Jim Benning鈥檚 vision for the Vancouver Canucks has not changed.
Following Wednesday鈥檚 news that Trevor Linden and the Canucks 鈥榓micably鈥� agreed to part ways, general manager Benning and head coach Travis Green met the media to answer questions regarding the state of the team.
When asked whether there were disagreements between Canucks ownership and Linden, the team legend who served as president of hockey operations, Benning told Black Press Media: 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really hear of any disagreements between [Linden and the owners]. We all have ideas when we go into meetings. But I didn鈥檛 know of any disagreements while I was in the meetings, if there were any.鈥�
Benning explained that Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini 鈥渄oes not interfere with what [Benning and Green] do. He listens, he asks questions, then he lets us do what we need to do.鈥�
9/12. A rebuild is a long, slow, gradual process. Everybody needs to be united behind the same vision and pulling in the same direction.
鈥� Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini)
Benning said the direction the Canucks are heading remains unchanged.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still going to be about drafting good players, developing them and then when they鈥檙e ready to be in the NHL give them the opportunity to be successful,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 am not going to sit here and say we鈥檙e going to make the playoffs, but I can tell you what, when we go into camp next year we鈥檙e going to push to be the best we can,鈥� added Green.
11/12. Following the June draft, we now have the best group of young players and prospects we鈥檝e had since we acquired the Canucks. The post-Sedin future is starting to take shape.
鈥� Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini)
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Benning reiterated ownership is on board with the current direction of the team and that after recent discussions with Aquilini, the GM will take over hockey operations duties. He Aquilini is not looking to fill Linden鈥檚 position.
kieran.oconnor@bpdigital.ca
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