Gillis teaches a lesson. G.M 101.

[Soapy]

Funny how all of the Nonis apologists who were so devastated when that fat pile of shit got fired have now scattered to their holes or changed their tune. I got a kick out of all of the whining and crying when Gillis got hired and that Nonis got a raw deal.

If Big Dave had still been running things we would likely still have Morrison, would have probably traded our 1st round pick( this was rumored by Nonis's media puppet..........bye bye Cody Hodgson) for Cammalerri, signed Brunnstrom and would likely not have dealt for Bernier and O'Brien. Cowan would likely be our tough guy and Davison and Hordichuk would likely have signed elsewhere. Krapjeck would likely still be coughing up the puck and getting worked over in front of his own net. Nonis didn't like having a big, tough team so the Canucks would still be getting bounced around the rink like they did in the three previous seasons. Obviously it is impossible to predict all of this but I think we can all agree that this team would definitley not have the toughness and size it currently posesses.

The firing of Dave Nonis is the biggest reason for this team's turnaround.

We (I) just did not see the plan. MG seemed like a pompus prick. He has been lucky, smart, & ...like everyone else has pointed out that no other GM the Canucks have had....an actual care about the players needs & the patience.....man is MG patience.
I thought we were going to start all over again. I had missed that MG has been very close to the NHLPA for a long time & knows the players very well. He has filled spots that I was begging DN to fill....size & toughness....anyhooo
I like what MG has done....now that Sundin has signed....that was the big fish...& he landed him.....he has done what I thought would take at 2 years in 1 year.
Now Blob, to call Nonis a fat pile of shit.....your name is Blob......do you own a mirror? Nonis did get a raw deal but it was to clean out the old & bring in the Aquaman team.
To speculate what Nonis would or would not have done is not smart. Its fun though. Nonis is the reason Edler & or Kesler & or Schenider is/are still on the team.
You say Hodgson when you might say Beach
You say The firing of Dave Nonis is the biggest reason for this team's turnaround....Nonis IMO did not have the confidence of Aquaman....you are right.....it was the best thing to get rid of a GM with no power...that fat piece of shit

[jchockey]

I'm still not a fan of MG. I'm not sold yet. And I'm still a Nonis apologist.

I honestly don't think this team is that much better than last year's version, although the inclusion of Sundin does make this one better. I think the only move that MG has made to make this team better was bring in Bernier and O'Brien (who played a great game against Edmonton). I think Sundin fell in our lap because we had so much cap space - cap space that Nonis would've had had he not been fired.

Obviously Nonis' tenure as GM will forever be remembered as the Luongo trade, but his legacy will always be speculation. The jury's still out on MG. We'll have to see how he does at the trade deadline when things really heat up. I think this is one of the years in recent memory in which there is a distinct possibility that a couple names will be moved - Gaborik, Spezza, Kovalchuk, etc.

[LotusBlossom]

Nonis may be fat, stupid, etc. but he did pull off the greatest trade in the history of the franchise. Hopefully MG tops that in his tenure. I mean having ample cap space to sign Sundin is a good move, but it's not a coup like getting Luongo. Really all Gillis has done is replace Demitra with Naslund, trade in Cowan for Hordichuk and draft Hodgson at slot. Okay O'Brien for Krycek is a nice move, and Bernier has fit in, but really the team is better due to player progression and a stroke of luck in Wellwood. MG is off to a good start, but I don't see any stroke of genius in Gillis' track record (yeah, yeah Keenan).

You're only as good as your last trade/signing/draft... or so they say in GM world.

[Fred]

Difficult to judge DN or MG. DN at LAST had space to bring in players but never had the chance to show who is choices would have been. It would have been his first opportunity. MG brought in Demitra,Hordichuk Johnson, Bernier Wellwood and O'Brien. One genuine "star"type player Demitra, Wellwood by accident (they sent him down), Bernier unproven as yet, Hordichuk is as expected, Johnson nothing special. O'Brian is a 5-6 "D" who leads the league in PIM's.

The one thing MG has created is a "team" atmosphere and taking care of the players, let's hope he addresses the schedule problem in the summer.

Most didn't expect much and in that way he has exceeded expectations.

The best player on the team even after Sundin arrives is still Luongo DN addition. The success we enjoy this season will depend more on Luongo than any other player on the roster

[LotusBlossom]

Difficult to judge DN or MG. DN at LAST had space to bring in players but never had the chance to show who is choices would have been. It would have been his first opportunity. MG brought in Demitra,Hordichuk Johnson, Bernier Wellwood and O'Brien. One genuine "star"type player Demitra, Wellwood by accident (they sent him down), Bernier unproven as yet, Hordichuk is as expected, Johnson nothing special. O'Brian is a 5-6 "D" who leads the league in PIM's.

The one thing MG has created is a "team" atmosphere and taking care of the players, let's hope he addresses the schedule problem in the summer.

Most didn't expect much and in that way he has exceeded expectations.

The best player on the team even after Sundin arrives is still Luongo DN addition. The success we enjoy this season will depend more on Luongo than any other player on the roster

Pretty bang-on assessment there, Fred. But creating that team atmosphere is very integral to the success of the Canucks. So based on that alone, I'd say Gillis has done a great job with the supposed expectations of the team from the beginning of the season.

Luongo is no question the best goalie when healthy in the NHL, but the team has to learn to play in front of him. I like what I see so far. So I am going to credit that to Mike Gillis.

[Fred]

I wonder if the change in atmosphere is due entirely to the loss of Linden, Naslund and Morrison or is it the addition of players like Hordichuk Johnson and Davidson, maybe both.

[the toucan kid]

Naslund seems like a holdover from a different era so I bet having him gone helped (not stirring up the old debate, or calling him a bad leader), but what about Mr. Motivational Speaker? Is it possible there's something to that? Nah...

[Fred]

Naslund seems like a holdover from a different era so I bet having him gone helped (not stirring up the old debate, or calling him a bad leader), but what about Mr. Motivational Speaker? Is it possible there's something to that? Nah...

ERxcellent point, I've been wondering about that myself if Ryan Walters is making in roads with these guys. I don't know if you have ever spoke to him but he's sooooooooooo positive

[Soapy]

Mr Blob...where are you now?
Boy that Nonis guy sure sucked.....those Gillis guys are a huge improvement.....

i think Nonis is really enjoying the donuts...

Please enlighten all of us fans to his next genius move........

[Soapy]

And don't embarass us all with the 'fire the coach'

[Blob Mckenzie]

Sloppy ,I will respond to your drivel on March 1st. Pretty easy to criticize the GM in a losing streak when Ray Charles could see that the coach and the players are performing well below expectations. Let's give it another month before we analyze this situation shall we? If you are so enamoured with obese GM's that promise much and produce little there is a team in Toronto that has a pair of them. i'm sure they would love to have you. Nonis had 4 drafts and three seasons here and produced one playoff run and three decent prospects. Lets give Gillis the same amount of time before we start the whining and balling.

[Blob Mckenzie]

bump

[LotusBlossom]

Sloppy ,I will respond to your drivel on March 1st. Pretty easy to criticize the GM in a losing streak when Ray Charles could see that the coach and the players are performing well below expectations. Let's give it another month before we analyze this situation shall we? If you are so enamoured with obese GM's that promise much and produce little there is a team in Toronto that has a pair of them. i'm sure they would love to have you. Nonis had 4 drafts and three seasons here and produced one playoff run and three decent prospects. Lets give Gillis the same amount of time before we start the whining and balling.

Actually, for the last two years of Burke's tenure in Vancouver, it was Nonis making the deals with the players and their agents...so theoretically, if we're going to give Gillis the same amount of grace that Nonis received...we can add two more years to the table.

1) The Canucks were the team of February. 9-2-1. They are 5th in the Western Conference...They just need to continue their winning ways.

2) This trade deadline will not BREAK Gillis, but it could make him. The rookie GM is looking decent thus far, those that think otherwise can take their heads out of their proverbial asses.

3) If you look at the team at this point, although there are some holes, they aren't looking to badly for a bunch of buckets and helmets. The coach is the same, a couple of bench boss changes to help out AV and some toughness and skill inserted into the talent pool. Not so bad.

The Canucks really need to show what they are made of starting now. The month of March dictates the momentum going into the playoffs. We'll see just how "genius" or not Gillis is come April. Until then, I will give Gillis some leeway, because if Nonis can get the Red Sea, I can give Gillis at least the Fraser River.

[Fred]

The strech run and then ultimatley the play-offs are measure of a teams character, I'm sure that's the way MG will be looking at it too. His first year as Manager with a roster like he has built. I think MG tried to address character as much as any thing during his signings. The end of last season was not pretty and if they bomb again, this summer won't be pretty either.

[dr.dork]

The strech run and then ultimatley the play-offs are measure of a teams character, I'm sure that's the way MG will be looking at it too. His first year as Manager with a roster like he has built. I think MG tried to address character as much as any thing during his signings. The end of last season was not pretty and if they bomb again, this summer won't be pretty either.

Same record as last year at this time.

I am on the record as saying Nonis was sacked prematurely, but I don't pay his salary and the team has every right to make their own decisions (obviously). And Gillis has not done anything dumb in his tenure. I am completely fine with Gillis thus far.

Having said that, he should be largely sitting on his hands during this trade deadline day. Hockey trades or cap trades, yes, selling our future, no.