Official 2008/2009 Canucks Thread

[Hondaracer]

^ what do you mean "i dont know how he wouldnt be"

didnt you read your own article? Gillis didnt like what he saw in Jokinen therefor didnt persue him, from what was said yesterday in post analysis and breaking down the trade, alot of people questioned Jokinens leadership in the room, and chemistry amongst team mates, is that somthing we need?

And alot of you guys are acting like Ballard and Boynton are nobodies, trust me these guys are top notch defensemen and as i said before, top 4 on 90% of the teams out there, our equivelent imo would be giving up Bieksa and Salo would you be willing to do that for Jokinen? Pierre Mcguire seemed to think the trade was amazing for both sides, and realistically Mcguire > MacIntyre by farrrrrr...

Adding Jokinen would cement Kesler as a 3rd line center which definately isnt the direction they want to go i'd asume.

If there's anything strange about the draft im thinking why this Cody Hodgson wasnt picked earlier? Captain of team Canada U-18? top 20 scoring in the OHL as well as top on his team at over a point a game?

will be interesting to see what happens with him, but frankly im going to be choked if Beach steps right into the NHL next year while Hodgson is stuck developing for the next 3, Canucks never have any backbone and never have the balls to take risks :/

[hypediss]

many ppl seem to not know that we were slated to pick beach because hodgson would have been picked already...

[RiceIntegraRS]

and do we really want Beach's 200+ penalty minutes in the 60 games hes played?

But i do hope Hodgson plays next year if not the year after that. Hopefully with guys like Burrows and Kesler or even the Sedins.

Next move for Gillis is most likely signing Demitra or Hossa

[shawn79]

leaked upcoming figures i got the rest but these are the only ones worth posting

[Ch28]

Luongo's figure is the same one as before with an updated mask

[Hondaracer]

^ yea thought it looked familiar :/

[F1]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

And alot of you guys are acting like Ballard and Boynton are nobodies, trust me these guys are top notch defensemen and as i said before, top 4 on 90% of the teams out there, our equivelent imo would be giving up Bieksa and Salo would you be willing to do that for Jokinen? Pierre Mcguire seemed to think the trade was amazing for both sides, and realistically Mcguire > MacIntyre by farrrrrr...

i agree. ballard and boynton are solid d-men and if it means anything, they are both former first rounders as well. the trade is good for both teams as florida might have the possibility of losing bouwmeester to an offer sheet.

[stuff99]

if you guys read the province today, it's basically ripping into Gillis saying how he promised big changes, but he basically played it safe...just as Nonis did. No trades, made the safe pick etc by passing etc.

[Shorty20]

Originally Posted by stuff99

if you guys read the province today, it's basically ripping into Gillis saying how he promised big changes, but he basically played it safe...just as Nonis did. No trades, made the safe pick etc by passing etc.

well its not like he could have given away any more picks from this year's draft. that would have been stupid seeing as this year's draft was so deep.

[Ch28]

Originally Posted by stuff99

if you guys read the province today, it's basically ripping into Gillis saying how he promised big changes, but he basically played it safe...just as Nonis did. No trades, made the safe pick etc by passing etc.

Great job Francesco Aquilini

[jigga250]

lol its not even July 1st yet, why don't we relax a bit and give the guy some time to do his job

[iwantaskyline]

Hooooooossssssssaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Pleaaaaaaase

[iwantaskyline]

Originally Posted by stuff99

if you guys read the province today, it's basically ripping into Gillis saying how he promised big changes, but he basically played it safe...just as Nonis did. No trades, made the safe pick etc by passing etc.

When has nonis made a safe pick? Pat White? Grabner? Hardly safe picks. Both were slated second rounders and the nucks took them in the first. Plus the fact that Gillis is getting lowballed by all the gms because hes a noobie.

[stuff99]

yet he was ripping nonis for not making moves ie. trades...

[amplified]

Originally Posted by 6thGear.

well, it is florida we're talking about here. that team is heading towards shit creek, which will probably lead to another city. a ploy perhaps to move the team out? they must hold the record for the most lopsided trades in the league

i think the ny islanders hold that record. especially when they were under milbury.

[accordwanker]

Originally Posted by stuff99

if you guys read the province today, it's basically ripping into Gillis saying how he promised big changes, but he basically played it safe...just as Nonis did. No trades, made the safe pick etc by passing etc.

And if he HAD traded our picks, they woulda ripped him for mortgaging the future, even if they'd managed to trade for Malkin or Ovechkin. Some people just insist on finding the negative in everything.

It's been stated before, but let's not forget, it takes two to make a trade. You can't blame one side if the other side refuses to deal, or asks too much in exchange. There's no telling what potential deals he may have been working on that didn't go through, and for what reasons.

[RiceIntegraRS]

whoever wrote that article is an idiot, he has 3 months till the start of the season to do his thing. And even that, he has the whole year to make sure the Canucks win

[quasi]

What kind of expectations do most of you have for the team this year? Missing the playoffs? Making the playoffs? Winning the division?

IMO it's not looking to good and if we didn't have Luongo I'd say blow it up completely and suck for a few years to draft some talent. As is I think you have to try and put a competitive team out there but it's going to be tough given the shitty UFA pool and the amount of top 6 forwards we need to sign. You add in the fact that Edmonton, Phoenix and Chicago are all going to be better next year it's going to be even tougher then last year.

[suprasian]

^ u telling me we should start from scratch cause bobby wont play for another rebuilding team. we cannot waste this chance having one of the best between the pipes so we gotta try everything we can as bobby lu is only here for 2 more years. we have some solid pieces already in place but we do need help. but i dont think we're far away. we have money to spend and some assets we can trade so lets see what gillis and co can do. free agency is coming up soon and teams are calling the canucks about some of our core players IE bieksa so we can go that route to add some scoring punch.

[quasi]

Originally Posted by suprasian

^ u telling me we should start from scratch cause bobby wont play for another rebuilding team. we cannot waste this chance having one of the best between the pipes so we gotta try everything we can as bobby lu is only here for 2 more years. we have some solid pieces already in place but we do need help. but i dont think we're far away. we have money to spend and some assets we can trade so lets see what gillis and co can do. free agency is coming up soon and teams are calling the canucks about some of our core players IE bieksa so we can go that route to add some scoring punch.

Lol, I'm not telling you anything don't put words in my mouth. Your actually agreeing with me because I said that if we didn't have Luongo I'd blow it up but that's not the case. I didn't really mention it but yes the defense is obviously solid as well.

I'm all for giving Gillis a chance I was willing to give Nonis another year to see what he could do before he got axed. I think more then anything it's the lack of available quality forwards that makes me say hmm...

[6thGear.]

wow. its been like what? a month since he started to make changes and already, people are on his back? sheesh. let the man do his job, then judge him at the end of the year.

[RiceIntegraRS]

Originally Posted by quasi

I think more then anything it's the lack of available quality forwards that makes me say hmm...

u know thats not the only way to gain quality forwards. I think its called trading

[stuff99]

Canucks quiet for busy weekend in Ottawa
General manager yet to fulfill his reformist pledge

Ed Willes
The Province

Sunday, June 22, 2008

GM Mike Gillis (second from right) poses with Canucks first-round pick Cody Hodgson (centre) and team brass in Ottawa.
CREDIT: Bruce Bennett, Getty Images
GM Mike Gillis (second from right) poses with Canucks first-round pick Cody Hodgson (centre) and team brass in Ottawa.

This might have a familiar ring but it seems the Vancouver Canucks were trying to make a trade at the NHL draft.

They made an offer to the Los Angeles Kings for Mike Cammalleri. They kicked the tires around the Flyers' R.J. Umberger. Turns out they weren't really interested in Florida's Olli Jokinen but new GM Mike Gillis is working on other deals and two months into his tenure with the Canucks, it would be premature and unfair to form any lasting conclusions based on his performance in Ottawa.

But this is also true.

Gillis swept into office on a reformer's platform. He promised change. He said he was going to take chances. This weekend, on the game's biggest stage, he was also presented with a golden opportunity to reinforce his words with actions and this is what happened.

Thirteen trades were made involving 15 teams on Friday and among the players moved were Cammalleri, Umberger, Jokinen and Alex Tanguay. Another 14 deals were made Friday, most of which, admittedly, involved draft picks.

And the Canucks weren't involved in any of them.

"I've said from the outset we want to win as quickly as possible but it's tough to get those players," said Gillis. "We're working on a bunch of different things and we'll have an opportunity on July 1 (when the market opens for unrestricted free agents). If you can't get it done this way you can get it done another way."

But a lot of things were done in Ottawa this weekend. They just weren't done by the Canucks.

Gillis's first big test ended as it began Friday with a solid, risk-free pick and a complete lack of drama. Their big choice on the draft's second day was defenceman Yann Sauve -- not to be confused with the former governor-general, now that would have been thinking outside the box -- a stay-at-home type with a limited growth potential.

The evening before, with everyone in the world wheeling and dealing around them, the Canucks opted for two-way centre Cody Hodgson, passing on, among others, Kyle Beach, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound problem child from the Everett Silvertips who represented a massive upside as well as massive headaches.

There were also the trades to consider. From the outside looking in, the imposing figure of Jokinen seemed to be a fit for a team looking to upgrade its top-six forwards and the asking price, a top-four defenceman and other stuff, was not extravagant.

But Gillis not only failed to land Jokinen, he didn't put a line in the water, saying he was troubled by Jokinen's reputation as a clubhouse lawyer. The big Finn, who's scored 111 goals over the last three seasons, eventually went to Phoenix for Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton and a second-rounder.

Gillis was unmoved by this development.

"We didn't want to go in that direction," he said.

"He's got baggage but not that much baggage," was another hockey man's opinion of Jokinen. "He's a very good player."

Gillis was considerably more excited by the addition of Hodgson and there, at least, he had some company.

The 18-year-old from the Toronto area put up impressive numbers with Brampton last season -- 40-45-85 in 68 games -- but it was the intangibles which sold the Canucks. Gillis, who was throwing around terms like "integrity" and "intelligence" in the run-up to the draft, said Hodgson's, "leadership ability and character was over the top as far as I was concerned."

If that wasn't enough, the Canucks' new sports psychologist, John Phelan, also gave Hodgson a ringing endorsement. That, at least was the good news about the pick. The more interesting news concerns the availability of Beach -- a prototypical power forward who has significant maturity issues -- and Canucks' fans will have the next decade or so to form their own opinions about that decision.

The Hodgson-Beach dynamic, in fact, revealed much about Gillis's weekend in the nation's capital. In a draft that offered all manner of possibilities, either via trade or in the available pool of kids, the new man didn't deliver the bold stroke or take any unnecessary risks. Again, that's not a hanging offence. Change could also be forthcoming because the Canucks still have a surplus of defencemen and holes to fill upfront.

But a similar conservatism also cost Dave Nonis his job. Nonis, you may recall, was roundly criticized for failing to make the big move and, depending on what version of the story you believe, his inability to land Brad Richards at the deadline may have gotten him fired.

Gillis then swept in promising big things.

Canucks fans are still waiting.

[stuff99]

I think the biggest gripe is that when he came onto being GM he ripped into Nonis's regime and he did promise changes, and yes it is still early but I guess he faced first hand (as Brett Hull learned) that making trades isn't that easy. So you shouldn't rip into ppl before you've done it yourself.

[stuff99]

Here's another article

canada, canadian search engine, free email, canada news
Monday » June 23 » 2008

Canucks miss out on Cammalleri
Gillis goes the safe route, trying to hit doubles instead of home runs

Jason Botchford
The Province

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Los Angeles Kings forward Michael Cammalleri, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season, was scooped up by Calgary for the No. 17 draft pick.
CREDIT: Noah Graham, Getty Images files
Los Angeles Kings forward Michael Cammalleri, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season, was scooped up by Calgary for the No. 17 draft pick.

On a weekend when the Canucks had the chance to get Olli Jokinen, Mike Cammalleri and Kyle Beach -- but got none of them -- GM Mike Gillis played it safe, admittedly trying to hit doubles rather than taking a home-run swing.

"I think there's an opportunity to swing for the fences and I think there's an opportunity to hit really good doubles," Gillis said. "If you hit a good double you may get a home run out of it if you develop that player correctly.

"I'm not disappointed hitting doubles with these picks. "

Gillis started the draft failing in his bid to get Cammalleri and ended it going obscure Saturday, drafting two unranked forwards and a goalie, Morgan Clark, who is the son of Canucks goalie consultant Ian Clark.

To start the draft, Gillis offered the L.A. Kings his 10th overall pick for Cammalleri. But in addition to the centre, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next year, Gillis demanded a prospect in return, something the Canucks boss felt was key because of Vancouver's lack of depth.

Gillis was rebuffed by the Kings, who dealt Cammalleri to the Flames for the 17th overall pick. Gillis said he thought his offer was a better deal, something former GM Dave Nonis often said after failing to make moves.

"I thought we were close to getting him; I thought he was a top-six forward who could help us immediately," said Gillis, who is Cammalleri's former agent. "With the relationship he and I have, I thought we could get him signed to a longer-term contract. But it didn't work out."

Nothing worked out for Gillis on the trade front.

"It was pretty difficult when you don't have a third- or a fourth-round pick," Gillis said. "It just became more challenging. I didn't want to give up any more picks from this year because with the circumstances this summer I felt it was important to keep all five. We tried with picks from next year but it just wasn't going to to work. We had to live with what we could live with."

What may prove even more frustrating for Canuck fans was Gillis's decision to pass on wild child Kyle Beach, the bruising, skilled forward with local roots and a mountain of upside.

Instead Gillis went with Brampton, Ont., forward Cody Hodgson, considered a safe pick whose "leadership ability" is apparently off the charts. He's an Easterner whose potential tops out as a second liner, adding yet another small forward to the Canucks' stable full of them.

A comparable move was made last year when Nonis passed on supposed headache David Perron for two-way forward Patrick White.

Gillis said he wasn't concerned by a potentially negative reaction to the team's conservative performance at the draft from fans in Vancouver. He said change is coming and vowed to be aggressive when free agency begins on July 1.

But change may not be as easy as some people think.

"We want to try and win as quickly as possible, but it's tough to get those players," said Gillis."It's tough to get players who help you immediately. But we're working on a bunch of different things and we have an opportunity on July 1. If you can't get it done this way, you have to get it done other ways."

Teams persisted all weekend in the belief that the Canucks were offering Kevin Bieksa in a deal but Gillis said he wasn't ready to trade a roster player.

"I wasn't prepared to give up a player off of our roster or our developmental players at this point in time for what was going on," he said."I fully anticipate change. The problem is you have to let it come to you sometimes, you can't just manufacture it. If it isn't there or it's stupid or it's ridiculous to do, then you don't do it."

Gillis got his share of "ridiculous" offers, as several general managers tried to fleece the green Canuck executive early in the weekend. Other executives tried to frustrate him by starting rumours, like the bad one regarding the Sedin twins being shopped. It was a brush fire ignited and spread by a couple of general managers.

"We don't have a whole lot of room to move players anyway," Gillis said."People are coming up with rumours about players who we're trying to move [but] ... we're pretty limited. It's difficult when you're limited like that.

"You have to grow your own assets. You have to develop your own players all the time. That's why teams like San Jose are always dealing from a position of strength. They've got lots of players."
© The Vancouver Province 2008


The last quote, about growing your own assets...wasn't that what Nonis was trying to do?

I'm just saying Nonis deserved one more year.