Benning's only involvement in the Kesler trade was to facilitate it. He didn't initiate it or want it. What I do know (and I know this as fact) is that the room and Kesler were torn. When the rumors first started about Kesler wanting out, and believe me, these things go around the building long before the media gets a hold of them, he bold faced lied to the rest of the team on more then one occasion about wanting out. He quit on them and the guys knew it. Regardless of the return there was no way Kesler was walking back into the canucks' dressing room. In this case I do believe it is addition by subtraction but not for the reasons mentioned above in the incessant ramblings.
The canucks organization is in a better place than it was 4 or 5 months ago. The Weisbrod hiring not withstanding the recent hirings are nothing but positive, don't under estimate Linden and I think Benning was an excellent hire. It's the team better than the one that tanked and for awhile looked like the worst team in the NHL? Yes they are. Are they better in the long run? No. They need some major home runs in the past couple of drafts and the next ones to not fall flat.
My loathing for canucks runs deep make no mistake but I can also call a spade a spade.
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