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Vancouver Canucks: 5 Takeaways from Year-End Press Conference

By Janik Beichler

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
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 /
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Benning Thinks Vancouver is Prepared for Post-Sedin Era

Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin have been the face of the franchise for many years and they likely will be until they retire. However, the twins will turn 36 this summer and the Canucks need to think about the future. Even if the Sedins continue to play until they are 40, it would probably be best to have them in a middle-six role sooner or later, and find players for a new top line.

As Benning noted in the press conference, he is confidence that the club basically has the new top line in the system already.

"We started that process. I just came back from Tampa Bay and watched Brock Boeser play. He could potentially be a No. 1line player for us. (…) If we were to stay in the top three (at the draft), we’re going to get a No. 1 line player there. (…) Our goal is to draft and develop our next group of core players that this team is going to win with going forward for a long time."

If the Canucks end up drafting in the top three, it looks like they really might get that top line set with Brock Boeser and one of Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi. In addition, Bo Horvat, Jake Virtanen and Jared McCann should be top-six players in the future.

If Vancouver falls out of that top three, they might take a defenceman instead. They could still go for a forward, but the top tier of Matthews, Laine and Puljujarvi is a big step ahead of guys like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Matthew Tkachuk.

Whatever happens, the club has a long way to go in forming a new top six without the Sedins. Benning is right, though, the Canucks’ system is and will be as well prepared for that time as it possibly can.

Next: Takeaway #3

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