On the Vancouver Canucks …
Rick Dhaliwal: Hearing that the Canucks have interest in some NCAA free agents – Quinnipiac defenseman Brogan Rafferty and Princeton forward Max Veronneau. Veronneau is a Hobey Baker candidate.
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Henrik and Daniel Sedin are pending unrestricted free agents. The 37-year old could be looking one-year deals.
Canucks GM Jim Benning is expected to talk with the Sedin’s agent this week.
“We’re going into the trade deadline, and for planning purposes we want to see if there was any way that they were leaning,” added Benning. “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 Sedin’s want to return, it may be easier for Benning to move out forward Thomas Vanek at the deadline.
If the Sedin’s want to retire, Benning may consider signing Vanek to an extension.
The Canucks have six pending UFAs highlighted by defenseman Erik Gudbranson.
The Canucks have five pending RFAs: Sven Baertschi, Markus Granlund, Derrick Pouliot, Jake Virtanen, and Troy Stecher.
Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet: Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported on the weekend that there is the belief that the Sedin’s want to play next season. The Canucks approached the Sedin’s camp last week to see if they were leaning one way or another.
The Sedin’s agent, J.P. Barry was on Vancouver News 1130 and said: “Initially we were going to talk at the end of the year, but I’m sure some discussions will take place before the trading deadline.”
Barry told Sportsnet that he hasn’t met with Henrik and Daniel yet to discuss what they want to do next year.
“The twins have played really well the last couple of months,” Barry said. “But we still need to meet, we still need to have a discussion. There hasn’t been any decision made about next season.”
The Canucks don’t play on trade the Sedin’s at the deadline regardless of their intentions for next year.