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Canucks trade Jordie Benn to Jets for 2021 6th-round pick

Jordie Benn's carousel through the Canadian teams continues.

Benn was traded to the Winnipeg Jets from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2021 sixth-round pick, as first reported by The Athletic's Thomas Drance. Vancouver didn't retain any of Benn's salary in the trade, per Drance.

VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 08: Jordie Benn #8 of the Vancouver Canucks skates with the puck during NHL hockey action against the Montreal Canadiens at Rogers Arena on March 8, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
Jordie Benn is reportedly joining the Winnipeg Jets. (Rich Lam/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

The 33-year-old joined the Canucks for the 2019-20 season, after previously spending three years with the Montreal Canadiens.

Benn recorded a goal and nine points in 31 games with the Canucks in 2021, while averaging 14:40 in playing time.

It was clear that the Jets needed to improve their defensive corps if they were to make a deep playoff run and though Benn is a solid add, it's not the move fans were hoping for, as Winnipeg was heavily rumoured to be interested in making a trade for Nashville's Mattias Ekholm.

Benn could slot into Winnipeg's top-four, and replace Derek Forbort, or serve as an immediate upgrade on the third pairing, bumping Logan Stanley further down the depth chart.

With his contract slated to expire at the end of the year, this could constitute a short-term, low-risk rental for the Jets, who will likely seek a younger, left-shot option in free agency. It's not a home run for the Jets, but they are slightly better than they were yesterday.

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