Jim Benning
Benning in December 2014
Born (1963-04-29) April 29, 1963
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks
NHL Draft 6th overall, 1981
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1981–1992

James Elmer Benning[1] (born April 29, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey executive and former player. He formerly served as the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted in the first round, sixth overall, in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, he played 610 games over nine seasons for the Maple Leafs and the Canucks, compiling 52 goals and 243 points.[2] He was identified during his playing career as an offensive defenceman.[3]

Playing career

Junior hockey

Prior to his professional career, Benning played for the Fort Saskatchewan Traders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League and the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League. While with the Winter Hawks in 1980–81, he set league records for most consecutive games with an assist (30) and with a point (45) while compiling 28 goals and a league-leading 111 assists (also a league record for defencemen) for 139 points and being named the league's top defenceman.

At the conclusion of the 1980–81 season, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Benning as the second-best North American draft-eligible prospect behind only Dale Hawerchuk.[4] His performance in the WHL garnered interest from several National Hockey League scouts, including Johnny Bower of the Toronto Maple Leafs.[5] Maple Leafs' general manager Punch Imlach expressed a desire to select a defenceman in the first round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft due to the organization's lack of prospect defencemen at the time, prompting Bower to recommend the selection of Benning.[5][6] At the Leafs' following rookie camp, Benning impressed onlookers with strong demonstrations of puck-handling, passing, shooting and skating, although Leafs coach Mike Nykoluk stated he needed to "carry his stick with two hands, not one."[4][7]

Professional career

Benning joined the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 1981–82 season.[4] After his rookie season, Benning participated in an exhibition match for Team Canada at the 1982 World Ice Hockey Championships, although he did not participate in the tournament.[8] Following a difficult season with the Leafs, coach Mike Nykoluk openly questioned whether the lineup's influx of prospects was the correct decision for the roster.[9] Though Benning's puck-handling skills provided him with security within the team's lineup, critics wanted him to play with greater physicality.[9] He remained with the team, while two of the Leafs' other prospect defencemen, Bob McGill and Fred Boimistruck, were demoted to the Leafs' American Hockey League affiliate, St. Catharines Saints.[10] Some analysts believed he was rushed into the NHL, resulting in lost confidence while playing for a struggling Leafs team.[11]

In his third year with the Leafs, Benning experienced a breakout season in which he scored 51 points. At the midway point of the season, speculation existed that he and teammate Börje Salming would be chosen to represent the Campbell Conference All Stars at the 36th National Hockey League All-Star Game.[12] The Leafs also considered nominating Benning for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, although they ultimately selected Gary Nylund instead.[13] By the 1985–86 season, he had become a crucial member of the team's defence corps, paired on many occasions with Al Iafrate and used in crucial situations.[14] He became the team's leading point-scorer among defencemen in their 1983–84 and 1984–85 seasons and was praised for his playmaking abilities, but he experienced a knee injury partway through the 1985–86 season.[15] Benning tore his right-knee ligaments in a collision with a St. Louis Blues player, resulting in eight weeks out of the Leafs' lineup.[16] The 1985–86 season was also his option year, providing him with multiple decisions regarding his future with the Leafs organization.[17] Benning expressed uncertainty about the team's interest in retaining him, believing he would play elsewhere, as they had experienced some success while he was injured the previous season.[17] In addition, the Leafs had recently hired new coach John Brophy, whose physical brand of hockey was believed not to be compatible with Benning's style of play.[15] Benning stated later that, during the team's 1986 preseason training camp, Brophy discussed with him the type of defencemen he wanted: larger defencemen who fought and demonstrated toughness.[18]

One month into the 1986–87 season, Benning was demoted to the Newmarket Saints of the AHL.[19] On December 2, 1986, Benning was traded to the Vancouver Canucks along with Dan Hodgson in exchange for Rick Lanz.[3] The Canucks required offense and, subsequent to Lanz's trade request, a deal occurred between the two organizations.[18][3]

Benning spent the next four seasons with the Canucks, becoming a veteran with the team, as well as scoring 12 goals and 70 points in that span despite some injuries.[20][21] His style of play during this period was described as "effective but rarely conspicuous."[22] Benning was described as becoming a more conservative, albeit more complete player with the Canucks.[11] Early in the 1989–90 season, he was considered one of the Canucks' best performers in the absence of Paul Reinhart.[22] The Canucks, according to coach Bob McCammon, however, found greater success without Benning in their lineup, though it was "no reflection on him."[23] Benning believed he was playing well, resulting in confusion between the two sides.[23] Following a streak of nine consecutive games scratched from the Canucks' lineup, the team requested that Benning be demoted to their International Hockey League affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, although he declined.[24][25] After a brief period of uncertainty with the Canucks in which he was told not to attend practice, Benning was asked to rejoin the team after an injury to Harold Snepsts vacated a roster position.[26][27] He experienced a three-point game in his return, but was scratched again for the remainder of the season afterward due to the organization's belief that he was too small.[27][28]

After the conclusion of the 1989–90 season, Benning signed a termination contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[29] Early in the subsequent preseason, Benning was sidelined with a bruised knee.[30] A month later, he was reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals as the Canucks sought to trade him.[31] He concluded the 1990–91 season with the Admirals.[32] Benning then joined HC Varese of the Serie A Italian hockey league, playing 18 games for them.[11] Prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, Benning was invited to the Tampa Bay Lightning's inaugural training camp.[33] He was one of the final cuts made to the Lightning roster before the start of the season.[34] Benning subsequently retired as a player in 1992.[11]

Executive career

Following his playing career, Benning served as an amateur scout for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim during their inaugural 1993–94 season. The following year, he joined the Buffalo Sabres as a scout, serving four years for the organization before being promoted to their position of director of amateur scouting in 1998. Benning remained in that role until 2004. In the summer of 2006, he became the assistant general manager of the Boston Bruins. His name was included on the Stanley Cup for the first time with the Bruins after their Stanley Cup Championship in 2011. The Vancouver Canucks formally introduced him as their general manager in a press conference on May 23, 2014. Upon being hired by the Canucks, he opted to retool his team by making several changes to the roster. In his first off-season with the organization, he made several roster moves including the trading of forward Ryan Kesler to the Anaheim Ducks at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the signing of goaltender Ryan Miller and the acquisition of several players such as Nick Bonino, Linden Vey, Radim Vrbata, and Derek Dorsett.[35] On June 28, 2016, during his third off-season with the Canucks, the NHL fined the Canucks $50,000 due to "tampering" by Benning. At the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Benning made inappropriate comments about attempting to acquire Montreal Canadiens defenceman P. K. Subban and pending unrestricted free-agent centre Steven Stamkos, who was still under contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. [36] On July 25, 2018 Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden stepped down from his position with the team. Subsequently, team owner Francesco Aquilini announced that Benning would assume Linden's duties until a new team President was named. Benning was given a three-year contract extension in August 20, 2019.[37] On December 5, 2021, Benning was fired as general manager of the Canucks along with head coach Travis Green after a home loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Canucks qualified for the playoffs only twice during the eight seasons in which Benning was general manager.[38]

Personal life

Benning is married and has four children. He lives downtown in Vancouver, British Columbia during the season and Sherwood, Oregon in the summer. His father was Elmer Benning, (1941 - 2018) Montreal Canadiens scout.[39] Former NHL player Brian Benning and former college hockey All-American Mark Benning are his brothers.[40] Another brother, Craig, is GM of the Dawson Creek Senior Canucks of the North Peace Hockey League.[41] He is the uncle of San Jose Sharks player Matt Benning.[42], and Florida Panthers defenceman Michael Benning.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1978–79 Fort Saskatchewan Traders AJHL 45 14 57 71 10 — — — — —
1978–79 Portland Winter Hawks WHL — — — — — 3 0 0 0 0
1979–80 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 71 11 60 71 42 8 3 9 12 8
1980–81 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 72 28 111 139 61 9 1 5 6 16
1981–82 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 74 7 24 31 46 — — — — —
1982–83 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 74 5 17 22 47 4 1 1 2 2
1983–84 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 79 12 39 51 66 — — — — —
1984–85 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 80 9 35 44 55 — — — — —
1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 52 4 21 25 71 — — — — —
1986–87 Newmarket Saints AHL 10 1 5 6 0 — — — — —
1986–87 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 5 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
1986–87 Vancouver Canucks NHL 59 2 11 13 40 — — — — —
1987–88 Vancouver Canucks NHL 77 7 26 33 58 — — — — —
1988–89 Vancouver Canucks NHL 65 3 9 12 48 3 0 0 0 0
1989–90 Vancouver Canucks NHL 45 3 9 12 26 — — — — —
1990–91 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 66 1 31 32 75 6 0 0 0 0
1991–92 HC Varese Serie A 18 0 12 12 14 7 0 2 2 50
WHL totals 143 39 171 210 103 20 4 14 18 24
NHL totals 610 52 191 243 461 7 1 1 2 2

Awards

  • WHL First All-Star Team – 1981

References

  1. ↑ "Jim Elmer Benning". www.hhof.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Canucks officially name Jim Benning as new GM". CBC.ca. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Hunter, Paul (December 3, 1986). "Leafs get help for power play Acquire Canucks' Lanz in two-for-one swap: [FIN Edition]". Toronto Star.
  4. 1 2 3 Houston, William (October 6, 1981). "Tremblay named No. 1 goalie Six rookies make Leaf roster for season-opener". The Globe and Mail.
  5. 1 2 Christie, James (June 9, 1981). "Hockey notebook Neilson joins Canucks as associate". The Globe and Mail.
  6. ↑ Houston, William (June 6, 1981). "Early NHL draft picks: ensuring for the future". The Globe and Mail.
  7. ↑ Houston, William (September 9, 1981). "TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS Faces familiar at Leaf rookie camp". The Globe and Mail.
  8. ↑ Christie, James (April 12, 1982). "Canadians' ice mission not easiest". The Globe and Mail.
  9. 1 2 Campbell, Neil (December 10, 1982). "Leafs' youth movement coming under scrutiny". The Globe and Mail.
  10. ↑ Houston, William (February 23, 1983). "ANALYSIS Changing Leafs shift to shades of respectability". The Globe and Mail.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Jim Benning. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  12. ↑ Houston, William (January 7, 1984). "Vaive, Kurri highlight battle for all-star spots". The Globe and Mail.
  13. ↑ Strachan, Al (March 20, 1984). "Hawks' Tessier rumored on chopping block". The Globe and Mail.
  14. ↑ Orr, Frank (December 20, 1985). "Leafs defence hangs tough: [FIN Edition]". Toronto Star.
  15. 1 2 Matsumoto, Rick (September 10, 1986). "Jim Benning may rejoin Leafs: [FIN Edition]". Toronto Star.
  16. ↑ Matsumoto, Rick (February 11, 1986). "Leaf finally discovering the fun of being a rushing defenceman: [FIN Edition]". Toronto Star.
  17. 1 2 Matsumoto, Rick (August 23, 1986). "Changes on way for Leafs Nylund and Benning may not return on defence: [SAT Edition]". Toronto Star.
  18. 1 2 "Ex-Leafs have barbs for Brophy, GM: [FIN Edition]". Toronto Star. December 5, 1986.
  19. ↑ Christie, James (November 6, 1986). "Salming suffers eye injury Fergus sparks Leaf charge". The Globe and Mail.
  20. ↑ Beamish, Mike (February 7, 1987). "Unbeaten in three games - that's momentum: [5* Edition]". The Vancouver Sun.
  21. ↑ Beamish, Mike (September 18, 1987). "Youngest Canucks showing promise By: [3* Edition]". The Vancouver Sun.
  22. 1 2 Beamish, Mike (January 19, 1990). "Canucks find winning formula against Flyers in OT: [3* Edition]". The Vancouver Sun.
  23. 1 2 Jamieson, Jim (February 20, 1990). "Agonizing NHL year: [1* Edition]". The Province.
  24. ↑ Beamish, Mike (February 21, 1990). "D for disaster: Canucks hand Oilers the points: [3* Edition]". The Vancouver Sun.
  25. ↑ "Canucks demote Coxe, two balk: [FINAL Edition]". The Gazette. February 23, 1990.
  26. ↑ "Benning, Smith told not to practise: [Final Edition]". Edmonton Journal. February 24, 1990.
  27. 1 2 Beamish, Mike (March 1, 1990). "Hockey: [3* Edition]". The Vancouver Sun.
  28. ↑ "Tip Ins: [Final Edition]". Calgary Herald. March 10, 1990.
  29. ↑ Pap, Elliott (July 2, 1990). "Canucks' pair not nearly as free as NHL list says: [3* Edition]". The Vancouver Sun.
  30. ↑ Jamieson, Jim (September 14, 1990). "Odjick knows his role: [0* Edition]". The Province.
  31. ↑ Beamish, Mike (October 4, 1990). "Canucks look for answers as season gets underway: [4* Edition]". The Vancouver Sun.
  32. ↑ Jamieson, Jim (May 2, 1991). "Many moves likely in Milwaukee: [1* Edition]". The Province.
  33. ↑ Clark, Cammy (August 16, 1992). "Lightning camp: a battle for jobs". St. Petersburg Times.
  34. ↑ Clark, Cammy (October 4, 1992). "Lightning makes two more cuts". St. Petersburg Times.
  35. ↑ Clipperton, Joshua (May 24, 2014). "Canucks name Benning as new GM". Prince George Citizen.
  36. ↑ "Canucks fined $50K for GM's comments about Stamkos, Subban". cbc.ca. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Canucks GM Jim Benning Signed to Three Year Extension". NHL.com. August 20, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Canucks Make Significant Leadership & Coaching Changes". NHL.com. December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  39. ↑ Spector, Mark. "Canadiens scout Elmer Benning's million-kilometre journey". Sportsnet. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  40. ↑ Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Brian Benning. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2014 May 25.
  41. ↑ "Senior Canucks announce new general manager". Dawson Creek Mirror. Glacier Community Media. September 25, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  42. ↑ Hockey's Future - Matt Benning. Hockey's Future. Retrieved 2014 May 25.
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