What to do about Vancouver Canucks’ Alexander Edler?
Iain McIntyre: The Vancouver Canucks look into their future and what they have built offensively. However, defensive inefficiencies leave a huge void after Alexander Edler.
“We don’t have anybody in our organization right now who’s ready to step in and fill Alex’s shoes,” Benning said Wednesday. “He’s probably our best penalty killer on the back end and he plays on our power play. He’s physical. He plays a good all-around game for us. We don’t have anyone in our system right now who can replace that.”
Alexander Edler could be traded (remember a no-trade clause) and hope to re-sign July 1, trade and move on, or let him walk. There is also simply just trading and moving on.
More Jesse Puljujarvi to Vancouver?
JD Burke of Sportsnet: Again, the question asked is should Jim Benning explore the option of trading for Puljujarvi. The big concern remains the seven points per 34 game pace with linemates like a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and 12 minutes of even strength time a night. This would be a reclamation project.
With the emergence of Lukas Jasek, does Benning let the prospects develop? Acquiring picks becomes more paramount but yes, inquiring about Jesse Puljujarvi is fine.
The Dallas Stars’ mediocre culture and fallout
Sean Shapiro of The Athletic: Jamie Benn winning the Art Ross trophy had an impact. However, Dallas features a lifestyle unique to most high-pressure work situations. That helps and hurts when it comes to accountability and performance sometimes.
The bigger problem exists in the form of a second line that cannot produce. As a result, a player like Brett Ritchie ends up on the trade block. The CEO rant woke up the hockey world and now the focus is on the Dallas Stars. Maybe Dallas will realize finding a second line has to come from the outside in order to help Jamie Benn.
Sean Shapiro of the Athletic: The trade for Andrew Cogliano sparked questions about the leadership structure around Jamie Benn. Chemistry is more of an issue on and off the ice with Dallas (particularly on). Line changes and such need time to gel.
Finding second line NHL talent remains a priority and scouting or management must find it. When Dallas moves some of the injured to LTIR, they can address this via trade or free agency.