Vancouver Canucks: Top 5 Questionable Moves by Jim Benning
By Alex Hoegler
1. Ignoring an inevitable rebuild
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When Benning inherited a mess left by his predecessor in Mike Gillis, there was a lot of work to be done. The Sedin twins were entering their age-34 seasons. Ryan Kesler got his trade request and went to the Anaheim Ducks. But instead of possibly parting with the Sedins, Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler and/or Alex Burrows while their values were high, Benning and the Canucks decided to take an aim at the playoffs.
Sure, it was an entertaining season in 2014-15, where they reached the playoffs after a surprise second-place finish in the Pacific Division. But looking back now, it took the Canucks nowhere. What if they simply started a rebuild? They would have likely been among the draft lottery teams that could have won Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel.
Even after last season’s letdown, the Canucks could have rebuilt. The Sedin twins had high value, Alex Burrows could have been bought out, Ryan Miller could have been traded and signing Loui Eriksson wasn’t a necessity.
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The Canucks have been experimenting with a rebuild-on-the-fly project that is now entering year four. Maybe Benning isn’t getting a green light from ownership or his boss, Trevor Linden, to tear it all down.
But something has got to give. Benning’s moves haven’t been as backfiring as Gillis’, but they haven’t been successful, either.