Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Vancouver Canucks Aiming High on Quick Rebuild as Draft Day Arrives

June 24, 2016, 2:30 PM ET [1041 Comments]
Carol Schram
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Draft Day is here, but the main focus is no longer on who the Vancouver Canucks will choose with the fifth overall pick.

Jim Benning caused a firestorm in Buffalo yesterday when he talked about his team's interest in acquiring three top-level NHL stars. Talks have broken off between Milan Lucic and the Los Angeles Kings, and Kings general manager Dean Lombardi has given other organizations permission to talk to his player, but Benning also name-checked Steven Stamkos—under contract for one more week to the Tampa Bay Lightning—and P.K. Subban, who's under contract for six more years in Montreal.

Benning got props for admitting his interest in Lucic:




But he could be in trouble for the Subban and Stamkos remarks.




I wondered about this when I heard Benning's comments yesterday. When he was with the Canucks—and with the Leafs, too—Brian Burke often deflected questions about possible trade targets or other player personnel moves by saying that he couldn't talk about another team's player, because that would be tampering.

We hear so many trade rumours through the media—many of which do come to fruition after being reported by reliable sources—that it feels like that line has blurred, but I think Benning did cross a line by name-checking Subban and Stamkos.

Click here for a refresher on the Sedin case from 2009. Ron Wilson, who was coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the time, was found guilty of tampering and fined, three months after making a comment that "there is a real possibility I would think that we would be going after the Sedins. Let's just speculate there," as Daniel and Henrik were on their way to becoming UFAs—before their last-minute decision to re-sign with Vancouver.

If the Canucks do get their wrist slapped for Benning's remarks, I imagine the situation would be similar—the punishment will be levelled several months down the road, and will come in a monetary form.

Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin shot down the idea that he was looking to move Subban at a press conference on Thursday evening in Buffalo, but admitted that he had received calls on a possible trade. The puzzle piece that makes this dialogue intriguing is Pierre-Luc Dubois, a top-level French Canadian who would certainly be a nice fit in the Habs organization, and who's projected to be selected in the top five of the draft. The question is whether that temptation would be enough for Bergevin to consider trading his Norris Trophy-winning defenceman.

Elliotte Friedman has a new 30 Thoughts up at Sportsnet, says of the Canucks and Subban:

"(Benning's) best offer would include Bo Horvat, Chris Tanev and the fifth overall selection. There is some debate about Benning’s willingness to include Horvat, but he may not be able to get this done without doing so."

Friedman goes on to say that Bergevin doesn't want to include Montreal's first-round pick, No. 9, as part of a deal. If that's true, the deal wouldn't involve trading down—it would involving giving up the first-round pick entirely, as well as two of the team's best players. I like Subban, but I don't think the deal can be made at that price.

My biggest takeaway from Thursday's tempest is that, once again, the Canucks appear to be veering far away from a patient "draft and develop" strategy to rebuild the team. We're seeing every indication that Benning and company have the green light to try to hit a home run, bringing in one or more top-level players in an attempt to make the team competitive again as early as next season. We should see the Canucks in the mix as major players over the next week, rolling into the beginning of free agency.

That being said, surely if you're going to throw the franchise's first-ever draft party, you're going to make a pick today—right?

Doors open at Rogers Arena at 3 p.m., and I hear they're putting some effort into creating a cool atmosphere. Click here for the event details, which includes appearances by current Canucks players, alumni Kirk McLean, Jyrki Lumme and Dave Babych, a game-worn equipment sale and the unveiling of the next member of the Canucks' Ring of Honour—rumoured to be Mattias Ohlund.

Still, I can't help but think that the tone of the party will be distinctly muted if the Canucks don't make a pick at five.

So far, all is quiet around the league, but that may change. Last year, Carl Soderberg's rights were dealt on the day before the draft, then on draft day we saw the blockbuster deals go down involving Robin Lehner, Dougie Hamilton, Milan Lucic, Ryan O'Reilly, Griffin Reinhart and Kyle Palmieri. A longer list of additional deals, including Eddie Lack's trade to Carolina, took place on Saturday.

Sportsnet's draft coverage gets underway at 3:30 p.m. PT this afternoon, with the picking scheduled to start at 4:00. Could be a wild ride!
Join the Discussion: » 1041 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Carol Schram
» Winning Canucks send down Podkolzin, Rathbone as homestand begins
» Power-play fuels big win in Vegas as Canucks look to sweep 3-game road trip
» The Canucks' position at U.S. Thanksgiving, following a big win in Denver
» Trade winds blow as the Canucks kick off road trip against the Avalanche
» Podkolzin returns as Canucks host Vegas amidst Horvat, Myers trade rumours