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And to add to the drama, the No. 15 to No. 4 picks will be revealed between 4:30 p.m.-5 p.m. (Pacific) Saturday. The No. 3 to No. 1 selections will be announced during the second intermission of the 5 p.m. second-round Stanley Cup playoff game.

For a rink rat like Benning, this is uncomfortable territory. He made his way in the game as an astute scout to formulate draft strategies. Now a system of balls and charts will determine his first pick.

“With our luck, I alerted our guys to figure out who the top nine (draft picks) are and be prepared so we still get a good player — if we don’t win it,” said Benning, who’s supplanting president of hockey operations Trevor Linden for the television torture test.

“The whole process, you just try to enjoy it the best you can. You have to let it play out. Who knows? You can’t prepare for it. It’s kind of the luck of the draw and if we can move up and pick a really good player — that would be fantastic.”

History has shown that’s more fantasy than reality.

That’s why the Draft Lottery Simulator has become a fascination in this market. Play it long enough and the Canucks will eventually come up with the first pick, right? How’s that for accumulated angst?

“I haven’t played it yet,” said Benning. “I don’t know. Every time I played it, we always win and in the last two drafts, we end up losing (dropping down). I might just stay away from it.”

What Benning can’t stay away from is balancing wants and needs of a franchise in transition. The Canucks obviously want the best-possible player, no matter where they select, but they need to take a hard look at positional needs — especially on defence.