Jim Benning says he had nothing to do with Trevor Linden's decision to leave the Vancouver Canucks.
The general manager's statement comes after a report indicated Linden left the organization following a power struggle against Benning and owner and chairman Francesco Aquilini. Linden had served as president of hockey operations since 2014.
"Trevor was my boss. I had no part of this decision," Benning told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "I've worked in this business for 27 years and if you talk to people from other teams, I'm an honest, straight-forward guy. I work hard.
"We always had a really good relationship. Always. We had the same plan and that plan hasn't changed - drafting and developing to get to where we need to be. We were always on the same page on that."
The Canucks described Linden's separation as amicable, while Benning, who signed a multi-year extension in February, added the organization currently has no plan to fill the vacancy.
"I don't know what happened between Trevor and ownership, and it's not my place to ask," Benning added. "I've got a job to do building this hockey team. I've never been into politics. I have a hard enough time finding a defenseman who can help our power play. I don't have time for politics ... If people think I had anything to do with Trevor leaving, that's just wrong."
Meanwhile, other reports have speculated that Linden was not in favor of the team's offseason moves, particularly the free-agent signings of Antoine Roussel and Jay Beagle, both of whom inked four-year deals. The former president may have preferred a slow and steady rebuild, while ownership could be angling for home playoff dates in the nearer term.
Vancouver last advanced to the postseason in 2015, while the team hasn't won a playoff series since its run to the Stanley Cup Final four years earlier. Although the playoffs could be a long shot in 2018-19, Benning still sees value in adding veteran voices to the locker room given the leadership and support these players can offer to young talent ready to step into the NHL.
"If we were thinking about making the playoffs next season, we'd have signed James Neal or David Perron or someone like that. But we didn't," Benning said. "Every year we're going to add one or two good, young players and at some point, we're going to be really good. But we can't rush this process."
The Golden Knights, on the other hand, have offered $3.5 million. Generally, arbiters pick a number in the middle of the two asks, but a third-party decision won't be needed if Vegas and Karlsson can reach an agreement before his hearing on Saturday.
Karlsson was left unprotected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the expansion draft, and after recording just 50 points in 183 career games, the 25-year-old exploded for the Golden Knights, obliterating his previous bests with 43 goals and 78 points in 82 contests. His dream season yielded the Lady Byng Trophy and some consideration for the Selke, but there's concern as to whether Karlsson can even come close to repeating his stunning production, as he led the league with an astronomical 23.4 shooting percentage.
Vegas certainly has the space to provide Karlsson a lucrative deal, as they have a projected $13 million in available money (Cap Friendly) after their summer's work, which was highlighted by signing free-agent pivot Paul Stastny.
If Karlsson were to fetch what he's after, he'd tie Derek Stepan and teammate Stastny as the 20th richest center in the NHL in terms of cap hit, ahead of the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Mark Scheifele, and Sean Monahan.
The Flames added defenseman Noah Hanifin and forwards Elias Lindholm, Derek Ryan, and James Neal, while subtracting defensemen Dougie Hamilton and a few other pieces. Don't know about the long-term play - ditching Hamilton is risky business - but the moves inject much-needed scoring help for 2018-19. Expect that woeful, 29th-ranked shooting percentage to rise.
The PR hit and potential for off-ice issues aside, the Panthers made out like bandits in the Mike Hoffman trade. They bought low on a top-flight winger tailor-made for fringe superstar Aleksander Barkov. Rookies Owen Tippett and Henrik Borgstrom could add even more skill. Major question: Will Roberto Luongo, 39, continue to age gracefully?
Props to John Stevens and his coaching staff. Living up to their pre-season words, the Kings capitalized on scoring opportunities more often in 2017-18, bagging 2.89 goals per game versus 2.43 the year prior. They're still relatively slow and old, yet it's hard to ignore a team that allowed a league-low 202 goals, is led by Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, and signed Ilya Kovalchuk.
The Flyers landed the best UFA not named John Tavares, inking James van Riemsdyk to a seven-year deal. Through a short-term lens, the acquisition signals the Flyers are serious about pushing the envelope in the Eastern Conference. Their stable of quality forwards, namely Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux, give them a fighting chance.
The clock is ticking in Anaheim. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, the pillars of this Ducks era, are 33, while their partner in crime, 33-year-old Ryan Kesler, is hurting. With the likes of John Gibson, Hampus Lindholm, Rickard Rakell, Jakob Silfverberg, and rookie Sam Steel supporting the Big Three, this group is equal parts relevant and vulnerable.
On one hand, youngsters Seth Jones and Zach Werenski are already one of the best defense pairs in the league, sophomore Pierre-Luc Dubois isn't even scratching the surface, and Sergei Bobrovsky is a constant Vezina threat. On the other hand, offensive engine Artemi Panarin may be traded before October, dampening all of the above.
The Sharks should be high on themselves following a 100-point season, a decent playoff run, and Evander Kane's extension. Their core - despite being injected with some youth, like Timo Meier - is quite old, however, and GM Doug Wilson didn't make a single meaningful UFA signing this summer. In short, San Jose is very good but not great.
One of the busiest teams in free agency, the Blues upgraded their center and wing positions by signing David Perron, Patrick Maroon, and Tyler Bozak, and acquiring Ryan O'Reilly via trade. All four should help revive the club's 30th-ranked power play and give netminder Jake Allen some cushion. Watch out for uber-talented winger Robby Fabbri.
Listen, what Vegas accomplished as an expansion franchise was nothing short of spectacular. The Golden Knights will always be 2018 Cup finalists, and they're certainly still a dangerous squad. Projecting a repeat outcome, however, would be naive. They have cap space and plenty to love - especially that Jonathan Marchessault line - but let's not get carried away.
So long as Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak remains the Best Line in Hockey™, the Bruins will be a wrecking ball. Helping their cause: defenseman Charlie McAvoy, 20, who's inching toward stardom. Boston obliterates opponents on the shot-attempt and scoring-chance counters but is devoid of championship depth at all positions.
Until they show definitive signs of aging, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin give any roster immediate Cup credibility - especially one coached by Mike Sullivan. Consider, too, the Penguins' ridiculous power play (26.2 percent to pace the NHL in 2017-18), their ability to control five-on-five play (fifth in Corsi), and a potential bounce-back year from Matt Murray.
Behold, the ultimate matchup nightmare: 50 minutes per game against Auston Matthews, John Tavares, or Nazem Kadri. Mix in Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Patrick Marleau, and some soldiers, and you have the NHL's premier forward collection. Nevertheless, despite also having a top-10 goalie, the Leafs are being held hostage by back-end deficiencies.
Finally, the Caps have swagger. They re-signed John Carlson, Evgeny Kuznetsov has cemented himself as a star, and nobody should be worrying about Braden Holtby. Yet, let's not forget: that Cup-winning team struggled to score, and posted poor underlying numbers during the regular season. New bench boss Todd Reirden has work to do.
In finding a way to optimize that all-world blue line, the Preds have established themselves as the NHL's preeminent switch team. Led by P.K. Subban, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Ellis, and Roman Josi - and now featuring Dan Hamhuis on the third pair - their D impacts every play, working with their forwards and goalies to overwhelm the opposition. The Preds are scary.
The Bolts have it all: an enviable GM-coach combo, a track record of playoff success, favorable underlying numbers, a formidable attack, a strong defense corps, Vezina-calibre goaltending. On paper, they possess the NHL's best roster, and it's reasonable to expect 22-year-old Brayden Point and 20-year-old Mikhail Sergachev will improve in 2018-19.
Something special is brewing in Manitoba. The Jets, who had their first taste of playoff success this spring, are stacked at forward (even without Paul Stastny), own an underappreciated defense, and boast one of the top 25-or-under goalies in Connor Hellebuyck. There isn't a club with a better mix of young and old, and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has cap room.
Adrian Dater of BSN Denver was first to report the Avs had re-signed the restricted free agent, who was coming off a one-year deal paying $945,000. Both sides will now avoid an arbitration case that was set for Saturday.
Nemeth was the last player on the Avalanche without a contract, meaning the team now has its full roster signed with about $12 million in remaining cap space, as per CapFriendly.
In 68 appearances with Colorado last season, Nemeth picked up three goals and 12 assists. He also finished just shy of 20 minutes in average ice time, trailing only Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie for the team lead.
Colorado claimed Nemeth off waivers from the Dallas Stars last October.
William Nylander is looking to get some security with his next contract.
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward is a restricted free agent and wants a long-term contract as opposed to a bridge deal.
"Of course I want long term, that's what I want to do," Nylander said, according to theScore's John Matisz.
Nylander is the first of the Maple Leafs' three young stars to finish their rookie contracts. Both Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have one more year left on their entry-level deals, but are eligible to sign extensions at any time.
The 22-year-old is coming off his second full season in the NHL. He's remained consistent in those two years, posting identical 61-point seasons.
The deal is reportedly worth $2.3 million and will see him paid $1 million this season and $1.3 million during the 2019-20 campaign, according to Cap Friendly.
Hagg put up three goals and nine points in 70 games in his first full season in the NHL last year. The 23-year-old was drafted in the second round by the Flyers in 2013.
The Arizona Coyotes are set to pay homage to the longest-serving player in the franchise's history, as longtime captain Shane Doan will have his No. 19 raised to the rafters Feb. 24, the team announced on Wednesday.
Doan's number is the first to ever be retired in Coyotes' team history, and will be honored with the Winnipeg Jets - who drafted him seventh overall in 1995 - in town for the ceremony.
"I am extremely grateful to be the first Coyotes player to have his jersey retired," said Doan. "I am so proud to have played my entire career for the Coyotes because loyalty and commitment mean everything to me. I want to thank the entire Coyotes organization for this incredible honor. It means so much to my family and me. I have so many great memories wearing the Coyotes jersey and I look forward to celebrating this special night with friends, family, and all our great Coyotes fans. I can't wait."
Doan retired in 2017 after 21 seasons with the organization, doing so leading virtually every major offensive category in the team's record books, including games played (1,540), goals (402), assists (570), points (972), and game-winning goals (69).
The St. Louis Blues defenseman, fresh off a one-year, $3-million extension, is so impressed by general manager Doug Armstrong's summer shake-up that he's confident the club will be one of the league's best in the coming campaign.
"We think we're top-five in the NHL right now," Edmundson told Louie Korac of NHL.com. "We want to come into camp and from camp on, we want to be one of the top teams in the league. We were middle of the pack last season, but with the team we have and the confidence we have, we're excited to come to camp with a new team, new look."
St. Louis was a middle-rung team last season before a costly year-end skid saw them win just one of their final six games, ultimately missing the postseason by a single point. The hope is that the new faces, including free-agent additions Tyler Bozak, David Perron, and Patrick Maroon, plus big-time trade acquisition Ryan O'Reilly, will help prevent a similar outcome in 2018-19.
As for Edmundson, he's coming off a career-high 17 points, while his nearly 21 minutes in average ice time ranked third on the Blues behind only captain Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko. The 25-year-old is likely to play alongside the captain again next season, and improved numbers should only help his cause when he's due for an extension again next summer.
"The second half of the year and the start of summer, I was thinking long term," Edmundson said. "But then I saw the trade they made and guys we signed and then my agent said it could be one year and it could work out better for me, so I had no problem signing for one year."
Edmundson won't have to wait much longer to see if the Blues can live up to his offseason expectations, as St. Louis opens the season Oct. 4 against the Winnipeg Jets.
