According to TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun, extension talks have progressed between the Vancouver Canucks and pending unrestricted free agent Alex Edler.

Dreger notes that a deal is not done yet, but given the direction, it should take the defenceman off the trade market.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Friday the team is hopeful an extension will get done.

"We are still looking to re-sign Alex Edler and we are in good conversations with this agent. We'll continue to talk and hopefully we can get something done," Benning said.

Edler, who carries a $5 million cap hit in the final season of a six-year, $30 million contract signed in 2013, has five goals and 20 points in 38 games this season. He is currently on injured reserve due to a concussion, which has sidelined him since Feb. 4.

Benning said the team could also get help on the blueline this month is Quinn Hughes elects to leave Michigan University and turn pro. Michigan's season will end on March 2.

"We are still looking to re-sign Alex Edler and we are in good conversations with this agent," Benning said. "We'll continue to talk and hopefully we can get something done."

Canucks general manager Jim Benning called Edler the team's best defenceman earlier this month.

"We're in dialogue with him," Benning told TSN Radio 1040 on Feb. 1.  "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."

The native of Ostersund, Sweden has spent his entire playing career with the Canucks since being drafted by the team in the third round of the 2004 NHL Draft. He said in September he "would love" to re-sign in Vancouver and reiterated those comments in January.

A veteran of 796 games, Edler has 89 goals and 354 points in his NHL career.