How about this for a Friday afternoon news drop?! Just put yourself in the shoes of one of these scouts, who, let’s imagine works a regular Monday to Friday gig: they’re looking forward to the weekend and then get pulled into the office and served with a pink slip that just extended their weekend for the foreseeable future.
It may not have been exactly like that, but that’s what happened for five amateur scouting staff members of the Vancouver Canucks today, who were let go. One of the five, includes the son of ex-Canucks General Manager Jim Benning, one Brandon Benning. The other four amateur scouts let go were: Derek Richard (Eastern North America regional scout), Tim Lenardon (WHL scout), Pat Conacher (NCAA free agents scout), and Ted Hampson (USHL and NCAA scout).
Canucks begin to turnover front office, let go five amateur scouts https://t.co/vexI9HBok8 pic.twitter.com/LTlSrSEdxN
— Province Sports (@provincesports) May 6, 2022
From listening to Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin’s media availability this past Tuesday, May 3, current Canucks General Manager, Patrik Allvin, credited Todd Harvey, director of amateur scouting for The Canucks, for the job he’s done so far in preparing for this summer’s upcoming draft, but it’s clear that not everyone made the cut.
I guess the only unfortunate employee that got let today that was the least surprising was Brandon Benning because of who his father is. I say it’s the least surprising not because of the work he may have done, but the ties that he had to the old regime of Canucks management. Unfortunately it’s something he could do nothing about because you can’t control who your parents are.
This is a crucial summer for new Canucks management in Patrik, Jim and company as they look to firmly put their stamp on what they want their staff to look like and the methods of evaluation they want them using when scouting as we as fans get a chance to see what this new scouting staff will be known for.
Here’s hoping the new scouts they bring in will have the eye to spot the next great Canucks players starting with this upcoming draft in Montreal!