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Vancouver Canucks: Which Free Agents Should be Re-Signed?

By Jeff Godley

Mar 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis (2) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Emerson Etem (26) skate toward the net in the first period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis (2) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Emerson Etem (26) skate toward the net in the first period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 15, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen John-Michael Liles (26) stops Vancouver Canucks forward Brandon Prust (9) during the third period at PNC Arena. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen John-Michael Liles (26) stops Vancouver Canucks forward Brandon Prust (9) during the third period at PNC Arena. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Brandon Prust, F:

Free Agent Status: Unrestricted

Should He Be Re-signed? Hell, no.

Brandon Prust was supposed to be a player that would protect the likes of Jake Virtanen. Instead, he became the dead weight taking up Virtanen’s spot on the Canucks roster.

To put it frankly, Prust contributes nothing of value to this team. Canucks management should not concern themselves with who will drop the gloves next season – Derek Dorsett leads the league in penalty minutes, and has 10 fighting majors. Nor do they need Prust for as an “energy” player – Alex Burrows, Jannik Hansen, Jake Virtanen, and Emerson Etem already provide that element.

Prust is neither young nor fast, does not score goals and does little to prevent them.

Will Benning Re-sign Him? No. 

To start the year, Benning thought highly enough of Brandon Prust that he would give up Zach Kassian to acquire him. A few months later, Benning was willing (hoping?) to have him claimed on waivers, so long as he was off the Canucks’ roster.

While Benning is decidedly old-school in his approach to an NHL roster and does favour employing enforcer types like Prust, Benning has clearly turned the page on this particular player. Prust may get another chance in the NHL, but it will not be for Jim Benning’s Canucks.

Next: Dan Hamhuis

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