Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning knows how good the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik, are and have been, especially this season. Daniel's got 12 goals and 28 points, while Henrik boasts eight goals and 24 points. Together, they're one of the most dynamic duos in the entire NHL and, this season especially, they've been playing a truly inspired game. Unfortunately, Benning also knows that without Brandon Sutter in the Canucks lineup - and really, even with him - there are issues on the Vancouver roster. With the team currently 9-9-8, stuck in the middle of the pack in the Pacific, there is work for Benning to do - work he wants desperately to get done, but work he knows won't come easy.
"I've made some calls around the league the last few days, just to kind of check in on the marketplace," Benning said Thursday, while appearing on an episode of Vancouver's TSN 1040, via Today's Slap Shot. "There's not a lot really going on. But we're going to continue to talk to other teams and look out there. If there's something that makes sense that can help us in the short term, we're going to look to do it."
The above answer came as a response to a question regarding the Canucks' potential pursuit of a center in the wake of Sutter's 4-6 week absence, post-surgery. But Benning also admitted later that what he'd really like to do is upgrade defensively - something he said won't be easy because, well, every team in the league wants to upgrade defensively.
He also said he wants to see the team add some secondary scoring punch, something which could alleviate some of those defensive issues.
"We just can't rely on one line to - the Sedins have been so good for us this year, and they score every night, but we need to supplement that," Benning said. "Even spending more time in the other team's end, to take some pressure off our defensemen."
So, maybe that's the change Benning will look to make before he throws money and/or assets at a defensive trade. The Canucks defense, led by Alexander Edler and Dan Hamhuis, hasn't been terrible, but their play is pretty clearly reflected in the team's place in the standings.
They'd certainly benefit from a forward corps more adept at maintaining control of the puck and pushing play in the offensive end.
But as Benning and others have noted, the NHL trade market seems quiet. It's early and teams are still identifying strengths and weaknesses. Benning seems to know what his team needs, but that doesn't mean he'll be able to do anything about in the near future.
