Report: Bruins' Jim Benning expected to be named Canucks GM later this week

Boston Bruins assistant general manager Jim Benning should be hired and introduced as the new general manager of the Vancouver Canucks at some point this week, according to a report from TSN's Darren Dreger. 

Bruins president Cam Neely was asked about Benning's reportedly imminent departure on Tuesday, and gave a coy answer per Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe:

We have given permission for Jim to talk. He’s talked to a couple different teams. That’s what happens when you have success, that other teams look at other organizations that have had success and start inquiring about your management group. It’s something that a lot of good organizations have had to deal with over time and we’re dealing with that right now.

Benning played with Vancouver Canucks president Trevor Linden during his playing days and has close ties to Newport Sports Agency and super agent Don Meehan, who represented Linden during his career. Basically Benning's name surfaced immediately upon the firing of Mike Gillis and the hiring of Linden as president of hockey operations, and Benning has been thought of as the "front runner" for the Canucks job for a month or more. 

Benning worked as the Buffalo Sabres' director of amateur scouting from 1998 to 2004 and the team had enormous success at the draft table during those seasons, especially in later rounds. He's served as the assistant general manager of the Boston Bruins since 2007.