Canucks: General manager Jim Benning deserves our trust now

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning has received a ton of criticism throughout his tenure. But it’s time to give credit where it’s due.

Those who criticize the work of Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning often like to point out the fact that the team has missed the playoffs in each of the last four years.

Sure, Benning has made some mistakes that he’d like back. The Loui Eriksson contract and Jared McCann trade come to mind. And so far, he hasn’t received the return Vancouver hoped for in high-end picks, Jake Virtanen and Olli Juolevi.

It’s been a slow but a necessary painful rebuild in Vancouver. But the pieces have begun falling in place, and Benning’s Canucks are sitting at 7-3-1 — good for third in the Pacific Division. Their plus-15 goal differential is now tops in the NHL.

And it’s time for the long-time critics of Benning to give him the credit. He deserves the trust of the fans now.

The offseason J.T. Miller trade was a massive risk, no doubt. But the 26-year-old has already produced six goals and 13 points in 11 games. He’s supplied Vancouver with that much-needed piece to complete the top line, alongside Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser.

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Speaking of which, Benning is the man who drafted Pettersson and Boeser. Those two players are certainly changing the franchise for the better.

Benning was also able to retain top blueliner Alexander Edler on a team-friendly two-year pact worth $12 million. The 33-year-old is up to nine points through the first 11 games. Good on Benning for being able to retain Edler on a short-term deal.

Free agent signing Micheal Ferland is finding his form offensively, with five points on the season. His value goes beyond the stat sheet, though.

The 27-year-old supplies Vancouver with some much-needed toughness and grit up front, and if this team makes the playoffs, Ferland’s impact will be felt even more.

It’s hard to complain about the performances of Jordie Benn and Tyler Myers, whom Benning signed in the offseason. So far, so good. Up to this point, the blue line has been better than ever under head coach Travis Green.

There’s good reason to believe that the Canucks will continue to perform at a dominant level. They’re getting plenty of offensive production from their top six and from the back end. Thatcher Demko and Jacob Markstrom have been one of hockey’s top goaltending tandems thus far, and if they keep this up, the team won’t have to worry about regressing at all. It’s that simple.

Benning’s fingerprints are all over Vancouver’s impressive start to this season. But it seems like he won’t get the credit that he deserves unless the Canucks make the playoffs. At this rate, however, there’s good reason to believe Vancouver will get make it.