Benning denies involvement in Linden's departure from Canucks

Jim Benning says he had nothing to do with Trevor Linden's decision to leave the Vancouver Canucks.

The general manager's statement comes after a report indicated Linden left the organization following a power struggle against Benning and owner and chairman Francesco Aquilini. Linden had served as president of hockey operations since 2014.

"Trevor was my boss. I had no part of this decision," Benning told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "I've worked in this business for 27 years and if you talk to people from other teams, I'm an honest, straight-forward guy. I work hard.

"We always had a really good relationship. Always. We had the same plan and that plan hasn't changed - drafting and developing to get to where we need to be. We were always on the same page on that."

The Canucks described Linden's separation as amicable, while Benning, who signed a multi-year extension in February, added the organization currently has no plan to fill the vacancy.

"I don't know what happened between Trevor and ownership, and it's not my place to ask," Benning added. "I've got a job to do building this hockey team. I've never been into politics. I have a hard enough time finding a defenseman who can help our power play. I don't have time for politics ... If people think I had anything to do with Trevor leaving, that's just wrong."

Meanwhile, other reports have speculated that Linden was not in favor of the team's offseason moves, particularly the free-agent signings of Antoine Roussel and Jay Beagle, both of whom inked four-year deals. The former president may have preferred a slow and steady rebuild, while ownership could be angling for home playoff dates in the nearer term.

Vancouver last advanced to the postseason in 2015, while the team hasn't won a playoff series since its run to the Stanley Cup Final four years earlier. Although the playoffs could be a long shot in 2018-19, Benning still sees value in adding veteran voices to the locker room given the leadership and support these players can offer to young talent ready to step into the NHL.

"If we were thinking about making the playoffs next season, we'd have signed James Neal or David Perron or someone like that. But we didn't," Benning said. "Every year we're going to add one or two good, young players and at some point, we're going to be really good. But we can't rush this process."

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