Everybody knows that this off-season is of absolute importance for the Canucks. Nobody believes the idea that the Canucks will contend for the Stanley Cup next season with the current roster. There are tweaks that have to be made and it will be painful this off-season. But simply put, it has to be done.
Rumor has it that Canucks GM Jim Benning is looking at getting a second draft pick in the first round, trading one of their core pieces to get a key piece for the future - the concensus being that this core piece being dealt is forward Ryan Kesler who has expressed a desire to be traded and according to his agent, he hasn't moved from that position.
Most teams that win the Stanley Cup have a main core that is in their twenties and the LA Kings who just won the Stanley Cup has a young core. But that core was built through the draft, having good scouting and making key trades to bring supporting cast to help bolster their lines.
Considering Benning's reticence to talk about what plans he has for the team, we have no idea what's coming, but rest assured, he's going to be watching the options like a hawk. We know that this off-season is going to be interesting...and that's about all we know about it.
