Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning made a couple things quite clear on Wednesday.

"That's a non-starter. I'm not trading next year's draft picks," Benning said, according to TSN's Jeff Paterson.

It's worth noting that the 2019 NHL Draft will take place in Vancouver.

Benning's statement came hours after a report that Erik Karlsson trade talks are heating up. Connecting the dots, the Canucks are seemingly out of the running, assuming draft picks are on the Ottawa Senators' wish list in a return package for their superstar defenseman.

While speaking to Sportsnet's John Shannon, Benning said there's no truth to the Canucks being in on the Karlsson trade talks.

Karlsson is heading into the final year of a contract that has a 10-team no-trade list.

The Canucks finished second-last in the Pacific Division during the 2017-18 season with 73 points. Though the front office made some minor ripples on July 1, Vancouver didn't make any significant splashes this offseason to catapult the team from rebuilders to playoff contenders. Which is why hanging on to their prospect- and draft-pick capital seems logical.

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Trade talks involving Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson appear to be intensifying.

Teams interested in the Senators' captain have "stepped up of late and talks are moving," according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Rumors regarding a potential trade involving Karlsson had gone quiet ever since reports in early July that the Dallas Stars were front-runners to land the two-time Norris Trophy winner. Among the other teams linked to Karlsson at the time were the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights.

It also appears as though another club has since entered the running for Karlsson, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet alluded to the Vancouver Canucks having interest.

Karlsson is heading into the final year of a seven-year, $45.5-million contract, and while the Senators reportedly offered him a contract extension worth $10 million annually, there's been no indication he intends to stay in Ottawa.

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NHLers dealing with or coming back from significant injuries can get lost in the shuffle in fantasy draft preparation, but identifying those players is an important annual exercise that can give you an edge over your competition on draft night.

They can be overlooked, either because they get buried in default pre-draft rankings by virtue of having missed significant time, or because fantasy owners are wary of drafting someone coming off, or dealing with, an injury. Particularly in deeper leagues, keeping tabs on them can make the difference between making the playoffs and missing out.

Here's a handful of players returning from injury at some point this season to keep an eye on as fantasy drafts approach:

Robby Fabbri, St. Louis Blues

Fabbri's had some terrible misfortune, tearing the ACL in his left knee in February 2017 and then tearing it again in training camp seven months later. He didn't play a single game last season, but he got medical clearance to return to action last month and thus warrants fantasy consideration.

It remains to be seen both where the 22-year-old will fit in on the Blues' newly stacked lines - with Ryan O'Reilly and Tyler Bozak entering the fold up the middle and David Perron and Patrick Maroon giving St. Louis depth on the wings - as well as how effective Fabbri will be coming off the two serious knee injuries.

He's probably going to begin the season in St. Louis' bottom six, but if he can crack one of the top two lines, his fantasy value would skyrocket. He's worth a late look given the opportunities he may receive among what is now - at least on paper - one of the NHL's deepest groups of forwards.

Kevin Shattenkirk, New York Rangers

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Shattenkirk had a disappointing first campaign with the Rangers, as he played through a knee injury before opting for season-ending surgery in January. However, he's expected to be ready to go when training camp rolls around next month.

He won't be high on draft boards after being limited to 46 games in 2017-18, but it's worth noting that he still managed to chip in 12 power-play points, and 23 points overall, while dealing with the injury.

It's also worth remembering how effective Shattenkirk has been in his career as a point producer and power-play quarterback. He'll be on the Rangers' top defensive pairing and first unit with the man advantage, and as such, could be a late-round steal for fantasy owners.

Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

A knee injury limited Jumbo Joe to 47 games last season, but like Shattenkirk, Thornton was still productive, chipping in 36 points, half of which came on the power play.

The 39-year-old is on track to be in the Sharks' lineup when the season begins in October, and he told NBC Sports Bay Area's Marcus White last month that his two surgically repaired knees feel great.

Thornton should center San Jose's top line between Evander Kane and Joe Pavelski, and he'll get plenty of power-play time, too, assuming he stays healthy. He's not what he once was, but don't forget about him or his potential impact.

Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Weber won't be ready for the start of the season, as he's expected to be out until mid-December while recovering from the arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent in June. He was shut down last season after 26 games and later admitted to playing 25 of those with a broken foot he sustained in the season opener.

When he does return, the veteran blue-liner will log heavy minutes, produce points, and rack up high shots on goal totals, giving him value in most fantasy leagues. Yes, Weber just turned 33, but he should come close to replicating his past production in the aforementioned categories when he steps back on the ice, making him worthy of late-round consideration for injured reserve-stashing purposes.

Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Relying on Crawford as a No. 1 fantasy goaltender this season would be a mistake. Owners should avoid drafting Crawford where they normally would given his uncertain status for the upcoming season, but he's at the very least worth keeping on the radar as fantasy drafts draw near.

The veteran goaltender was having one of the best campaigns of his career when he was forced out of the lineup for what turned out to be the rest of the season back in December with what were later reported as symptoms of vertigo.

Injuries aren't the only thing working against Crawford; he's 33, he could be rusty when he returns, and he has a pair of aging defensive anchors in front of him in Duncan Keith (35) and Brent Seabrook (33).

However, he posted a .929 save percentage and a 2.27 goals against average in 28 games last season before his absence, and as such shouldn't be dismissed entirely, whether it be on draft night or once the season begins.

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Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier will be out of action for approximately four weeks with a lower-body ailment, the club confirmed Wednesday.

Couturier will participate on a limited basis at the start of training camp and will be ready to go a few weeks later, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi.

Hextall said Couturier's injury happened in a charity game and is in a different spot than that of the MCL tear in his right knee that he endured during the playoffs in April.

Couturier was hurt on Aug. 10 in Quebec on an "innocent play," the GM said, via the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in 2017-18, setting career highs in goals (31), assists (45), and points. He was the runner-up for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defensive forward.

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With just three weeks until training camp opens, Josh Morrissey's next contract remains the lone piece of business for the Winnipeg Jets.

The 23-year-old is coming off his entry-level deal and remains a restricted free agent. While time is of the essence, Morrissey is confident he will have a contract in place before the start of the season.

"Everyone's going to have their own opinions and that's fine, but from my standpoint as a player, my agent and from our conversations with the team, everything's been going great," Morrissey said, according to Jason Bell of the Winnipeg Free Press. "Everyone's confident it will be handled and done, definitely in time for the season.

"Right now, it's in the works. Every player handles these things differently but I'm just focused on training throughout the summer. Of course, it's something you think about. You'd be lying if that wasn't the case. But I think things have really started to progress. For me, I love being here, I love playing here. You look at the playoff run last year that we had and just the support from the fans, I love being a Winnipeg Jet."

Morrissey was originally drafted 13th overall in 2013 and is coming off his second full season in the league where he posted seven goals and 26 points in 81 games.

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The president of the Humboldt Broncos minor hockey team is leaving the organization.

Kevin Garinger will not seek re-election to the role, he announced at a club board meeting Tuesday, according to The Canadian Press.

He cited wanting to spend more time with his family and his job as a CEO in the Saskatchewan school system as reasons for his decision. He will continue to sit on the Broncos' board and provide support for the incoming president, Jamie Brockman.

Garinger became the public face of the team following the bus crash in April that left 16 people dead and 13 injured.

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Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price is confident the 2017-18 season will not repeat itself.

The 31-year-old is coming off a miserable year that saw him post the worst numbers of his career. With a record of 16-26-7 and a .900 save percentage and 3.11 goals-against average, Price is determined to bounce back for his teammates' sake.

"At the end of the day, I know how I feel about my game and I know I could have played better," Price said, according to Kevin Woodley of NHL.com. "I always feel like that regardless, but I know I can play better than that and I know my teammates will be looking to perform better this season as well.

"It's all intertwined, it's all connected and when you can iron out those details, it's all about chemistry."

The Canadiens will be looking to put the 2017-18 season behind them. The club finished with just 71 points, their lowest point total over a full 82-game season since the 2000-01 campaign when they finished with 70.

Prior to last year, the Canadiens had made the playoffs in four of the previous five seasons and captured the Atlantic Division title on three occasions. If they are to return to that form, Price will certainly need to turn back the clock to the 2014-15 campaign, where he captured both the Hart and Vezina Trophy.

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