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‘As of today,’ Benning sees Desjardins returning as Canucks coach

Jim Benning, Willie Desjardins, Trevor Linden

Vancouver Canucks’ general manager Jim Benning, from left to right, head coach Willie Desjardins and president of hockey operations Trevor Linden listen during a news conference after Desjardins was hired by the NHL hockey team in Vancouver, B.C., on Monday June 23, 2014. Desjardins replaces John Tortorella who was fired at the end of last season. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

AP

About a month ago, Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden confirmed a report that head coach Willie Desjardins would be back next season.

In doing so, Linden praised Desjardins for his work with Vancouver’s young players and said “there’s no reason for us to consider a change.”

The Canucks were struggling at the time, but they’ve really struggled since, with just three wins in their last 13. They got thumped, 6-2, last night in Edmonton, one of the more embarrassing losses of the campaign.

And so, today, GM Jim Benning was asked again about Desjardins.

Specifically, he was asked if there was any doubt in his mind that Desjardins would be the coach at training camp.

“Well, as of today, no,” Benning told TSN 1040 radio (audio).

It was an interesting way of putting it, since he could’ve just said “no.”

Instead, he prefaced it with “as of today.”

That has many wondering if the Canucks are going to wait and see how things shake out elsewhere around the league. For example, what if the Bruins miss the playoffs and fire Claude Julien -- would the Canucks take a run at him? What if the Blues have another early exit -- would Ken Hitchcock become available?

It’s all speculation, but to steal Benning’s phrase, as of today, one of the main arguments for keeping Desjardins is the lack of outstanding candidates to replace him.

And that could change soon, depending what happens elsewhere.