Twins’ future will likely determine path for the Canucks
What the twins decide could affect what the Canucks do at trade deadline
Jim Benning knows what we know about Henrik and Daniel Sedin. “They’re having good seasons and have been excellent on the (seventh-ranked) power play,” the Vancouver Canucks general manager said Monday. “And they’re a big part of our culture with our young players — the day-to-day stuff of being mentors — and so that’s our thought.”
The thought has always been the club would welcome the return of the twins, whose four-year, US$28 million contract extensions expire after this season.
One-year deals at reasonable salary to further shepherd the rebuild and be complementary players has long been the framework for retaining the 37-year-old Swedes.
However, the Feb. 26 trade deadline has added some urgency.
Benning expects to hear back from the Sedins’ representative, J.P. Barry, this week after the player agent talks to his clients. It could add some clarity or could keep everybody in waitand-see mode.
“We’re going into the trade deadline and for planning purposes we want to see if there was any way that they were leaning,” Benning said. “We’re not going to hold it (decision) to them if something changes between now and the end of the year.
“What they do affects our thinking to a certain point at the deadline and for the summer.”
If the Canucks knew for certain the Sedins are returning for another season — or even get a “definite maybe” — it could be easier to exact maximum return on unrestricted free agent Thomas Vanek at the trade deadline. The 34-year-old has 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) and several Stanley Cup contenders are looking for help on the wing. He can play either side.
If the Sedins retire, the Canucks could entertain extending Vanek to help fill a leadership and production void. But if the Sedins say they’ve had enough, would Vanek want to be part of what could be an even less-competitive club?
The Canucks have six pending UFAs, including Erik Gudbranson, and five restricted free agents with little contract leverage. The struggling Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund have arbitration rights, while Derrick Pouliot, Jake Virtanen and Troy Stecher have had up-and-down seasons.
You never want to give up on younger players who have yet to hit their true stride — especially if this is a rebuild — but having more salary cap flexibility could change some thinking in the hockey operations department because of the ability to take on contracts or bid for a free agent.
And with Benning’s contract up, that could also play into what the Sedins are thinking. They like the coach, the style of play and the example being set by humble Calder Trophy contender Brock Boeser. Is that enough? At training camp, the Sedins were receptive to the concept of returning — depending on how certain scenarios played out — and have hinted at wanting to push for an 18th season here. But there has yet to be a definitive response on their parts.
Even though Henrik is tied for second in team scoring with 32 points (2-30) and Daniel is right behind at 30 (11-19), it’s always been a we-don’t-need-to-talkabout-it-now situation because they’ve always put the team ahead of individual pursuits and interests.
The Sedins didn’t want it to be what it could become this week — stealing the spotlight from games with Los Angeles here Tuesday and Buffalo on Thursday. Being besieged by questions at the gameday skate after the club had a day off was never part of the plan.
It’s why they wanted to clear the air in September in hopes their playing futures wouldn’t become a hot topic again until the off-season.
“Our belief is that we can come back and be good players and hopefully we can force the Canucks that they want to re-sign us,” Daniel said on the eve of training camp. “There’s no timeline. After the season we’ll sit down and talk and see how they and we feel.
“When you’ve been in this league a long time, it’s easier to focus year to year rather than two or three years. It just makes it easier to focus mentally and physically. A lot of different things need to happen for us to come back — if we can bounce back and our team can be good. It’s important we learn how to win here.
“You can’t go year after year losing. Then they (kids) are going to learn to lose. Our goal is to make the playoffs.” Yes, he said playoffs. As for Henrik, it was the same refrain in September. However, with the Canucks now a whopping 13 points shy of the final Western Conference wild-card playoff spot — and needing to leapfrog six teams — you wonder if anything has changed in their outlook.
“There are a few factors — our personal (performance) level and our families — and how we feel about things where the team is,” the Canucks’ captain said on the eve of camp. “If we can see the team taking another step this year, that’s one part of it.”
Henrik is on pace for 56 points, his most since 73 in 2014-15. The Canucks are on pace for a high lottery draft pick.