Jim Benning is introduced by team president Trevor Linden as the new general manager for the Vancouver Canucks on May 23, 2014. Photograph by: Jason Payne , PNG

At least one of Jim Benning’s hockey teams is still playing. The Vancouver Canucks’ general manager watched his farm team, the Utica Comets, advance in the Calder Cup playoffs Wednesday with a 1-0 Game 7 win against Oklahoma City. While waiting for the American Hockey League’s Western Conference final to start Sunday against Grand Rapids, Benning spoke to Sun columnist Iain MacIntyre about growth on the farm.

Question: What have you seen in Utica?

Answer: I’m pleased. We have a good combination of older, experienced players that are high-character players that work really hard. They’ve helped mentor our young kids. And for the most part, all of our young players have really improved over the course of the year. That was an invaluable learning experience last night for the young guys playing in Game 7. And our young guys have been the centrepiece of our winning. Two nights ago, (winger) Sven Baertschi had the puck on a string all night and had eight shots. Last night, Jacob Markstrom was outstanding.

Q And Jake Virtanen, your first-round draft pick last June, made his pro hockey debut at age 18.

A Jake played the last two games. He’s going to bring us speed and physicality (in the NHL). He was getting in on the forecheck and being physical. And when you watch him in practice, the thing you really notice about him is he can shoot the puck. He’s got a fast release and it’s a hard shot.

Q So his chances of making the Canucks at training camp, like Bo Horvat did this past season, haven’t gone down?

A Jake still has work to do — he has to get in better shape. But he has the physical skills and the strength. It’s going to be up to him what kind of summer he has.

Q What other prospects catch your eye?

A Hunter Shinkaruk had a good game last night. Over the year, he has gotten physically stronger. And Alex Grenier, over the course of the year, has improved quite a lot. He’s a big kid and can handle the puck. Brendan Gaunce has gotten better.

Q What about 2011 first-rounder Nicklas Jensen, who was a healthy scratch earlier in the playoffs?

A He’s in danger of falling in between (roles). He’s not the natural goal-scorer to play in the top six, and he has to round out his game better to play in the bottom six. The details in his game have to improve. To help us win, he’s going to have to be a Jannik Hansen-type player.

Q Another 18-year-old first rounder, Jared McCann, has only practised with the Comets since finishing his junior season. The AHL is a development league, so why aren’t all your young prospects playing?

A I understand that argument, but there’s a fine line between winning and development. If the guys are ready to play and help the team win, (Comets coach) Travis Green has no problem putting them in. But you want to develop your kids in a winning environment. The experience of playing in a Game 7 … you can’t make a mistake defensively or it ends up costing you the game.

Q So your ideals about bringing young players into a winning NHL environment and making them earn their ice time also applies at the AHL level?

A That has to be our standard at all of our levels. That’s the culture we want to set up. The players learn to play the right way (in Utica). There are no shortcuts.

Q In two seasons under Green, the Comets are 82-51-18. Are you going to be able to hang on to your coach?

A Mike Babcock’s contract ($50 million from the Toronto Maple Leafs) changes the landscape. It’s going to make the cost of coaches go up so, as with players, you’re going to have to develop good, young coaches. Travis is going to be an NHL head coach one day. But there are a lot of experienced coaches changing teams (this spring).

Q You told us recently that your management team will make a decision before the draft whether to re-sign or trade backup goalie Eddie Lack. Markstrom’s NHL record is unimpressive. What makes you think he can play for the Canucks if you trade Lack?

A That’s part of why I’m down here now — to get a good look at Jacob Markstrom and see where he fits in. That’s what I’m trying to figure out right now. He showed me a lot last night, playing a real good game (35-save shutout) in a high-pressure situation.

Q Some of these prospects will need a place to play in Vancouver. Have you approached any veteran Canuck about waiving his no-trade clause?

A No. When we sit down as a group in the next couple of weeks, we’re going to go through all that. The pressure point would be the draft if we’re going to try to recover a pick or July if it’s going to be a hockey trade.

imacintyre@vancouversun.comTwitter.com/imacvansun