The new owner is a billionaire competetive SOB who would love nothing more than to win a stanley cup... he is friends with francesco aquilini... and rumor is... they have a substantial bet of who will win the cup first. You better believe he is going to match any and all offer sheets and then turn around and offer sheet your best player at the league max.
- kneughter

He is absolutely NOT friends with Aquilini. The Aquilinis squeezed him out of their 'partnership' before buying the Canucks and he took them to court over it. He will match any offer Gillis would put up; he will never let the Canucks have Benn.

If we don't get Doan, I'm game for offering Benn 4-5mill/ offersheet. I would even give Doan a time limit so that if he chooses not to play here, he won't be handcuffing you for other moves
- I-own_da-Northwest

Dallas would probably spend a day laughing at Gillis, and then match that offer. If you want any chance of stealing Benn, it would have to be at least 6.5-7 million long term, with a lot of front loaded money.

Dallas would probably spend a day laughing at Gillis, and then match that offer. If you want any chance of stealing Benn, it would have to be at least 6.5-7 million long term, with a lot of front loaded money.
- hertzman

Really? I bet an offer of about 5.75 for say 6 yrs they wouldn't match. Front load the leafs out of it. That's a ton of money for a guy that has potential to be a 1st liner.

I couldnt get on HB earlier so I assumed big news and sure enough...

I hope Weber spends every day of his 14 year sentence in Nashville. He could have been a UFA if they matched the offer that Gillis proposed and signed with who ever he wanted. The money would still be there on the open market. He must really be sour on the present Canucks.

I couldnt get on HB earlier so I assumed big news and sure enough...

I hope Weber spends every day of his 14 year sentence in Nashville. He could have been a UFA if they matched the offer that Gillis proposed and signed with who ever he wanted. The money would still be there on the open market. He must really be sour on the present Canucks.
- boonerbuck

Let him be. A few of the guys he likely has a problem with are fan favourites, and have done a lot for this team.

If Weber's issues with those guys are enough to dissuade him from wanting to play for the Canucks, he wasn't the right fit for this team.

I couldnt get on HB earlier so I assumed big news and sure enough...

I hope Weber spends every day of his 14 year sentence in Nashville. He could have been a UFA if they matched the offer that Gillis proposed and signed with who ever he wanted. The money would still be there on the open market. He must really be sour on the present Canucks.
- boonerbuck

I don't think it's all about us (Canucks) where this circus is concerned. If you are a UFA in 1 year's time but you're accepting an offer sheet now from a team, you would have to believe that the term and $ were what he was looking for and either location would be acceptable.

Anything less that than that would indicate one or both of two things:

1) Weber is terrified that the new CBA will severely impact his ability to sign long term and for big $ and therefore he was willing to chance it
2) Weber is an idiot

Really? I bet an offer of about 5.75 for say 6 yrs they wouldn't match. Front load the leafs out of it. That's a ton of money for a guy that has potential to be a 1st liner.
- Bieksa#3

They'd match that. Benn IS top liner material, there's no potential about it. They had him shifting and sometimes double shifting up and down all 3 lines last year due to injuries. Agree with Herzman, it'll have to be 6m+ and even then...

He is absolutely NOT friends with Aquilini. The Aquilinis squeezed him out of their 'partnership' before buying the Canucks and he took them to court over it. He will match any offer Gillis would put up; he will never let the Canucks have Benn.
- Vagabond

Thats why I believe there is nothing to lose. Put together a big offer sheet. Benn is only 23 with a ton of upside still. Dump Booth if need be after the Lu trade....

This Doan hold up is getting on my nerves now. He`s worth the wait but not if he`s still trying to decide in Sept.

Thats why I believe there is nothing to lose. Put together a big offer sheet. Benn is only 23 with a ton of upside still. Dump Booth if need be after the Lu trade....

This Doan hold up is getting on my nerves now. He`s worth the wait but not if he`s still trying to decide in Sept.
- boonerbuck

Me too. If he does go back to Phoenix, or to another team besides the Canucks, I wouldn't mind seeing Gillis send a big offer sheet, similarly structured to the Weber deal, to Benn.

Benn is the type of top-end talent that the Canucks prospect pool is missing. He could take over after the Sedins retire and guys like Kassian, Jensen, Schroeder, and Gaunce would be great complimentary players—as I don't think more than 1 or 2 of those guys at best will be 1st liners.

Edit: I guess if Doan takes too long, and that is who Gillis is waiting on, that would eliminate the possibility of an offer sheet to Benn.

Let him be. A few of the guys he likely has a problem with are fan favourites, and have done a lot for this team.

If Weber's issues with those guys are enough to dissuade him from wanting to play for the Canucks, he wasn't the right fit for this team.
- Fosco

I`d be concerned about that myself.

Thats why I believe there is nothing to lose. Put together a big offer sheet. Benn is only 23 with a ton of upside still. Dump Booth if need be after the Lu trade....

This Doan hold up is getting on my nerves now. He`s worth the wait but not if he`s still trying to decide in Sept.
- boonerbuck

I'd rather have Benn than Doan for the longer term of this team. If Gillis were going to offer sheet Benn he would've done it already IMO. I doubt Doan would be holding up that option.

Re Luongo, if this drags on into August I'm preparing for life with him back in a Canucks sweater. Any good deal would be a bonus rather than the expectation.

He will never play for the Canucks as long as AV is the coach -- as in: he'll not get a chance to prove himself.
- Vagabond

AV loves Quebec players.

Maybe the Lapiere you are used to seeing with the Habs, but the Lapiere in Vancouver is not that player. He led the team in hits last year with 244, PIM with 130 (fighting Majors with 7) and he added a decent dose of offence from the 4th line.
Not saying he is a better player than Marchand, but he has shown greater character in the past year.
- 1970vintage

I'll say it for you then "He is better by far than Marchand"

AV loves Quebec players.
- VANTEL

Yeah, and Mallet seems to play a style that AV likes. I'd say Mallet eventually has a chance to be one of "AV's boys."

Still don't think he'll crack the big club this season, but I'd love to be pleasantly surprised.

Really? I bet an offer of about 5.75 for say 6 yrs they wouldn't match. Front load the leafs out of it. That's a ton of money for a guy that has potential to be a 1st liner.
- Bieksa#3

That actually looks pretty cheap for Benn. I'm 100% sure they would match. Look at what people are offering a 35+ Doan. Benn is 23, physical and threatening to break out into a PPG player. No way they let him go if we offer what is basically market value for him if he were a UFA.

I came home from China and went almost immediately back to the Middle East, didn't like the job in China. Dirty smelly disgusting living conditions there!

Heading back home tomorrow to Victoria, I'm exhausted. Need some RNR! I'm a member at Gorge Vale, gonna get my money's worth this time home.

Taking the Mrs down to Pebble Beach for two nights, includes a round of golf there, trying to mend some fences with her she's...well how should I put it...unhappy with me at the moment!
- LeftCoaster

Good life

AV loves Quebec players.
- VANTEL

AV is equal opportunity when it comes to rookies/young players: he doesn't give any of them a good chance to succeed.

Well, if Lou isn't OK with it then I guess he'll just have to waive his NTC completely in order to give Gillis a wider range of teams to trade him to. Lou signed the contract as well.....so he can't really say trade me now and there are only 3 teams i'll waive for. Maybe after 20 games in which he gets only 2 starts playing in Columbus will be an attractive option.
- golfingsince

wtf?!?! who are you?

wtf?!?! who are you?
- RealityChecker

No kidding. I always thought that was your alt. account.

I thought that post was fairly polite in comparison to so many others. Opinionated, but polite.
- AlexF

me too . I didn't even pay attention to it. The best report to a mod was still the time Scooby reported Juice to ban himself

No kidding. I always thought that was your alt. account.
- Fosco

Are people really that into HB that they have alt accounts?

Are people really that into HB that they have alt accounts?
- AlexF

The people who get banned a lot do

I love Lapierre. Guys like him are the reason that you don't pay $2.5m for guys like Prust. For half the price, you so much more for your buck. Sure, he's not the greatest fighter, but he gives it his all and his commitment is unquestionable.
- micah555

I'll say it for you then "He is better by far than Marchand"
- VANTEL

I was just being polite.

Are people really that into HB that they have alt accounts?
- AlexF

Not that I'm speaking from experience, by try getting yourself an extended ban, say 6 months. Now that you are used to the conversation, could you go 6 months without a fix?