Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning was awarded a three-year contract extension, now he can only sit back and hope his roster changes will be enough to get this team back to the playoffs.
Needing to upgrade the top six, Benning acquired J.T. Miller in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, before signing Micheal Ferland to a four-year contract. On defence, Benning added Tyler Myers, Jordie Benn and Oscar Fantenberg in free agency.
The Canucks hung out in the playoff race last season thanks in large part to their trio of young stars in Elias Pettersson, Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser — along with the sensational play from blueliner Alexander Edler and goalie Jacob Markstrom.