On the Vancouver Canucks …
Rick Dhaliwal: Mark Guy, the agent for pending free agent defenseman Erik Gudbranson: “They would like to try and sign Erik, the goal is to get something done. If not, we would expect they would try and move him before deadline.”
TSN Radio Vancouver: Trevor Linden on potentially re-signing Gudbranson: “We certainly value what Erik brings to our group… We’ll explore that avenue. We’ll keep our options open as we approach the (trade) deadline.”
TSN Radio Vancouver: Linden on a potential GM Jim Benning contract extension: “I think he’s done a good job. We’ve had discussions in what an extension would look like. Focused on the year and the task at hand.”
TSN Radio Vancouver: Linden on the Sedin’s: “My assumption would be that they will take the year and take stock to what their future looks like. They have every right to take their time.”
Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet: Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning said yesterday that they would try to re-sign Erik Gudbrandson, but if they can’t get a deal done by the deadline, they will look to trade him as opposed to losing him for nothing.
Finding an agreeable dollar amount may not be easy. What Gudbranson could get on the open market likely exceeds his third pairing role with the Canucks.
“He’s a physical, stay-at-home defenceman who helps us,” Benning said. “We have other defencemen who are more puck-moving guys, but we don’t have anyone else with Gudbranson’s style of play.
“I know he’s had some ups and downs, but until he got hurt he was playing well for us. As long as a player can play in today’s game, you’re always going to need a defencemen who can play physical, especially in our division. There’s always going to be room for a guy like that in your top six.”