Praising Jim Benning isn’t something I do very often. He’s a polarizing figure, and while I don’t land firmly in either camp, I’d be closer aligned to the “nays.” Benning’s tenure has been nothing if not eventful. His propensity to make numerous small moves has garnered him the nickname “Trader Jim.”
Case in point: this week Benning acquired defenceman Derrick Pouliot in exchange for Andrey Pedan and a 2018 fourth round pick.
It’s hard to get a bead on his strategy. Some trades have left me scratching my head more than a ‘70s Head & Shoulders hair model. Benning has a long list of moves and it’s difficult to parse.
Or maybe not.
Here are some of the young players acquired in the last few years:
- Sven Baertschi, 2011 first round pick (13th)
- Markus Granlund, 2011 second round pick (45th)
- Erik Gudbranson, 2010 first round pick (3rd)
- Alexander Burmistrov, 2010 first round pick (8th)
- Derrick Pouliot, 2012 first round pick (8th)
Those are just players currently on the roster. There have been other experiments that have since moved on.
- Luca Sbisa, 2008 first round pick (19th)
- Emerson Etem, 2010 first round pick (29th)
- Adam Clendening, 2011 second round pick (36th)
So what’s the big deal? Lots of squads have high picks in their lineup. High draft picks are statistically the most likely to succeed in the NHL.
First, it highlights that Vancouver is still cleaving to a philosophy articulated early in Jim Benning’s tenure: the Canucks feel they lack depth in the mid-20s age category. But there’s a stronger pattern: each of these players was a highly regarded prospect that fizzled before being snapped up by Vancouver. Benning just loves these guys.
The thing is, his strategy has worked. Derrick Pouliot is a worthwhile bet, because a couple of his past gambles have paid off.
Has every move been a success? Not even close.
Etem was a flyer, acquired for Vancouver’s own 29th overall pick, Nicklas Jensen. It was a wash; Etem didn’t pan out, but neither did Jensen.
Luca Sbisa was tossed in on the Ryan Kesler trade and quickly got overpaid on a new contract. While he didn’t coalesce into the top-four guy Benning hoped for, he did log 199 games in blue and green, and he served as an effective heat shield during the Vegas expansion draft. (And an all-star whipping boy for the fanbase.)
Adam Clendening was a poor choice, especially at the expense of now-NHLer Gustav Forsling. He lasted just 17 games in Vancouver, but found a bit of success with the New York Rangers last season and is now with the Arizona Coyotes.
Erik Gudbranson was also questionable. Losing Jared McCann and a second round pick still seems obscene considering Gudbranson isn’t very good at hockey. Of course he was a 3rd overall selection, so at least he still retains some pedigree (ie. trade value).
But I’d argue that a solid hit more than makes up for several misses, provided the price paid isn’t outrageous. Many of the “failed” prospects Benning has nabbed, signed or traded for have increased in value. It is still costly to obtain these players, especially if they flop, but the wins can really pay off. Established, young, top-six forwards or top-four defencemen are crazy expensive to acquire or sign in free agency.
Sven Baertschi will likely be a fixture on Vancouver’s first (ish) line with Bo Horvat this season. Whether you agree he’s a first liner or not doesn’t matter; he was undeniably worth that second round pick.
Fans (including myself) howled when Hunter Shinkaruk was shipped off for Markus Granlund. Yet last season Granlund posted 19 goals up and down the lineup while Shinkaruk is still toiling in the AHL.
And if Derrick Pouliot actually does round into a top-four defender, he could be the most valuable acquisition of the bunch.
The successes of Baertschi and Granlund were partly due to Vancouver’s lack of depth. There was more room in the lineup than in Calgary, and Baertschi and Granlund were given plenty of time to work out the kinks. Barring injuries, it seems less likely Pouliot will be given as much leeway.
I’m not praising all of Benning’s moves. He values a lot of stuff that I don’t. And when he really wants a player he hands out draft picks like restaurant gratuities. I also have concerns about acquiring fizzling blue chip prospects in general. Derrick Pouliot was a highly touted pick who was given a lot of opportunity. He’s a very intriguing young player with plenty of upside but at almost 24 he’s running out of time.
Today, the Canucks have better depth than they’ve had in ages. They’ve been more intentional about it. Finishing near the bottom of the league has added several blue chip players to the system. At long last it looks like Bend Sinister was right and things will get better.
Presumably, after a few more years of pitiable play Vancouver will amass solid depth across position and age group. So will Jim Benning continue to take flyers on former high picks? Hey, as long as it works.
