Jim Benning addresses Canucks struggles in latest press conference

Vancouver Canucks (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Vancouver Canucks (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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The Vancouver Canucks are continuing to lose hockey games and the pressure is on owner Francesco Aquilini, head coach Travis Green and general manager Jim Benning.

A day after the Canucks lost their fifth straight game at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, Benning spoke to the media for the first time since training camp and he was asked numerous questions on the state of the team.

You can watch the full press conference here.

With the press conference being uploaded to Youtube and with the help of Otter AI transcribing it, here is a quick recap highlighting what was said at the press conference.

On the team’s poor start to the season and the struggling special teams

Right off the bat, Benning was asked about the Canucks dreadful start to the season.

” This is not the start we envisioned,” said Benning. “We made some good moves this summer to strengthen the team. We fixed some of the issues with the players and personnel we may have had in the past. We’ve got 11 new players on the team now but there’s some issues that we’re trying to figure out to get to win hockey games.”

He was also asked about the penalty kill which continues to be the worst in the NHL.

“I think (at) five on five, we’ve really improved, but you know, right now, our special teams are hurting us,” said Benning. ” For whatever reason, We’re not performing on the power play, and then our penalty kill, it’s really hurt us this year is was. It was evident in the game last night, they scored three power play goals and that’s a difference in the game.

On Elias Pettersson’s struggles, calling out star players and the play of new acquisitions
Elias Pettersson signed a three-year contract worth 7.35 million dollars per season shortly before the 2021-22 campaign kicked off. So far, he has not lived up to expectations and has looked like a shadow of his former self. Pettersson has three goals and six assists in 17 games this season.

“Part of our problem is our good players aren’t playing to their potential,” said Benning. “We all know the type of player that he (Pettersson) can be. Whether it’s the long layoff, he didn’t play four months last year, and, through the summer, getting back to playing competitively again, and you know, we know, he’s capable of a lot more than he’s shown so far. But it’s our jobs as a management team as a coaching staff to keep working with him to get him to where he needs to be because he’s a big part of our team. Some of our players need to regain their confidence to play up to their potential. We’re going to need to string a bunch of wins together to get back in it”

While Benning criticized Pettersson and the star players he did have praise for Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Tucker Poolman.

“Bringing in Ekman-Larsson and Poolman, those are guys that could work with some of the players we have to make them better and I think they’ve shown that,” said Benning.

Ekman-Larsson has looked fine defensively but has been very poor on the penalty kill. The offence hasn’t been there for OEL as he only has one goal and two assists in 17 games. He is also making 7.26 million dollars for the next six seasons.

Poolman’s contract was questionable from the moment it was signed and he also has been poor on the penalty kill and has made defensive mistakes and his puck-handling looks substandard.

VANCOUVER, CANADA – JUNE 25: Vancouver Canucks team owner Francesco Aquilini, Henrik Sedin #33 and Chris Higgins #20 of the Vancouver Canucks listen to new head coach John Tortorella speaking during a press conference announcing Tortorella as the new head coach of the team, June 25, 2013 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, CANADA – JUNE 25: Vancouver Canucks team owner Francesco Aquilini, Henrik Sedin #33 and Chris Higgins #20 of the Vancouver Canucks listen to new head coach John Tortorella speaking during a press conference announcing Tortorella as the new head coach of the team, June 25, 2013 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

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.”

VANCOUVER, BC – NOVEMBER 2: Travis Hamonic #27 of the Vancouver Canucks tries to get past Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers during NHL action on November 2, 2021 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – NOVEMBER 2: Travis Hamonic #27 of the Vancouver Canucks tries to get past Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers during NHL action on November 2, 2021 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

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.

Let us know you’re thoughts on Benning’s comments in the comment section below or on Facebook or Twitter.

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