, is quite high.

So, nine defencemen committed to already, add a free agent, and add a potential Chychrun to the mix — depending on how close to NHL-ready he is. There you go, Willie Desjardins, you could have 11 defencemen to fill the top-six and the two of three seats in the press box.

If that isn’t illogical, I don’t know what is. Or is it just possible that Jim Benning has a failing memory?

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