from Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet,

Nearly seven years into his tenure, Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning asked Friday for more patience from fans. His request was not favourably received.

Halfway through the pandemic-shortened season as of Saturday’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canucks have regressed from last summer’s breakthough and almost certainly will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring for the fifth time in Benning’s seven seasons in charge.

He said before the season that he did not expect the Canucks to take a step back....

As Benning noted during a 36-minute, mid-season virtual press conference that swerved between numerous topics, the GM has the support of owner Francesco Aquilini, coach Travis Green has the support of Benning, and with the border closed and quarantine requirements for travellers, it’s about impossible to make any kind of trade to help your team.

The Canucks can’t even practically recall players from their American-based farm team.

"I think we have to just keep trying to figure out how to get better from within and to make all of our players better," Benning said. "That's the mindset that we have, and that's the way Travis is attacking this whole thing.

"We're going to have to have patience when you talk about drafting, developing, and, when these players are ready to play, stepping in.

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