Jordie Benn traded to Jets by Canucks for draft pick

Jordie Benn was traded to the Winnipeg Jets by the Vancouver Canucks on Monday for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

The 33-year-old defenseman has scored nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 31 games this season and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

"Adding Jordie gives us a player that can play right side, can play left side, competes real hard and is someone that can add some physicality to the lineup," Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said. "Obviously a lot of teams did some other things, but for yourself you look at what's available in front of you, what fits and you make those moves accordingly. We looked at a few things and tried to do a few other things today that might have been some big swings, but the players that we targeted didn't move."

An undrafted free agent who signed an entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars on July 10, 2011, Benn has scored 126 points (24 goals, 102 assists) in 548 regular-season games for the Canucks, Montreal Canadiens and Stars. He has three assists in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

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"We weren't going to re-sign him, so we've given him a chance to go play on a good team and they have a chance to make a run in the playoffs," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said. "So he's got an opportunity to keep his career moving forward, so that's what we ended up doing."

Benn said he's looking forward to not being a Winnipeg opponent anymore.

"Obviously, just playing against the Jets, I'll tell you it's always a struggle," he said Tuesday. "They're really good up front and their [defensemen] are good and they've got one hell of a goaltender (Connor Hellebuyck). So all through their lineup they're big, they're tough and they can play. So it's nice that I'm on their side now and I don't have to battle against them every night.

Benn said he plans to bring a "calm, cool and collected" game to the Jets.

"Make the first pass out of the D-zone, get it to the forwards as much as possible," he said. "Obviously, the Jets have a pretty dynamic four lines, all the way through, so just get them the puck, make them do the heavy work. Obviously, you want the puck in their hands, so being able to give it to them crisp is good. And then be heavy in the D-zone and block some shots. I try and keep my game as simple as possible and as predictable as possible."

The Canucks acquired defenseman Madison Bowey on Monday with a fifth-round pick in 2021 from the Chicago Blackhawks for a fourth-round pick in 2021.

Bowey has one assist in two games with the Blackhawks this season. The 25-year-old has scored 40 points (five goals, 35 assists) in 156 regular-season games with the Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals and won the Cup with Washington in 2018.

"He's got all the physical tools (6-foot-3, 202 pounds) to be a real good player," Benning said. "He's a good skater, so we just felt like he gives us some size and strength on the back end."

Vancouver also acquired forward Matthew Highmore in a trade from Chicago for forward Adam Gaudette.

Winnipeg (25-13-3) is second in the seven-team Scotia North Division and visits the Ottawa Senators on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS2, TSN3, NHL.TV).

Vancouver (16-18-3) is sixth in the North, eight points behind the fourth-place Montreal Canadiens. The top four teams will make the playoffs.

The Canucks are scheduled to return Friday when they host the Edmonton Oilers after having eight games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol.

NHL.com independent correspondents Darrin Bauming and Kevin Woodley contributed to this report