NHL Trade Buzz: Canucks could part with veterans for youth, prospects

Welcome to the NHL Trade Buzz. There are 11 days remaining until the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET; Feb. 26). The Vancouver Canucks signed GM Jim Benning to a contract extension; how does that impact their plans? And how are the Boston Bruins looking at their chemistry in terms of the trade market? Here's a look around the League at the latest deadline doings:

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Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks signed general manager Jim Benning
to a multiyear contract Wednesday, and now he will determine what's next for Vancouver, which will likely be a seller as the trade deadline approaches.
Vancouver has several players who figure to garner interest, including defenseman Erik Gudbranson and forward Thomas Vanek, and the Canucks seem willing to move them to continue building for the future.
"I'm excited about the direction of our team and the depth and talent we continue to build," said Benning, who has been GM of the the Canucks since May 2014. "I believe we are on the right track, and I am pleased to continue the work we started four years ago when we set out to build a championship team."
The Canucks are seventh in the Pacific Division and have not made the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2014-15 season. But team president Trevor Linden said in a letter to season ticket holders Wednesday that he believes in Benning and the direction of the organization, and sees the championship potential of the team's core of young players.
"In the shorter term, we have faced challenges with injuries and inconsistency," Linden said. "That being said, I think fans can see the hope for our future, especially through young stars like Bo Horvat and
Brock Boeser
."

Boston Bruins

Although the Bruins are comfortably in a playoff spot -- in second place in the Atlantic Division, 22 points ahead of the fourth-place Florida Panthers -- they could make some additions prior to the deadline.
However, president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney know they have to be wary. They don't want to upset the chemistry with a move that won't significantly strengthen the club.
"It's a great group of guys, it really is," Neely said Tuesday. "They're all pulling on the same rope. The chemistry seems to be really strong right now, so that's another thing we talked about is the chemistry of this group.
"Historically you've seen things happen at the deadline where maybe teams after the fact say we made too many deep moves and it disrupted the chemistry. So that's something we're cautious about."
The Bruins have not been shy about announcing the group they have this season is special. Not that it's been easy to find that combination.
"You have to work at it," defenseman Zdeno Chara said. "It doesn't just happen."
As captain, Chara works hard to foster that type of chemistry. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. And with a larger-than-normal group of rookies, the deadline could be stressful for a few of his teammates.
"Obviously some guys are facing that time of year for the first time of their career in the NHL," Chara said. "Many of us being around for so long [know] that some of the things you can't control and that are part of the business side of hockey, you have to accept it and obviously when these things happen you just move on and there is only so much you can control as a player.
"Probably best not to really worry and just to do your job every day, come to the rink, work hard and be ready to do the practice or play the game."

Buffalo Sabres

Most of the talk around trades involving Sabres goaltenders has been about starter Robin Lehner, who can become a restricted free agent on July 1. But the Olean Times-Herald says backup goalie Chad Johnson could also attract some attention.
Johnson, 31, has struggled for much of this season; he's 4-9-3 with a 3.54 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage. But he is 3-1-0 in his past four games, including victories against the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. Johnson has a 2.49 GAA and .917 save percentage (10 goals allowed on 121 shots) during that span.
Johnson started 40 games for the Sabres in 2015-16 when Lehner missed much of the season with injuries, going 22-16-4 with a 2.36 GAA and a .920 save percentage. He's on a one-year contract with the Sabres and could be a bargain as a rental.