I'll give Benning a passing grade for now. What I won't do is pretend he's been some kind of franchise saviour or that all of his moves have bettered the team.

I'll grant that he's been in a difficult position due to what appears to be a mandate from ownership to try to win now.

However, some of those extra picks he's given up could be solid prospects at this point. His one 2nd rounder he's kept is Demko, which speaks volumes.
- golfingsince

He has one more costly trade to make. The D is still one player away ( not Hamhuis)

Right now we are a compete now team , not a win now team.

I'm not sure he will be able to read it with the massive stress bags under his eyes.
- thundachunk

I played hockey with Gillis a couple years ago...he is an unhappy fella

You're probably right.

Oddly, had he held on to some of those picks and possibly acquired more he might be able to point to FA and say....but the cupboards are restocked.
- golfingsince

I still think it's a pretty decent looking team considering the massive age gaps between vets and prospects. The issue is the amount of risk involved in the moves he was almost forced to make. That being said, your assessment is fair but I think next year will be a much bigger focus on holding onto draft picks and making smaller changes than the previoUS two years. He has a decent amount of young guys to work with and hopefully guys like Etem and Granlund make him look brilliant.

I think he can tell Aquilini " Tree, Demko, Boeser, Dubois, Brisbouis, Virtanen, Baertchi, and Gunbrandson. You're welcome for trying to fix 10 years of incompetence FA."
- CanuckDon

Well, we won 2 PT's and game 7 of the finals during those years of incompetence. I don't mind throwing away picks trying to add the final pieces.

Also, Gillis does have a few players on this team......might have had another this year if Shinkaruk wasn't dealt.

I'm not that impressed with all the draft picks given away with every trade he makes but I like a lot of the trades. Catch 22. Gillis depleted a lot of of future and finding a happy medium between keeping picks and adding depth to try and be competitive is not an easy thing to do.
- thundachunk

Benning, if given the chance, will draft some quality kids for the club, my only wish is he'd draft more.

I am bothered more that we lost McCann than the 2nd and 4th. He was a future top 6 center. It really is a tough pill to swallow. Other than 20 players of the 1st round I really don't have anyone that I am that enamoured with. I don't think it is that deep a draft I could be wrong though.

He has one more costly trade to make. The D is still one player away ( not Hamhuis)

Right now we are a compete now team , not a win now team.
- VANTEL

Unless that D is Noah Hannifin or someone like that I'm not really interested. I'd rather add more to the D later on, maybe let someone steal a spot like Hutton did.

Well, we won 2 PT's and game 7 of the finals during those years of incompetence. I don't mind throwing away picks trying to add the final pieces.

Also, Gillis does have a few players on this team......might have had another this year if Shinkaruk wasn't dealt.
- golfingsince

shink is a long shot....I still have hope for Granlund. He is on a show me contract and he will be busting his ass this summer

Benning, if given the chance, will draft some quality kids for the club, my only wish is he'd draft more.
- LeftCoaster

I think he has tried numerous times to acquire picks. Many didn't happen. Hammer for one.

shink is a long shot....I still have hope for Granlund. He is on a show me contract and he will be busting his ass this summer
- CanuckDon

No he isn't I liked Shink.

I am bothered more that we lost McCann than the 2nd and 4th. He was a future top 6 center. It really is a tough pill to swallow. Other than 20 players of the 1st round I really don't have anyone that I am that enamoured with. I don't think it is that deep a draft I could be wrong though.
- thundachunk

McCann for sure.

For all the who cares I hear he still showed more promise to potentially be a #1C then Bo. Different players, and Bo is the safer bet but I see Bo more as a middle 6 forward.

No he isn't I liked Shink.
- thundachunk

Friendly wager? McCann hurts but I won't lose a minutes sleep over Shink

I think he has tried numerous times to acquire picks. Many didn't happen. Hammer for one.
- thundachunk

I agree with that. Just think, after next year most of the ridiculous NTC's will be gone as well as most of the old core and contracts besides Sedins.

Unless that D is Noah Hannifin or someone like that I'm not really interested. I'd rather add more to the D later on, maybe let someone steal a spot like Hutton did.
- golfingsince

I think a Dumba type player is more or less the type we will see.maybe a deal with Flyers

McCann for sure.

For all the who cares I hear he still showed more promise to potentially be a #1C then Bo. Different players, and Bo is the safer bet but I see Bo more as a middle 6 forward.
- golfingsince

I think Bo can be a future captain. Met him a few times, he is a big kid, fast, smart, versatile and he has a nice shot. McCann may have better hands but I don't think he is better in any other areas. Bo has the intangibles that you can't teach

shink is a long shot....I still have hope for Granlund. He is on a show me contract and he will be busting his ass this summer
- CanuckDon

Shinkaruk is two years younger than Granlund and put up 2G, 1A in 7 games with the Flames last year. Grassland put up the same in 16 games with us.

I like Shinkaruk's odds to become something better than Granlund's.

Vantel always mentions the "safe" defensemen. Well, Granlund is that in a forward whereas Shink is the point producer.

I think Bo can be a future captain. Met him a few times, he is a big kid, fast, smart, versatile and he has a nice shot. McCann may have better hands but I don't think he is better in any other areas. Bo has the intangibles that you can't teach
- CanuckDon

Sorry, Gudbranson is the captain now apparently.

Also, McCann skates better and has a better shot. I'll agree with the rest.

Shinkaruk is two years younger than Granlund and put up 2G, 1A in 7 games with the Flames last year. Grassland put up the same in 16 games with us.

I like Shinkaruk's odds to become something better than Granlund's.

Vantel always mentions the "safe" defensemen. Well, Granlund is that in a forward whereas Shink is the point producer.
- golfingsince

Time will tell...I just don't see Shink making it. I don't think his AHL offense will translate well. Granlund produced more at the same age. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sold on Granlund either

Shinkaruk is two years younger than Granlund and put up 2G, 1A in 7 games with the Flames last year. Grassland put up the same in 16 games with us.

I like Shinkaruk's odds to become something better than Granlund's.

Vantel always mentions the "safe" defensemen. Well, Granlund is that in a forward whereas Shink is the point producer.
- golfingsince

That was a disappointing trade. I knew Shink didn't have a future here , but that trade was very underwhelming IMO

Sorry, Gudbranson is the captain now apparently.

Also, McCann skates better and has a better shot. I'll agree with the rest.
- golfingsince

Disagree on the skating, agree with everything else

Sorry, Gudbranson is the captain now apparently.

Also, McCann skates better and has a better shot. I'll agree with the rest.
- golfingsince

I agree with this.

The thing we might forget about McCann is he slid way down in the draft because of injury concerns.

He was the 10th ranked NA skater going in.

I think a Dumba type player is more or less the type we will see.maybe a deal with Flyers
- VANTEL

We should try trading with Anaheim, we have their number.

We should try trading with Anaheim, we have their number.
- golfingsince

Yup . It will cost one of Hansen JV or Sven to start the bidding though . People will freak out

The thing we might forget about McCann is he slid way down in the draft because of injury concerns.

He was the 10th ranked NA skater going in.
- golfingsince

Which is another reason why this trade bothers so many.