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One week before the NHL trade deadline means two annual exercises:

• Connecting the dots of what is being said and weighing it against a team’s actual needs.

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• Taking what is said and determining if it’s a fastball or a curveball, or if something is lost in translation.

General managers aren’t only trying to create a market for their movable assets — especially unrestricted free agents targeted as prime rentals — they’re casting a wider net to see if future needs can be addressed now in player-for-player transactions.

Which brings us to Jim Benning.

The Canucks’ general manager either brought the heat, or a change-up, or signals got crossed Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada. During an intermission-panel appearance, Benning offered this:

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“If we’re looking for a need here at the trade deadline, we’d like to add a big player,” stated Benning. “Maybe a forward with some physicality, who has the skill to make plays.”