Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks: Benning Speaks as Utica Comets Reach Calder Cup Final After the Utica Comets punched their ticket to the Calder Cup final with a 2-0 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday, Jim Benning shared his thoughts about all things Canucks and AHL with TSN1040 on Wednesday.

Bacon

So Benning and Co will make a goaltending decision in "two weeks", the draft is 3 weeks away. One will assume they will want to recoup a pick if there's a trade. Leaving them one week to accomplish this.

Very apprehensive with regards to Grenier.

Big boy with solid puck skills but very little work ethic and physicality.
Jensenesque, not enough consistency for a top 6 NHL role while lacking the tenacity for a bottom six role.

Hope he proves me wrong.

Very apprehensive with regards to Grenier.

Big boy with solid puck skills but very little work ethic and physicality.
Jensenesque, not enough consistency for a top 6 NHL role while lacking the tenacity for a bottom six role.

Hope he proves me wrong.
- Whiskey-Tango

Unlike Jensen, he's actually improved over time. Tells me that Grenier is actually more coachable, committed and a harder worker. Still a long shot to have a legit NHL career but he should be in the mix for a roster spot next year. While Jensen can't even crave out a role on an AHL team and seems likely to end up in Europe or with another NHL's farm team in the future.

yeah, his development curve of Grenier is the exact opposite of Jensens. He will never be an nhl regular.

Conacher > Bertuzzi

Glad Benning mentioned Gaunce, from what I have watched he has been one of the most consistent players of the prospects. He doesn't have the flashy play like Shink, Baertschi or Virtanen but competes hard and is really positionally sound.

He has been deployed often late in the game when closing out tight games and clearly has earned Green's trust.

He also has consistently put up points without the offensive opportunities, he is having a very Horvat like season in the AHL this year and looks like a definite NHL player.

I have also been very impressed with Virtanen's play, I had many doubts about him being picked 6th last summer but he clearly can play his physical style in a man's league and has looked very dangerous on the rush. He is completely lost in his own zone but that is common in many young players.

I doubt he is able to crack the roster next fall and I heard an interesting interview from the Kelowna Rockets who really likes Virtanen but thinks that he still needs a lot of work before making the NHL.

Some interesting tid-bits from Benning if you listen between the lines on some of his comments. I suspect he's been in conversations already regarding both Lack and Markstrom. The longer Markstrom continues to play well the more his stock rises with other teams, one would think.

I wonder if someone will take a chance on him after watching him greatly improve his game this year? To me he still looks like he chases the game at times, when you do that you're out of position and create a lot of holes to shoot at even though you're a big guy. Much like Lack from two years ago.

Glad Benning mentioned Gaunce, from what I have watched he has been one of the most consistent players of the prospects. He doesn't have the flashy play like Shink, Baertschi or Virtanen but competes hard and is really positionally sound.

He has been deployed often late in the game when closing out tight games and clearly has earned Green's trust.

He also has consistently put up points without the offensive opportunities, he is having a very Horvat like season in the AHL this year and looks like a definite NHL player.

I have also been very impressed with Virtanen's play, I had many doubts about him being picked 6th last summer but he clearly can play his physical style in a man's league and has looked very dangerous on the rush. He is completely lost in his own zone but that is common in many young players.

I doubt he is able to crack the roster next fall and I heard an interesting interview from the Kelowna Rockets who really likes Virtanen but thinks that he still needs a lot of work before making the NHL.
- belcherbd

I hope Virtanen gets a look on the Sedins wing honestly. He has the speed, the size, the shot, and the mean streak to play with them. I bet it ends up being a good fit.

I hope Virtanen gets a look on the Sedins wing honestly. He has the speed, the size, the shot, and the mean streak to play with them. I bet it ends up being a good fit.
- Gullzy

I have the speed to play with the Sedins.

I hope Virtanen gets a look on the Sedins wing honestly. He has the speed, the size, the shot, and the mean streak to play with them. I bet it ends up being a good fit.
- Gullzy

I don't see it personally. Virtanen thrives off of the rush and arguably the weakest points of his game is cycling the puck and offensive zone positioning which is exactly what you need to play with the Sedins. I think he'll fit well with Baerstchi on a line that scores off of the rush. The Sedins always seem to work well with guys who are strong along the boards and score from around the net(Burrows, Carter, etc.). I really think a Joel Ward-type of player would be $$$ with them.

I have the speed to play with the Sedins.
- A_SteamingLombardi

So do I. Its funny cause its true.

I don't see it personally. Virtanen thrives off of the rush and arguably the weakest points of his game is cycling the puck and offensive zone positioning which is exactly what you need to play with the Sedins. I think he'll fit well with Baerstchi on a line that scores off of the rush. The Sedins always seem to work well with guys who are strong along the boards and score from around the net(Burrows, Carter, etc.). I really think a Joel Ward-type of player would be $$$ with them.
- Nucker101

I agree, if Virt makes the NHL it will have to be with players who play with pace on the rush.

Baertschi Horvat Virtanen would be awesome but I think we all know WD would never do it.

I think Kassian remains the best option for the Sedin's if they decide to go away from Burrows , he can play the cycle game, has the RH shot and is a decent shooter and can jar loose pucks and make the pass.

Honestly, I don't think that it's a problem with the Sedins or a leadership issue. It's the coaches job to make sure each player is playing a style that best suits their own individual skill set.
- CubanBuffet

From a 'who's running the show' perspective, for sure it is up to the coach to push his desired style of play, express expectations and reward players or not based on their performance.

I just think there are a few players, more than a few, that at times don't hit and I am not sure if they are trying to play like the Sedins. It isn't the fault of the Sedins if guys try to copy their play and fail to put up points.

I think the Sedins are holding up their end of the bargain. They aren't expected to be heavy hitters.

There can be other factors like age and injuries for these other players not to play a physical game. Maybe that is something the coach also considers.

Much of what I take issue with is, if you aren't scoring or don't have the skill to put up the points, what are you doing? Do something, check someone, block a shot, stand up for your team mates. Maybe I am looking at it the wrong way.

From the last thread - you know it absolutely baffles me that people STILL expect the Sedins to hit someone...like the last 14 years wasn't a good enough indication that they're skilled players and hitting isn't a part of their game??

From the last thread - you know it absolutely baffles me that people STILL expect the Sedins to hit someone...like the last 14 years wasn't a good enough indication that they're skilled players and hitting isn't a part of their game??
- LeftCoaster

It's because the rest of the roster isn't physical enough, the smarter fans realize that the role players need to be better in that regard. It's okay for 60+ point players to not be physical or go to the dirty areas, but the rest of the team has no excuse, especially during the playoffs.

I hope Virtanen gets a look on the Sedins wing honestly. He has the speed, the size, the shot, and the mean streak to play with them. I bet it ends up being a good fit.
- Gullzy

The Sedin's need someone who's quick on the fore-check, like Burrows used to be, a puck retrieval guy who's also good on the cycle down low. Virtanen, like most if not all junior players, creates offense off the rush.

yeah, his development curve of Grenier is the exact opposite of Jensens. He will never be an nhl regular.
- anavar

I don't know what happened with Jensen this year, but I thought he played well during his call up under Torts. What has happened since then?

Sometimes guys don't shine in the ahl and then play well enough to stick in the nhl...

should I take off the rose coloured glasses?

It's because the rest of the roster isn't physical enough, the smarter fans realize that the role players need to be better in that regard. It's okay for 60+ point players to not be physical or go to the dirty areas, but the rest of the team has no excuse, especially during the playoffs.
- Nucker101

Strictly speaking about the twins, they're just not that type of player, it baffles me. As for the rest of the team, yes I 100% agree with you (and Vantel), in that they're not a physical team.

Neither is Tampa or Chicago...although now you're talking about skill level, to which the Canucks bottom nine are not even in the same league.

From the last thread - you know it absolutely baffles me that people STILL expect the Sedins to hit someone...like the last 14 years wasn't a good enough indication that they're skilled players and hitting isn't a part of their game??
- LeftCoaster

I don't understand what the obsession is with hitting today in general.
CHI and TBL are not hitting teams and neither was NYR but some people still think teams or players that hit a lot are successful.

From the last thread - you know it absolutely baffles me that people STILL expect the Sedins to hit someone...like the last 14 years wasn't a good enough indication that they're skilled players and hitting isn't a part of their game??
- LeftCoaster

They hit more than they ever have in these last playoffs.

I am still trying to figure out who the role players are when you role 4 lines.

I don't understand what the obsession is with hitting today in general.
CHI and TBL are not hitting teams and neither was NYR but some people still think teams or players that hit a lot are successful.
- belcherbd

A blend of both is needed over the regular season, but during the playoffs skill generally wins out every time....generally!!

I hope Virtanen gets a look on the Sedins wing honestly. He has the speed, the size, the shot, and the mean streak to play with them. I bet it ends up being a good fit.
- Gullzy

We've seen this movie before. Wasn't it supposd to be Kassian?

They hit more than they ever have in these last playoffs.

I am still trying to figure out who the role players are when you role 4 lines.
- hillbillydeluxe

I don't know if they hit more; I felt like they mucked it up more and didn't take as much poop from other players...but that's not hitting. That's being an older more confident player and standing up for yourself....culture change.