The Vancouver Canucks front office priority remains clear- find a way to lock up Alex Edler.
Canucks' general manager Jim Benning said the team will meet with Edler and his agent this week to start talks on an extension, SportsNet's Iain MacIntyre writes. Edler currently has five goals and 15 assists in 36 games for the Canucks so far this season. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, as the six-year, $30 million deal he signed in 2013 expires.
Edler has played his entire 13-year career with the Canucks and has a no-trade clause. If the Canucks did decide to move Edler, he would have to consent to the deal.
Interesting context for this: when Alex Edler is on the ice the Canucks shoot 10.3% this year at evens. That's the highest number of his career, a full 1.0% better than his previous high (at age-22). https://t.co/LUUE3w7bCa
— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) January 31, 2019
With the Feb. 25 trade deadline looming, there is a temptation to deal an impending free agent in lieu of potentially losing him for nothing in the summer. While the Toronto Maple Leafs' acquisition of Jake Muzzin on Monday set a high market price for defensemen, general manager Jim Benning is focused on extending Edler.
The Canucks are in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference with 52 points and are looking to make their first appearance in the tournament since 2015.
While adding players for a playoff push is a possibility, Benning said Vancouver's current team can end the team's postseason drought without sacrificing future draft picks.
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“We have a plan in place and I’m not moving picks from this year’s draft to make the team better now," Benning said. "It’s going to be about the guys in that room pulling together and having a good run. And that will dictate whether we’re a playoff team or not.”
Time will tell if Benning has made the right move.