Canucks GM Jim Benning reveals top priority post-deadline

On Friday afternoon, Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning held his mid-season press conference, and told members of the media what his first priority is after April 12th's trade deadline.

Benning intends to start negotiating contracts for pending RFAs Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. The pair are currently in the final year of their entry-level contracts with Pettersson earning $925,000 AAV, and Hughes earning $916,667 AAV.

The Canucks have just over $23.7 million in cap space available for the 2021-22 season, which is good news given the fact Pettersson and Hughes will both likely get north of $5 million AAV on their next contracts.

Pettersson, 22, was drafted in the first round, fifth overall by Vancouver in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In 165 regular season games, he's tallied 153 points (65 G, 88 A), 36 penalty minutes, and is a +19. In 17 career playoff games, Pettersson has 18 points (7 G, 11 A), 2 penalty minutes, and is a +2.

Hughes, 21, was drafted in the first round, seventh overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. In 100 regular season games, he's recorded 78 points (10 G, 68 A), 32 penalty minutes, and is a -26. In 17 career playoff games, he has 16 points (2 G, 14 A), 2 penalty minutes, and is a -2.

Jim Benning also said that he would like to try and re-sign pending UFA forward Tanner Pearson. Pearson, 28, had the best season of his career in 2019-20. In 69 games, he tallied 45 points (21 G, 24 A), 27 penalty minutes, and was a +16.

Pearson has played in all 27 of Vancouver's games this season, but isn't having a great season statistically, only recording 9 points (5 G, 4 A) so far.

The Kitchener, Ontario native is in the final year of a four-year, $15 million contract he signed with the Los Angeles Kings back in 2017.

If Canucks general manager Jim Benning intends on signing those three, plus make additional signings with the projected $23.7 million in cap space, he'll have to get creative.

Jim Benning says he'll start negotiating new second contracts for Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes after the April 12 trade deadline.— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 5, 2021

Benning says the #Canucks intend on trying to re-sign Tanner Pearson— Harman Dayal (@harmandayal2) March 5, 2021

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