As the Vancouver Canucks finish out the final few weeks of what will be a non-playoff year, general manager Jim Benning needs to start planning out how he’ll reshape this team from top to bottom.
Since taking over for Mike Gillis five years ago, Benning has always valued building a roster full of tough and physical players, even if they bring next-to-nothing on offence. That’s why he gave blueliner Erik Gudbranson a four-year deal worth $12 million last year, before somehow unloading him to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tanner Pearson.
It’s why he gave Derek Dorsett (before he had to retire due to a neck injury), a four-year extension worth $10.