Will Benning be a buyer or seller at the deadline?

WINNIPEG It would be easier for the hockey operations department to delve into due diligence if the Vancouver Canucks weren’t winning more often than not.

If the NHL club was in a double-digit points deficit and had to overtake others just to stay in wildcard playoff contention — as opposed to challenging for first place in the Pacific Division — roster decisions would be more methodical.

General manager Jim Benning would be in asset-management mode and calls to his peers in advance of the Feb. 24 trade deadline would be about selling and not buying. Unrestricted free agents Chris Tanev, Oscar Fantenberg and Tim Schaller could be rentals to add depth to true Stanley Cup contenders.

They would fetch draft picks and open roster spots if Olli Juolevi, Brogan Rafferty and Zack MacEwen can make the next development step. And maybe a Cup contender would bite on defenceman Jordie Benn, who has a year left on his deal, as depth insurance because Fantenberg has taken his roster spot.

“Depending where we are at the deadline, we have to make decisions on guys who are UFAs,” Benning said of ether retaining or moving veterans.

Sven Baertschi might be of immediate value to banged-up and struggling teams, like the Montreal Canadiens, to help push for the playoffs and take the final year of his deal off the Canucks’ books.

Then again, the Canucks could keep doing what they’ve been doing.

They can build on having four 40-point producers, a fifth-ranked power play, consistent goaltending and improved resiliency to play meaningful games into April. It’s why Benning has to take a waitand-see approach.

However, he could move Baertschi now. The left-winger suffered a high-ankle strain Friday and is out this week, but his attitude to lead by example after being waived to collect 32 points (8-24) in 26 games with the Utica Comets has raised eyebrows.

One pleasant problem for Benning is projecting what a totally healthy roster will do to his trade-deadline plans.

Brandon Sutter, who has missed 12 games with an upper-body injury and sat out 13 games earlier this season with a groin strain, skated Tuesday, but there’s no timetable for his return. When healthy, he’s a fit on the penalty kill and to ease the defensive-zone faceoff load.

Micheal Ferland had been skating in Vancouver, but remains on long-term injury reserve with another upper-body concern that has sidelined him for 16 games. The bite he can provide when healthy is what the Canucks will need down the stretch and especially if they make the playoffs for the first time in five years.

“It would be nice going into the trade deadline with a healthy lineup, just to see what we’re looking like,” Benning said when asked if he might add a piece. “We’ll see where Sutter and Ferland are at in the next two weeks, so we’ll have a bit of time and then decide what to do.”

In the interim, Benning has to put a solid season by Rafferty and steady improvement from Juolevi into perspective.

Rafferty, 24, leads AHL defencemen in scoring with 33 points (528) in 29 games. The right-shot, college free agent signed a oneyear entry-level deal April 1 and is fast-tracking to getting to the NHL. But he still has work to do. And unless the Canucks are beset by injury, he might not get a look until next fall.

“He’s real good with the puck and plays with a lot of poise,” said Benning. “He’s got a good shot from the point, but he needs to keep working on pivots when he goes back to get the puck. He’s getting better, but players in the NHL are fast.

“And he needs to shore up the defensive side a little bit, but we’re real happy with his development.”