Former Canucks GM To Be Honoured By Former WHL Team

Former Vancouver Canucks defenceman and GM Jim Benning is set to be honoured by his former WHL team. Benning, along with longtime NHL defenceman Braydon Coburn, have been selected for induction into the Portland Winterhawks Hall of Fame. The event is scheduled for Sunday, March 9, at 4:00 p.m. PT, when the Winterhawks take on the Everett Silvertips at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

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Benning is still considered one of the best defensemen to ever play for Portland. During his two seasons in the WHL, he recorded 210 points in 143 games, which still ranks fifth all-time among defensemen in franchise history. Thanks to his strong play, he was drafted sixth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1981, which is the same draft the Canucks selected defenceman Garth Butcher just a few spots later at tenth overall.

Six years into his NHL career, Benning was traded from Toronto alongside Dan Hodgson to Vancouver for Rick Lanz. Benning would play four seasons with the Canucks, recording 70 points in 240 games. After one year in the AHL, Benning departed for Italy, playing one more season before retiring in 1992.

Just over two decades after his original time in Vancouver ended, Benning found himself back with the Canucks, this time as GM. Benning spent close to eight seasons as Vancouver's GM, with the team posting a record of 242-257-61 over his 560 games. During his time as GM, Benning drafted Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Nils Höglander but could not establish continued playoff success as the Canucks made the postseason only twice during his time as GM.

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