Benning denies report Canucks are exploring Boeser trade

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning denied a report that circulated over the weekend indicating the club was exploring trading forward Brock Boeser.

"I have no intention of trading Brock Boeser. I haven't had one conversation about that, so I don't know where this stuff comes from," Benning said Monday as the club officially opened training camp.

Boeser fielded a question on the rumor as well.

"I had a chat with Jim and he told me he hasn't discussed trading me with anyone. I felt like that was very unnecessary by the media, especially the timing of it," he said.

Boeser, 23, is in the first season of a three-year, $17.625-million contract he signed last summer. He's battled injuries in each season of his professional career and managed to post 45 points in 57 games in 2019-20.

The Canucks open their qualifying-round series versus the Minnesota Wild on Aug. 2.