from Ian MacIntyre of Sportsnet,

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Erik Gudbranson is off the trade market. For now.

General manager Jim Benning confirmed to Sportsnet today that he will try to sign the 26-year-old to a contract extension ahead of the Feb. 26 NHL trade deadline. But if contract talks fail in the next couple of weeks, the Canucks will trade Gudbranson rather than lose him as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

“He’s a physical, stay-at-home defenceman who helps us,” Benning said. “We have other defencemen who are more puck-moving guys, but we don’t have anyone else with Gudbranson’s style of play.

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