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Canucks GM doesn’t dismiss possibility of signing veteran goalie

Ducks Canucks Hockey

Vancouver Canucks goalie Eddie Lack (31) keeps his eye on the puck during the first period of NHL action against the Anaheim Ducks in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Monday, April 7, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)

AP

If new Vancouver general manager Jim Benning really does think the Canucks can be turned around “in a hurry,” he may want to seriously consider getting some insurance in goal.

As it stands, the Canucks have Eddie Lack, 26, as their starter and Jacob Markstrom, 24, as their backup. The two Swedish netminders have just 78 career NHL starts between them.

Today on Sportsnet 590 The Fan radio, Benning didn’t dismiss the possibility of signing a veteran goalie, one we assume would compete for starting time with Lack while Markstrom played regularly in the AHL.

“We’re going to look at every avenue we have to make our team competitive. Vancouver is a big-market city, we’ve got a passionate fan base, [and] our owners want to win,” Benning said (audio).

If Benning does decide to pursue a veteran goalie, Ryan Miller and Jonas Hiller are pending unrestricted free agents that could be a fit in Vancouver, if the price is right. (We’ve already written plenty on the limited market for the former.)

Or, Benning could roll the dice on the two youngsters in goal, while instead spending cap space on a scoring forward.

Of course, what happens with Ryan Kesler -- will he be traded? and if he is, what’s the return? -- may need to be decided before any goaltending decision is made.