After all, the team caught COVID-19, went into a tailspin, had to make their players call out the league and its owner to do something, and Jake Virtanen was facing severe allegations of sexual assault. This isn't exactly how you schedule your season in the offseason...
However, the news from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman from yesterday seemed to cause the most consternation among the team's fans. Despite the fact that the Canucks will miss the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons, Friedman reports that embattled GM Jim Benning will return to the team next season. Yes, despite the fact that Benning negotiated many of the team's bloated contracts, he'll be back on the job next year. It's truly mind-boggling...
But maybe we shouldn't be surprised? After all, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini is known for going his own way and overriding corporate decisions. There are rumours that Benning simply does Aquilini's bidding for him, and he's the ideal general manager for the franchise in that regard. However, some of the decisions made by this team, whether they are made by Benning or Aquilini, make you shake your head.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, fresh off signing a long-term, $25 million contract with the team, openly begged and pleaded with ownership in the media yesterday to re-sign long-time Canucks goalie coach Ian Clark who is without a contract for 2021-22.
