Canucks expected to name Benning GM Friday

The Vancouver Canucks are expected to announce Jim Benning as general manager Friday.

Benning has spent the past seven years as assistant GM with the Boston Bruins. He worked as a scout with Anaheim in 1993 before joining Buffalo the following year and served as the Sabres’ director of amateur scouting from 1998-2004.

The 51-year-old Benning played nine seasons in the NHL, including four with the Canucks from 1986-90.

Vancouver fired president/GM Mike Gillis in April and the club named former captain Trevor Linden as president.

One of Benning’s first tasks will be finding a new coach. John Tortorella was let go May 1 just one season behind the bench.