Jim Benning getting the Canucks job?

[soxhop411]

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger  20m
Hearing Boston's Jim Benning met with the Canucks yesterday. He's considered the frontrunner for the GM job in Van.
 
Followed up by this tweet
 
Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger  18m
Some believe Benning is getting the Canucks job and Linden is simply waiting until the conclusion of round 2 to make it official.
 
https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger

 

[jsinger121]

He would be taking over a team on the down swing with tons of money tied up in the Sedin sisters, Kesler among others.

 

[soxhop411]

“@DarrenDreger: Jim Benning has agreed to a multi-year deal as Canucks gm and will be officially introduced in Vancouver on Friday.”

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Maybe Chiarelli can take advantage of the connection, there are a few Canucks I wouldn't mind having on the Bruins.

Kesler is signed at $5M for 2 more seasons - he's a tad overpaid, but he'd be a great fit on the Bruins. Bieksa could really upgrade the blueline at $4.6M over the next 2 years. Or even a guy like Chris Higgins at $2.5M over the next couple of years to help fill out our bottom 6.

There is some good talent on that team and if Benning is going into restructure mode, then there could be some gems that Chiarelli could find in that organization. With Benning's familiarity, maybe they can find a fit.

 

[TSC]

Unless you're trading Krejci and/or Spooner as part of the deal, there's no room for Kesler on this team both financially or positionally. He's basically Bergeron-lite and not what the Bruins need right now. If anything they need scoring talent. With Soderberg's emergence, they have enough defensively responsible C's.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

I don't disagree, but Kesler has scored 40 goals before, nobody on this team has come even close to that. Kesler has also scored more goals than Krejci in every season. I'd say he's better offensively than Bergeron, to be honest.

Anyway, my post wasn't about Kesler. My larger point was that perhaps the Bruins could upgrade their team through the Canucks.

 

[cshea]

Kesler can play right wing. Wouldn't be much of an issue.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Kesler's about the only guy on that team I like.

 

[TSC]

I don't disagree, but Kesler has scored 40 goals before, nobody on this team has come even close to that. Kesler has also scored more goals than Krejci in every season. I'd say he's better offensively than Bergeron, to be honest.

Anyway, my post wasn't about Kesler. My larger point was that perhaps the Bruins could upgrade their team through the Canucks.

 
Kesler's 40 goal season is like Brady Anderson's 50HR season.
 
He's never scored more than 26 outside of that season, and played on an offensive minded team. Bergeron puts up comparable (outside of one season) stats.
 
In their last 3 seasons:

Bergeron - 62G - 96A - 158PTS
Kesler - 51G - 54A - 105PTS 
 
(the one caveat being that Kesler played on a half season in the lockout shortened season - not enough to have him outproduce Bergeron).
 
Bergeron is also a year younger.
 
Yea, Kesler can play RW - but part of his value is in his defensive ability at the dot. That would be wasted on the Bruins.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

The Bruins also seem to be a really good fit for what the Canucks need (especially around goaltending). I think there are the makings of a deal if Benning and Chiarelli look that way; and with Benning's familiarity with the organization, it would seem the first place he will look.

 

[Auger34]

No interest in Edler as a trade target? Rumor was that the Bruins had a deal completed for him at the trade deadline but it fell through. Would think they would revisit it especially now with the Benning hire

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

It depends on what Gillis was willing to take vs. what Benning will want back. Benning knows the Bruins system and would want to make sure the Canucks do well in that trade, and if Gillis was willing to take a lesser package, consider that deal dead.

 

[Auger34]

I'm not a hockey expert by any means (the only team I watch in the regular season is the B's and then playoff hockey) but what would Edler's value be? I know he is generally considered to be a good player with puck movement skills but how would he fit on the team and what would you give up for him? The rumor (I think it was Mike Cole on twitter) was that the package was centered around Bartkowski and Spooner. Does that pass the smell test?

 

[TSC]

I'm not a hockey expert by any means (the only team I watch in the regular season is the B's and then playoff hockey) but what would Edler's value be? I know he is generally considered to be a good player with puck movement skills but how would he fit on the team and what would you give up for him? The rumor (I think it was Mike Cole on twitter) was that the package was centered around Bartkowski and Spooner. Does that pass the smell test?

It's a fair deal - but not one I would hope the Bruins make.

With Seidenberg coming back - and the almost surplus of talented, young, puck moving d-men - the Bruins should be trying to acquire young, above average goal scorers/playmakers. Not trading them away.