Canucks looking for some scoring help … Markstrom extension talks to start
Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet: Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning confirmed in a Sportsnet radio interview that he is looking for a scoring winger if he can find a trade that “makes sense.”
Benning also said that he plans on starting contract extension talks with pending unrestricted free agent goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
The status of Micheal Ferland’s injury could play a role in whether or not they are going need to add another forward.
The Canucks had been talking to other teams about forwards before Ferland’s injury on Tuesday.
“I try to keep in contact with all the other general managers in the league, and if there’s something that fits and makes sense, we’ll look at it,” Benning said. “I like the chemistry we had in the team at the start of the year. I thought we had a good combination of youth and skill and speed and some veteran players that provided the glue for us and could kill penalties. I’m excited to see what our group looks like when we get healthy, and then we’ll go from there.”
Avs coach Jared Bednar on trade rumors
Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now: Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said he generally doesn’t talk his players about trade rumors involving other teams players, but if it’s one of their guys…
“Unless it’s about our guys. Because, then, if I think I can put their mind at ease in any way…Our message all the time has been ‘let’s take care of what we can control.’ That’s not rumors floating around outside of our inner circle. Being prepared to practice the right way and our habits and all that…players have a big job to do and there’s no rest in the schedule, right? Every day can be mentally tiring, physically tiring…you saw that a little bit in our game last night, coming off a road trip. My advice to them, in general is, ‘take care of what you can control.’”
Dater notes that there definitely are some Avs players who may be wondering about the possibility of the Avs adding someone like Taylor Hall and what it may mean for their status.