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Benning believes in Sedins, that Canucks can reach 100-point plateau again

Geoff Burke / USA Today

Culture change doesn't necessarily mean complete change.

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning believes that despite the tweaks he made to the organization this summer - including the trade of Kevin Bieksa and contentious acquisition of Brandon Sutter - his team won't slip in the Western Conference standings.

"Yeah, I think so," Benning told TSN's Bob McKenzie when asked if his new-look team is capable of reaching the 100-point plateau again.

"We're going to have some young players come in this year and make our team. We're going to be a faster team, a harder team to play against this year."

Despite his vision, the Canucks figure to only go as far as their longest-tenured members, soon-to-be 35-year-olds Daniel and Henrik Sedin, can take them.

And the GM doesn't see a need for revision there.

"I'm real confident in them," he said. "They're amazing players. They work hard off the ice, they work hard all summer. They're prepared and focused.

"What we tried to do last year is tried to lower their minutes a little bit - be a four-line team. And I thought they were fresh the whole season. I expect them to come back and have another real good season for us."

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