Was just transcribing this to post, big bombshell. The arguments in this sub went on for years about this.
>”I wasn’t happy with the way our process was in 2016, and that was the first year Judd had taken over the reigns — and I did not like how our meetings went. So in 2017 i really pushed hard to have Judd really step up and really run a robust type meeting — in that we can really put our thoughts and feelings on the table. I really pushed hard in that management group to have Judd and his guys make the pick. I give Judd … and give Ronny Delorme a lot credit as well .. they love this guy. **Jim wasn’t sold … if Jim had his choice — he would have probably taken a different player. But I really pushed to have these guys that were banging their fists on the table … lets have these conversations .. because i really think we didn’t do a good job in 2016 and I think it cost us** — well I know it cost us.”
Some other tidbits:
* Talked about retro jerseys, loves the skate but says his personal fave is the “stick in rink” and that’s what the team would wear if he owned it. When he was with the team wanted to standardize on it.
* Says Alvin did a good job adding depth.
* Said the team roster in 2014 was “barren, there was nothing”.
* Said Green was coaching well when he was let go, but the players couldn’t put it together.
* Said Bruce had a ‘play any way you want” kind of game an “that doesn’t get you very far”.
* Says the experience of Green and Bruce showed the players that having a system and competing properly helps you win. Touches on how Calgary and Edmonton don’t have that buy in.
* Says Pat Quinn taught him that good defence doesn’t have to come at the expense of offence, and that it seems that’s something these guys are buying into today.
* Said he was the Canucks President because he wanted to be, he wasn’t there because he needed a job and didn’t ever want to do things just to keep his job. Wanted to do the right things.
shadownet97
I’m extremely glad that cabbage is no longer the GM of the Canucks.
Ridiculous. Why have a scouting team if you think you know best? Stupid.
BroliasBoesersson
ALL MY HOMIES HATE JIM BENNING
genuinelyunoriginal
It just kinda dawned on me that /u/groodles source might actually be Jim Benning!
julesieee
Next you’re gonna tell me Benning ACTUALLY wanted Zadina first but divine intervention happened.
Heavytevyb
Benning was a fucking complete idiot, more news at 11. Easily worst GM in franchise history
Due_Entertainment_44
How did someone as incompetent as Benning get hired! Everything he’s done here as GM has been terrible.
NegativeNancyNuck
Oh my fucking god
chicksahoy69
I mean benning is an idiot but not like the rest of the fanbase knew better. No one thought of taking Petey at 5, it was the consensus that Glass was BPA at 5
eexxiitt
Thanks benning!
Horvat53
I hope he continues to reveal more insights from his time in management. This was great.
PaperMoonShine
We knew this, when he hinted at it in the offseason but it’s nice to have this on record for any holdout Benning fans who tried to claim Benning had a larger positive impact than was actually the case.
NinCross
Another reason why Linden was right.
N4ZZY2020
Good grief. Could you even imagine if we didn’t have Petey. We’d still be in the Benning nightmare
canucksstanleycup
Revisionist history. Regardless of what people think, it is the core that Benning built. At the end of the day he takes full responsibility for all the decisions.
21marvel1
Another nail in the Benning coffin. This man may be in the running for worst GM ever.
Own-Sheepherder-3274
Foundation player.
PlusT1
If the Canucks win a cup, we should thank Linden for not taking Cody Glass over Elias Pettersson.
JerbearCuddles
Implication is scouting staff also wasn’t sold on Juolevi. Benning really was Fugazi. Cost us likely Tkachuk and almost Petey. It’s a shame ownership chose Benning over Linden.
EddyAteDynamite1
I think Benning even confirmed wanting final say in who they draft when they couldn’t agree with Judd Brackett on a new contract. Brackett wanted control but Benning said something along the lines of “no GM would give the head scout that kind of authority”.
So no surprise with this reveal.
mabbz
Jim Benning and intelligent decisions are like oil and water.
Iron_Seguin
I thought it was well known he wanted Glass and had to be convinced to take Petey.
therocksays13
Just shows that Linden was a pr move by Aqua. If Linden was truly the president he could’ve overruled Benning at any time instead of trying to convince letting the scouts make the pick.
Sinochick
Makes me wonder if that’s why Benning only bridged Petey’s deal after his ELC because he “wasn’t his guy” and “wasn’t sold on him yet”.
I’m just glad we have Petey. This team would have been borderline unwatchable without him (especially last season).
CamaroGirl96
This is the thing that annoys me is that people are now giving all this credit to Benning for Demko, Huggy and Petey. I bet none of them were his first choice. Thank goodness for the scouting staff.
crude_username
dRaFt GuRu
This isn’t surprising at all though. Benning is an old school meat and potatoes guy who would never want to draft a player of petey’s size in the first round, if at all. Not to mention he openly expressed disdain for European players and their lack of “heart”.
29 Comments
He explains he had to convince management to let the scouts make the final pick after how badly the 2016 meetings and draft went.
I recommend listening to the whole interview (starts at 23:00) or at least the draft part at (35:30).
A few months ago, Dhaliwal said Benning wanted Cody Glass.
Former Canucks scout Jonathan Bates [tweeted](https://x.com/batesy523/status/1722432108033949705?s=46&t=7fabqgtgp69dNA1d51vxFw) “Finally.” at the news being reported 👀
Yikes, really glad that Benning got overruled.
Well, thank goodness
Was just transcribing this to post, big bombshell. The arguments in this sub went on for years about this.
>”I wasn’t happy with the way our process was in 2016, and that was the first year Judd had taken over the reigns — and I did not like how our meetings went. So in 2017 i really pushed hard to have Judd really step up and really run a robust type meeting — in that we can really put our thoughts and feelings on the table. I really pushed hard in that management group to have Judd and his guys make the pick. I give Judd … and give Ronny Delorme a lot credit as well .. they love this guy. **Jim wasn’t sold … if Jim had his choice — he would have probably taken a different player. But I really pushed to have these guys that were banging their fists on the table … lets have these conversations .. because i really think we didn’t do a good job in 2016 and I think it cost us** — well I know it cost us.”
Some other tidbits:
* Talked about retro jerseys, loves the skate but says his personal fave is the “stick in rink” and that’s what the team would wear if he owned it. When he was with the team wanted to standardize on it.
* Says Alvin did a good job adding depth.
* Said the team roster in 2014 was “barren, there was nothing”.
* Said Green was coaching well when he was let go, but the players couldn’t put it together.
* Said Bruce had a ‘play any way you want” kind of game an “that doesn’t get you very far”.
* Says the experience of Green and Bruce showed the players that having a system and competing properly helps you win. Touches on how Calgary and Edmonton don’t have that buy in.
* Says Pat Quinn taught him that good defence doesn’t have to come at the expense of offence, and that it seems that’s something these guys are buying into today.
* Said he was the Canucks President because he wanted to be, he wasn’t there because he needed a job and didn’t ever want to do things just to keep his job. Wanted to do the right things.
I’m extremely glad that cabbage is no longer the GM of the Canucks.
Ridiculous. Why have a scouting team if you think you know best? Stupid.
ALL MY HOMIES HATE JIM BENNING
It just kinda dawned on me that /u/groodles source might actually be Jim Benning!
Next you’re gonna tell me Benning ACTUALLY wanted Zadina first but divine intervention happened.
Benning was a fucking complete idiot, more news at 11. Easily worst GM in franchise history
How did someone as incompetent as Benning get hired! Everything he’s done here as GM has been terrible.
Oh my fucking god
I mean benning is an idiot but not like the rest of the fanbase knew better. No one thought of taking Petey at 5, it was the consensus that Glass was BPA at 5
Thanks benning!
I hope he continues to reveal more insights from his time in management. This was great.
We knew this, when he hinted at it in the offseason but it’s nice to have this on record for any holdout Benning fans who tried to claim Benning had a larger positive impact than was actually the case.
Another reason why Linden was right.
Good grief. Could you even imagine if we didn’t have Petey. We’d still be in the Benning nightmare
Revisionist history. Regardless of what people think, it is the core that Benning built. At the end of the day he takes full responsibility for all the decisions.
Another nail in the Benning coffin. This man may be in the running for worst GM ever.
Foundation player.
If the Canucks win a cup, we should thank Linden for not taking Cody Glass over Elias Pettersson.
Implication is scouting staff also wasn’t sold on Juolevi. Benning really was Fugazi. Cost us likely Tkachuk and almost Petey. It’s a shame ownership chose Benning over Linden.
I think Benning even confirmed wanting final say in who they draft when they couldn’t agree with Judd Brackett on a new contract. Brackett wanted control but Benning said something along the lines of “no GM would give the head scout that kind of authority”.
So no surprise with this reveal.
Jim Benning and intelligent decisions are like oil and water.
I thought it was well known he wanted Glass and had to be convinced to take Petey.
Just shows that Linden was a pr move by Aqua. If Linden was truly the president he could’ve overruled Benning at any time instead of trying to convince letting the scouts make the pick.
Makes me wonder if that’s why Benning only bridged Petey’s deal after his ELC because he “wasn’t his guy” and “wasn’t sold on him yet”.
I’m just glad we have Petey. This team would have been borderline unwatchable without him (especially last season).
This is the thing that annoys me is that people are now giving all this credit to Benning for Demko, Huggy and Petey. I bet none of them were his first choice. Thank goodness for the scouting staff.
dRaFt GuRu
This isn’t surprising at all though. Benning is an old school meat and potatoes guy who would never want to draft a player of petey’s size in the first round, if at all. Not to mention he openly expressed disdain for European players and their lack of “heart”.