Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Pens to Snatch Benning? Draft Plans, Seattle Team Update After general manager Ray Shero's surprise ouster in Pittsburgh, there's concern that the Canucks' prime candidate, Jim Benning, could also be a candidate for the Penguins job.

Benning to Pittsburgh?

(a) Would Neely want him in the same conference?
(b) Benning owns a home in Oregon
(c) Relationship with Linden

Dog days of summer. As you were.

Hopefully we can get some closure on the GM front this week, as for the coaching candidate, that ones more of a mystery to me.

Benning to Pittsburgh?

(a) Would Neely want him in the same conference?
(b) Benning owns a home in Oregon
(c) Relationship with Linden

Dog days of summer. As you were.
- VanHockeyGuy

a) Not his call, unless he refuses permission for the Pens to talk to Benning, which could sour their relationship.

b) Just because he owns a house in Oregon doesn't automatically mean he'll want to move closer to it, he's going to want to take the best job available.

c) He might have a relationship with Linden, but the Canucks require several years of retooling before a Cup run is realistic or even possible whereas the Pens are much closer and don't need as much rebuilding. There's also the fact that the Canucks franchise as a whole is a mess internally after all that's happened and it's possible it might scare off decent/star candidates due to having to fix the mess first. There's also having to deal with increasingly sceptical and hostile media and fans in this market that will turn on a person after a losing streak as quickly as a bipolar sufferer shifts moods. Would Benning really want to deal with that?

I'm not saying Benning won't eventually be hired by the Canucks, but I do think banking on him being the GM is foolish. No news is not good news, if Benning really was their candidate and he's going to be hired, some word would have leaked out of the Canucks camp by now. The fact that they're still interviewing candidates means that they have no one they really like yet and does anyone really want this management team (which is mostly made up of Gillis's staff that wasn't let go when he was and Linden) make the picks in this draft?

I wouldn't be surprised if Gilman is installed as GM with Naslund taking over a AGM position.

a) Not his call, unless he refuses permission for the Pens to talk to Benning, which could sour their relationship.

b) Just because he owns a house in Oregon doesn't automatically mean he'll want to move closer to it, he's going to want to take the best job available.

c) He might have a relationship with Linden, but the Canucks require several years of retooling before a Cup run is realistic or even possible whereas the Pens are much closer and don't need as much rebuilding. There's also the fact that the Canucks franchise as a whole is a mess internally after all that's happened and it's possible it might scare off decent/star candidates due to having to fix the mess first. There's also having to deal with increasingly sceptical and hostile media and fans in this market that will turn on a person after a losing streak as quickly as a bipolar sufferer shifts moods. Would Benning really want to deal with that?



I'm not saying Benning won't eventually be hired by the Canucks, but I do think banking on him being the GM is foolish. No news is not good news, if Benning really was their candidate and he's going to be hired, some word would have leaked out of the Canucks camp by now. The fact that they're still interviewing candidates means that they have no one they really like yet and does anyone really want this management team (which is mostly made up of Gillis's staff that wasn't let go when he was and Linden) make the picks in this draft?
- DariusKnight

This clusterfuk gets better and better. So now they will have an inexperienced president who has been in hockey operations for two months , going to the podium with one of the worst drafting crews in the NHL to pick in one of the most important drafts in team history.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gilman is installed as GM with Naslund taking over a AGM position.
- Gullzy

not a fan of this

This clusterfuk gets better and better. So now they will have an inexperienced president who has been in hockey operations for two months , going to the podium with one of the worst drafting crews in the NHL to pick in one of the most important drafts in team history.



- VANTEL

Ladies and Gentleman, the Vancouver Clusterfu*ks

Norm Maciver

I wouldn't be surprised if Gilman is installed as GM with Naslund taking over a AGM position.
- Gullzy

I would be surprised...and pissed off. I imagine all those season ticket renewals still sitting on the fence wouldn't be too excited either but who knows.

a) Not his call, unless he refuses permission for the Pens to talk to Benning, which could sour their relationship.

b) Just because he owns a house in Oregon doesn't automatically mean he'll want to move closer to it, he's going to want to take the best job available.

c) He might have a relationship with Linden, but the Canucks require several years of retooling before a Cup run is realistic or even possible whereas the Pens are much closer and don't need as much rebuilding. There's also the fact that the Canucks franchise as a whole is a mess internally after all that's happened and it's possible it might scare off decent/star candidates due to having to fix the mess first. There's also having to deal with increasingly sceptical and hostile media and fans in this market that will turn on a person after a losing streak as quickly as a bipolar sufferer shifts moods. Would Benning really want to deal with that?

I'm not saying Benning won't eventually be hired by the Canucks, but I do think banking on him being the GM is foolish. No news is not good news, if Benning really was their candidate and he's going to be hired, some word would have leaked out of the Canucks camp by now. The fact that they're still interviewing candidates means that they have no one they really like yet and does anyone really want this management team (which is mostly made up of Gillis's staff that wasn't let go when he was and Linden) make the picks in this draft?
- DariusKnight

If I'm Benning and both PIT and VAN approached me with an offer (assuming the salaries weren't too far apart) I'd be picking PIT.

Vancouver is an infinitely more attractive city than Pittsburgh but the scrutiny isn't as oppressive or irrational and the team is much closer to having a winning product. Expectations for immediate success would undoubtedly be higher, but for all the talk of a retool here in Vancouver I think the level of expectation is such that the fanbase would be expecting a quick turnaround. Given our current situation that would seem much more difficult to successfully accomplish.

I just hope that Linden is doing the due diligence and hammering the phones for every possible candidate. We're certainly not alone this summer in needing to fill the GM and coaching positions.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gilman is installed as GM with Naslund taking over a AGM position.
- Gullzy

I would be completely shocked and surprised if this were to happen. Can't see it though.

This clusterfuk gets better and better. So now they will have an inexperienced president who has been in hockey operations for two months , going to the podium with one of the worst drafting crews in the NHL to pick in one of the most important drafts in team history.



- VANTEL

Most important drafts in team history? How so? That's a large overstatement IMO. We've had many top ten picks. Weak draft year with no high potential impact player, at our draft position, it's just another draft with some kids who have potential.

If I'm Benning and both PIT and VAN approached me with an offer (assuming the salaries weren't too far apart) I'd be picking PIT.

Vancouver is an infinitely more attractive city than Pittsburgh but the scrutiny isn't as oppressive or irrational and the team is much closer to having a winning product. Expectations for immediate success would undoubtedly be higher, but for all the talk of a retool here in Vancouver I think the level of expectation is such that the fanbase would be expecting a quick turnaround. Given our current situation that would seem much more difficult to successfully accomplish.

I just hope that Linden is doing the due diligence and hammering the phones for every possible candidate. We're certainly not alone this summer in needing to fill the GM and coaching positions.
- AlexF

He said his list was small, hopefully a decision comes soon.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gilman is installed as GM with Naslund taking over a AGM position.
- Gullzy

Stop!

He said his list was small, hopefully a decision comes soon.
- LeftCoaster

Benning, Fenton, Hextall(he gone!), Futa(promoted by LA) I think for sure we're on the shortlist originally. Can only speculate about McNab, T.Burke, Shero, McPhee, etc.

Bring in Jordan Belfort as GM!

If I'm Benning and both PIT and VAN approached me with an offer (assuming the salaries weren't too far apart) I'd be picking PIT.

Vancouver is an infinitely more attractive city than Pittsburgh but the scrutiny isn't as oppressive or irrational and the team is much closer to having a winning product. Expectations for immediate success would undoubtedly be higher, but for all the talk of a retool here in Vancouver I think the level of expectation is such that the fanbase would be expecting a quick turnaround. Given our current situation that would seem much more difficult to successfully accomplish.

I just hope that Linden is doing the due diligence and hammering the phones for every possible candidate. We're certainly not alone this summer in needing to fill the GM and coaching positions.
- AlexF

If Benning is looking at who will have the better chance at winning then he should just stay with Boston. The point of taking the job is the challenge, he will never make a name for himself taking the easy road. The longer we go without news the more the negativity grows about this team, at this point I'd take Kaptaan's racism.

Holy blast from the past, Mike Weir is STILL tied for first in a PGA tour event on Sunday afternoon. Love this inflight wifi, on my way to Phoenix for some RNR.

Holy blast from the past, Mike Weir is STILL tied for first in a PGA tour event on Sunday afternoon. Love this inflight wifi, on my way to Phoenix for some RNR.
- LeftCoaster

I wish you would just stop with all this negativity

Edit: this post time stamped at 4:20 and I was on time for a change, on second thought I guess I'm 3 hrs early.

Go Mike Weir Go!!!

Obviously Benning would be on Pittsburgh's radar but consider this:

PIT interested in player agent Pat Brisson as new GM but Brisson will have to decide if he's interested in leaving a lucrative agent biz.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 17, 2014

If Benning is looking at who will have the better chance at winning then he should just stay with Boston. The point of taking the job is the challenge, he will never make a name for himself taking the easy road. The longer we go without news the more the negativity grows about this team, at this point I'd take Kaptaan's racism.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Boston's window is closing fast. They have 5.8 mill in over cap penalties. Meaning even with Savard on LTIR they have 8 mill for about 8 players. Considering 3 of those guys are Krug, Smith and Iginla, I'd say they are in trouble. Iginla gone for sure and probably another key player

Most important drafts in team history? How so? That's a large overstatement IMO. We've had many top ten picks. Weak draft year with no high potential impact player, at our draft position, it's just another draft with some kids who have potential.
- LeftCoaster

You know Vantel and his penchant for hyperbole and drama......even if the Canucks won the Cup, he'd still call the Sedins soft and be pissed that the Cancuks didnt win 98 straight games....