Vancouver Canucks: Grading Jim Benning’s two trade deadline moves

Jonathan Dahlen for Linus Karlsson

Well, this trade was quite surprising.

The Canucks acquired Dahlen from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alexandre Burrows two years ago. That looked like a huge win for Benning, having picked up a prospect with a strong skill set in exchange for a past-his-prime forward.

Even though he was viewed as of the top prospects in Vancouver’s system entering this season, Dahlen has been enduring a frustrating 2018-19. In 50 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets, Dahlen posted 14 goals and 29 points. Not bad, but not good enough for a player with so much potential and talent.

Benning later said that Dahlen’s agent, J.P. Barry), made a trade request just weeks before the deadline.

Well, Benning didn’t have much of a choice but to move out a player that was struggling, frustrated and in need of a new home. The only concern is if Benning got equal value in return for Dahlen.

Linus Karlsson hasn’t exactly been lighting it up for Karlskrona HK of Swe-1, with just four goals and 17 points in 48 games. Drafted with the 87th pick by the Sharks last year, Karlsson clearly has a lot of work and development ahead of him before Canuck fans can dream of seeing him in the NHL.

Dahlen is undoubtedly the more talented player here, and he has a better chance of being an NHL regular. Again, we won’t know the real winner of this trade for at least a couple of years. But for now, it’s tough to give Vancouver a high grade when they gave up on a young talent so early.

Grade: C-

Overall, it’s hard to complain about what Benning did overall at the trade deadline. He moved out a struggling Gudbranson and managed to find a better and cheaper player in return. Hopefully, Karlsson turns out to be the effective player that Benning is obviously keen on acquiring.

*Stats courtesy of Hockey Reference and HockeyDB*