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Linden and Benning Speak: on the Expansion Draft and Plans for the Future
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Vanessa Jang
Feb 5, 2017, 18:38 ESTUpdated:
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Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin
The Canucks are in for one heck of a final stretch over the next few months. Based on how this team has played on the road, there is the potential for a significant slide in the standings. Next week, they embark on a 6-game, 11-day road trip in which they will be facing the likes of Nashville, Columbus, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. The remainder of the season follows the same type of pattern. It won’t be easy, but we’ll all get a clearer idea of where the Canucks stand within the next few weeks.
This week in the media, we were blessed to have both Trevor Linden and Jim Benning stop by TSN 1040 for a radio appearance. Discussions were lengthy, but it was their talk about the future that stood out.
With the Las Vegas Expansion Draft approaching in just a few months, the Canucks will have some tough decisions to make. As a refresher, each team has two options for their protected list:
1) 7 forwards, 3 defensemen, 1 goaltender
2) 8 skaters, 1 goaltender.
If the Canucks choose Option 1, they will likely protect Daniel, Henrik, Eriksson, Horvat, Sutter, and two of Granlund/Hansen/Baertschi, Edler, Tanev, Gudbranson, and Markstrom.
Option 2 does not seem like much of an option since six spots will be taken by the NMC players and the three defensemen. So let’s look back at the first option…
Given the fact that Baertschi and Granlund were brought in to make this team younger and prepare for the future, it seems more likely then not that Hansen will be the odd man out. If exposed, the likelihood of him being claimed by Las Vegas is fairly high. However, there is a way to avoid zero return, and that would be through trade. We gave our own opinions in this week’s Roundtable.
The tricky situation is that most teams are in similar situations as the Canucks will be in. They see each of their players as valuable, and they would hate to give them away for nothing. Linden did note, however, that a player’s value may fluctuation based on the acquiring team’s ability or willingness to protect him in the expansion draft.
Linden on the Expansion Draft: “We’re modelled a lot of different scenarios. Talking to Murray Craven from the Las Vegas group, there’s so many variables in their matrix as is ours. I think there’s two spots where teams will look to fix that problem, and that would be deadline and leading to the expansion draft. We’re going to do what we can to avoid losing a young player, or any playerm would be tough to stomach.”
As stated a number of times across various media outlets, this year’s draft is a full step down from previous years. Aside from Patrick and Hischier, the remaining draft-elligibles are in a tier of their own. The gaps between players are relatively smaller, meaning the slightest difference could work for or against a player.
Last season, Judd Bracket and the scouting staff’s philosophy was zoning in on one specific quality (i.e. skating) that set the players apart from the rest, with the idea that this trait would be able to buy some time while other skills are developed. In hindsight, it may have not been the best philosophy to work by, and one could say that most of the 2016 draft class has not shown significant improvement over last year. However, Olli Juolevi has certainly picked up his game, and Brett McKenzie, though having slightly dropped off since the beginning of the season, looks to be a potential diamond in the rough. Nonetheless, Jim Benning has shown his ability to steal some players in the mid-rounds and college free-agency.
Linden: “Will Lockwood had a great start. He hurt his shoulder so he’s been out. We felt he was hidden in that National Development Program and had a lot better skill-level. His numbers didn’t show that, and he’s had an excellent freshman year at Michigan, an exciting, young player and plays an aggressive style. Adam Gaudette’s had a great year at Northeastern, I’m going to see him next week when we go there. There’s a couple (college free agents). Stan and I do our annual “planes, trains, and automobiles” trip next week on this next trip. Last year, we went to North Dakota and visited with Troy, introduced ourselves and said we’ll talk after he wins a championship.”
Benning: “I think there’s enough depth in this draft. It’s one of those drafts where it could go a lot of different ways. If some teams like a certain trait in a player, he might go higher than another team has him. I think up to 20, I feel confident that we’ll get a good player. The players underneath (Patrick and Hischier), you might have to wait longer to develop, but there’s some players with some real good skill-sets – offensive skills, speed. That was the thing I was impressed with [at the Top Prospects Game], the speed of the game. There’s going to be enough depth where we’re going to get a talented, skilled player. We’re going to have three picks in the top four rounds, maybe four picks.”
Last season, the goal was to make the playoffs. Although it might have been overly-optimistic, it appears that the front-office has, in a way, come back down to Earth. They are aware that the primary goal should be to prepare the team for the future, while being playoff-competitive is a bonus. It’s a waiting game now.  Benning has said on numerous occasions that they will let this team run its course. Rather than setting and publicizing high expectations, it seems this team will be the implementing the “it is what it is” model. If they earn a playoff spot, great! The young players learn the experience and it betters the reputation of the team. If the Canucks miss and have a high draft pick, also great! More pieces that can potentially become staples in the organization.
Linden: “It’s not a situation where we’ll go out and try to push something through that’s gonna get us over the hump. If it makes sense on the philosophy of getting younger and developing, we’ll do that.”
Benning: “I’m not going to buy rentals. The players we have are the players that have gotten us to this point. We’re going to have to rely on them and continue playing hard and we’re going to figure out a way to win games and try to make the playoffs. Playing meaningful games in March and April does the same [impact as playoffs]. Being in the playoff hunt, our young players see how hard it is. Teams that are serious, they step it up a notch. When young players get a taste of the playoffs, it’s an invaluable experience for them.”
It gives us hope when we see players like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Marian Hossa still thriving despite their age. You can’t leave the Sedins out of that group either. Their point production may be declining, but not all 36 year-olds can continue putting up 60-point seasons. Management has been adamant in stating the Sedins will retire as Canucks, and the feeling is mutual with the twins themselves. Here’s to hoping they still have at least two full seasons left in the tank.
Linden on the Sedins: “I know they’re focused on the here and now. They’re going to want to take this summer and train as hard as they ever have, come back and have a great year next year, and sit down after the year and talk about where they are. This has more to do with just them on the ice, but their family situation. Both have growing families and where they want to be.”

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