Vancouver Canucks: Jim Benning and Travis Green provide updates

Jim Benning and Travis Green spoke during the Canucks media day before training camp. They talked about potential decisions and where we stand on a certain contract’s negotiations.

The Vancouver Canucks held their media day in Whistler before training camp. Jim Benning and Travis Green discussed updates and their current focus. In my opinion, they were no bomb shells dropped during either the press conference.

The quick and dirty of everything they said was boiled down pretty well between Blake Price and Jason Brough.

However, if you are still interested, we heard a few interesting things from Benning and Green. I do have to say, since the departure of Trevor Linden, Jim Benning does seem a lot more comfortable speaking to media now. It’s purely anecdotal, but maybe he has a confidence boost since he has total control now. Although, he had a good amount of control before, but still interesting.

Jim Benning

First and foremost, we got an update on Brock Boeser‘s next contract. The Canucks will wait until the end of the season to begin negotiations again. This is a smart move on the organization and everyone can win regardless of how well Boeser plays. That’s a good way to manage the narrative, because this is one storyline that won’t be present during the season.

Benning also addressed the captaincy situation rather ambiguously. The team is waiting for someone to “step up,” but also believes the team will be fine to be without a captain this season. Non-committal answers are generally safer, much to the chagrin of media and fans.

They also discussed Alex Edler and his no-trade clause. Benning confirmed that they have talked and may circle back at some point. It opens options at the trade deadline, which is far better than refusing to consider an Edler trade at all. Baby steps.

Benning also noted that he will be more involved on the medical-related aspects of the team. If the Canucks General Manager has an M.D., that’s news to me, but really he’s keeping a closer eye on injuries since the Canucks have faced so many over the years.

The last thing I will leave you with is this:

I will hold Jim Benning to this quote. History has shown me the complete opposite, but I want to see him prove me wrong. We hear this every year and yet rookies get pushed down anyway. When we have an opportunity for multiple young players, spots seem to disappear and unwarranted healthy scratches pop up. Maybe the fifth time is the charm.

Travis Green

Like the tweet in the intro said, a lot of this is just wait and see what happens at camp. Non-committal answers that give us little information. Hockey people are great at giving you essays that have very little in them. With that said, Travis Green still mentioned a few interesting things.

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First, he confirmed that Elias Pettersson starts camp at centre. Of course, Green is excited by the new young players and wants to see what they can do. Nothing new here. For the scrimmages in Whistler, they will pit the young guys against the veterans, so that should be interesting.

Green wants a more aggressive, mobile style of play from his defence. I thought we heard this before last season, but sure. Why not? Speed is entertaining. The Canucks bench boss isn’t happy that people are suggesting that Jonathan Dahlèn should have a lineup spot. Maybe it’s a point of pride because we can come off as knowing better than the coach.

If only he could see we want an exciting lineup this season and watching washed up grinders doesn’t fit the bill. Green also said that pressure is on everybody since last year was so bad. He talks about opportunities and proving you can play. Again, a lot of words that don’t hold much weight. But those are just standard coaching lines at that point.

Green ended things off on the final linemate for Bo Horvat and Boeser. Nobody is locked in yet, opening up a lot of opportunities for a variety of wingers. Green is also aware of which wingers are the hot button issues of conversation.

Despite my reservations for this year’s training camp, I am still excited. If Young Stars was just a taste of what we could see, these will fun games to watch. To me, it doesn’t matter if the Canucks are terrible next year. In fact, I encourage it. I just want the journey to that point to feel worthwhile along the way. Maybe it’s our turn to have that 2015-16 Leafs season. That beats the alternative of dull and listless hockey.