Jim Benning addresses Canucks struggles in latest press conference

On Travis Green and meeting with Francesco Aquilini

Benning was also asked about Green and his job security. The answer he gave wasn’t a vote of confidence.

“We’re looking at everything,” said Benning. “We’re trying to find solutions to our problems. Travis and his staff are working hard. This is something I didn’t expect to happen after the moves we made this summer, but it’s happening and we have to deal with it.”

He was also asked why we never hear from Aquilini by The Province’s Patrick Johnston.

“Well, you know, and I don’t know how it gets out there, but I had a meeting with ownership the other day and, and, when I meet with the ownership, it’s kind of a state of the union as to where the team is at,” said Benning. “Obviously, ownership is not happy with the start we’ve had, and we’ve talked about, the issues that we’re having as a team and as a group, and I tried to give them solutions to our problems, how we’re going to figure this out and how we’re going to get better and how we need to be. That’s kind of, you know, the way things work around here. So, you know, I’m kind of a spokesman for him in that regard.”

On fans’ frustrations, feeling responsible, the eight-year rebuild, and the timeline

Canucks fans started voicing their displeasures with chants of “Fire Benning” and “Sell the team in the game against the Avalanche. There were also signs displayed.

Benning gave his response to the fans’ frustration.

“You know, it’s really upsetting because I think as a management team, these last seven-plus years, we’ve worked really hard to, you know, draft well develop our players properly,” said Benning. ” I think it’s wearing on all of us. There’s not one faction between ownership to the management team, to the coaches, that it’s wearing on us now, The fans are frustrated, I get their frustration, we’re frustrated and we need to figure this out and get back on track and start winning hockey games and play like I believe we’re capable of.”

Benning was also asked if he feels responsible for where the team is at.

“Well, of course, I feel responsible,” responded Benning. “I’m the leader of this group. You know, like I said, the moves we made this summer, I would have never envisioned we got off to the start, but we have, now we have to deal with it and we got to figure it out. It’s hard. I’m not gonna sit here and say it’s not hard. It’s really hard. But you know, like, what’s going on in BC right now with the people out in Abbotsford, and, and the floods that they’re dealing with, that’s not easy, either. So this is what we call life.”

On Twitter, Benning received a ton of criticism for comparing the state of the Canucks to the floods in Abbotsford and other places across BC.

David Quadrelli of Canucks Army pointed out that while what Benning is doing is hard, others in BC are in a worse situation than he is. I get what Benning was trying to say but the words didn’t come out the right way.

He was also asked about his job security.

“Well, I’m not going to worry about that,” said Benning. “That will be an ownership decision and if, you know, they get to a point where, they don’t feel like I’m doing a good job (and) I need to be replaced, they’ll make that decision.”

Benning is in his eighth season as the Canucks GM and he was asked if that was enough time to execute a rebuild and get where the team needs to be.

“Yeah, I believe so,” said Benning. “I like this group. I think, you know our younger players, we surrounded them with veteran players so they can learn from them, you know, glue guys that could teach them because that younger group of players that we’ve drafted and developed and, you know, with that responsibility comes a lot of pressure and now we got to, work with these guys to get them to play to their potential and, and so they can perform at the level that they need to perform at so we can start winning.”

In March, Benning proclaimed that the Canucks will be competitive in two-years time and was asked about it on Thursday.

“Well, you know, I’m not gonna comment on that right now with where we’re at,” said Benning. We got to just figure out you know, how our penalty kill can be better, how our best players can perform better how. We’re a fragile team right now, how we can work through that and be mentally tougher. Those are the issues that we’re dealing with right now.”

On Sutter’ status and Hamonic’s vaccination status

Brandon Sutter is still recovering from the long-term effects of COVID-19 and Benning provided an update on him.

“He’s feeling better,” said Benning. “He’s what they call COVID long hauler. I talked to him last week, he’s feeling better and better all the time.”

However, he isn’t close to returning.

“He’s nowhere close to working out and getting back on the ice,” said Benning.

Benning also was asked about Travis Hamonic’s vaccination status. Hamonic recently got his second dose which means he is unlikely going to be on the upcoming road trip.

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