With Alex Edler mentioned in trade speculation ahead of the NHL's Feb. 25 deadline, Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning is hopeful the team can work out a contract extension with the veteran blueliner.

"We're in dialogue with him," Benning told TSN Radio 1040 on Friday. "We're talking about what his intentions are and what he wants to do going forward. I think he's made it clear to us that he wants to stay in Vancouver, so we're going to continue to talk to them and see if we can figure something out.

"He's our best defenceman. He's a leader in our room. He's a mentor to Petey (Elias Pettersson). He's an important guy for the development of our younger players. If we can get something figured out, I'd like to do it."

Benning also addressed the possibility of trading Edler and then signing him to a free agent contract next summer. The Montreal Canadiens did that with Tomas Plekanec last season, while the Toronto Maple Leafs did it with blueliner Roman Polak in 2016.

"We've talked about it, but I don't know if it's something that's real," said Benning. "I know that theory's there, but I don't know if it's something that's possible to do, or not."

Edler, 32, will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He is ranked 22nd on TSN Hockey's Trade Bait list and is the top available left-side defenceman on the board.