Canucks' Edler wouldn't waive no-trade clause

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alex Edler was unwilling to waive his full no-trade clause ahead of the deadline, general manager Jim Benning said Monday, according to The Canadian Press.

Benning revealed that teams did call about Edler's availability, but once the Canucks contacted Edler's agent, the player declined the option to be moved elsewhere.

Edler, who's spent his entire career with Vancouver, is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1. It was reported Friday that the two sides are working towards an extension, which Benning confirmed during his press conference.

Quality rental defensemen were a rare commodity leading up to the deadline. Nick Jensen, Ben Lovejoy, and Adam McQuaid were among the most notable pending UFA blue-liners moved in the last week.

Edler, 32, has 20 points in 38 games while averaging 23:24 minutes per night. The Canucks have controlled 45.7 percent of the shot attempts and 48.2 percent of the high-danger scoring chances while Edler has been on the ice at five-on-five this season (according to Natural Stat Trick). The smooth-skating 6-foot-3 defenseman has 65 games of playoff experience.

Benning was able to move one defenseman on deadline day, shipping Erik Gudbranson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Tanner Pearson.

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