|
Canucks GM Mike Gillis was interested in Gaborik but couldn't match NYR deal
By Botchford 07-02-2009 COMMENTS(2) The White Towel
The Canucks looked into a scenario which would have seen them sign the Sedins and Marian Gaborik.
Despite a report earlier this week which suggested the Canucks had no interest in Gaborik — "none" — they looked into the possibility of handing him keys to The Garage.
But it became impossible when the New York Rangers stepped in and signed him to a five-year deal which will pay Gaborik $7.5 million a year. It's a deal that trumped Gaborik's interest in Vancouver and his investment in real estate here.
Both the money and the term surprised Canucks GM Mike Gillis.
"Long-term commitment at big money just didn't seem to make sense to me with that kind of injury history," Gillis said on TEAM 1040 Thursday
"Notwithstanding the fact we looked at those possibilities when you get to levels where you're paying those guys more than what you're paying your top guys here who are playing all the time, it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to me.
"We weren't going to go there and we couldn't go there because we weren't in a position to pay guys $7.5 (million a year)."
What likely would have made sense to the Canucks is a Gaborik deal with a term in the 1-3 year range and a cap hit of less than $6 million.
That would seem fair given Gaborik's injury history and the fact he only played 17 games last year
__________________
....
|