Article content continued

BEST CONSPIRACY THEORY

Now, this is interesting

1, Benning on Nov. 18 (TSN 1040): “We would like to add a forward with speed and skill. We’re in the market place trying.

“Now we have depth on defence. We’ve rebuilt our defence … We have a young, and I feel good, group back there. If we look to make a move we’ll have to use some of our depth on our blueline to add a forward.”

2, Linden, this week (TSN): “There’s not anything from the outside, via trade, that’s going to change anything from us. There’s no easy answer from outside. We’ve got to find the answers from within.”

3. Benning this week (The Provies): Canucks will not ask any players to waive their NTCs even though it has been common and expected in each year he’s been the GM. They’ve done it with Hamhuis, Vrbata, Garrison and Bieksa.

So where where does all this leave us?

Theo Epstein rules the world because of his five-year plans. Do the Canucks have one?

Did something happen along the way that’s changed everything this year?

At best, things currently look odd, and off. The Canucks have openly talked about trying to acquire a scorer in a trade from just about the first moment Benning took the job. He’s always talking about trades, brainstorming deals. It would be super weird if the team now isn’t even trying to execute one.

Has this pursuit really ended? Has their been a shift? Are they being coy?

Also, something that sticks out given this context is the waiver wire. Again, it’s odd the Canucks have passed on all kinds of opportunities to add players who could have either helped their NHL or AHL teams.

Of course, most of those waiver wire additions would have meant added salary.

Is it something (adding salary) they’ve been asked not to do? Or something they’ve consciously chosen not to do?

Interesting times indeed.

BEST WTF

Uh, it’s mid-December.

I’ll choose to believe there was undisclosed injury along the way.