Do you know ANYTHING about hockey?

Blaming this coach for this team (and its performance) demonstrates you know nothing about this sport. (Like your trade rumours and playoff predictions, you consistently prove what little you know.)

Your list of "players we should trade for" is another example of your low HIQ. (You remind me of the guy who phoned into one of the radio gab shows a few years ago claiming the best / fairest trade would be Tony Tanti straight up for No. 99.)

Before you even start to discuss trade idea, go to capgeek.com and look at the salaries. Look at the cap numbers. See what you're getting, and what you need to unload to make it work.

On second thought... keep blogging. I live in BC and need a good laugh now and then.
- 2Over1Under

Tell us how you really feel.

Tell us how you really feel.
- Michael_Stuart

Dont hold back, friend. I can tell you are the kind that doesn't like to speak his mind....

Would you guys want Lindy ruff??? I wonder how he would do with the talent the nucks have

in true Jack Edwards fashion (mostly so you remember 2 years ago)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

AV has lost this team, yes!....time for him to go! this team has been in a major Slide, not just this game...the past month...team looks dis interest......

Can anyone else point to the EXACT &^$%^&* MOMENT THIS SLIDE HAPPENED.... MANNY MAHOLTRA'S FORCED RETIREMENT. THE Team is rebelling for how he was treated.
- Beatle_john

I've thought about this. It may have been a tipping point. There is a history building of disrespect from management and coach on Canucks past and present.

I think most people agree that pulling Manny out of the line up wasnt about safety. He refuses to to back Gillis on the eye speech. He went as far as saying it's no more dangerous for himself out there than any other player. Even though Manny has been sucking for a long time now, they go too far with demanding he's injured even though he's cleared and says it's not the problem.

For all we know, at this point Manny could be big for us in the face off circle building confidence and lessening the damage done by losing Kesler. The timing with the Kesler injury and Manny being yanked along with Volpatti being snagged is just more of the circus Gillis and AV have made this team now.

It's clear that what ever plan was made for this teams future was abandoned last seeason at the TDL and when they sat Luongo. Since then it's been a downward spiral. This summer is going to be painfull. There are free agents that could put this team over the top. The cap management everyone so proud of is going to be the nail in the cofffin next season.

Booth looked good tonight, I like how he goes to the net with the puck... Must have done it 3or4 times.
- Scooby_Doo

booth has been like this the past 4+ games... skates good, but thats it! , no points to show for......

Why not put booth on the top line? is his speed not consistent with the sedins?
Also, I hate how the blame always falls on the coach when a team starts losing, he's been succeeding with this group for a while, perhaps he has lost them although I find when that is said it is because of a lack of effort.
Im not chirping vancouver I am just wondering, I dont see enough of them to put myself in a position to do so.

Do you know ANYTHING about hockey?
- 2Over1Under

All of this and yet you offer nothing. Please tell us great Deep Thought, what is the ultimate answer to the ultimate question?

Do you know ANYTHING about hockey?

Blaming this coach for this team (and its performance) demonstrates you know nothing about this sport. (Like your trade rumours and playoff predictions, you consistently prove what little you know.)

- 2Over1Under

100% Agree with this. Blaming AV is mind boggling to me and how Esplen actually got people to agree with him on this even more so. Do you remember back to back President's Trophies? Post like this drive me nuts and make me sad to be a Canucks fan. This is why we can't have nice things...

Canucks are first in the division, and yes, absolutely going through a tough 10 games stretch but you can hardly point to the coach considering such a small sample size.

Esplen did you even stop to consider that maybe the Canucks slide has something to do with the loss of a healthy Kesler, Bieksa or even the off-season departure of Sami Salo (who was in my opinion vastly underrated here.)

My opinion - the Canucks are in need of a solid 2nd line centre who can fill in for Kess - until then they are going to have their ups and downs...but hopefully more ups.

100% Agree with this. Blaming AV is mind boggling to me and how Esplen actually got people to agree with him on this even more so. Do you remember back to back President's Trophies? Post like this drive me nuts and make me sad to be a Canucks fan. This is why we can't have nice things...

Canucks are first in the division, and yes, absolutely going through a tough 10 games stretch but you can hardly point to the coach considering such a small sample size.

Esplen did you even stop to consider that maybe the Canucks slide has something to do with the loss of a healthy Kesler, Bieksa or even the off-season departure of Sami Salo (who was in my opinion vastly underrated here.)

My opinion - the Canucks are in need of a solid 2nd line centre who can fill in for Kess - until then they are going to have their ups and downs...but hopefully more ups.
- geeincognito

You can only win so much with a coach, then they tune him out...at some point coaches expire, in that sense...AV looks tuned out....this past month, the team is in a spiral..tonites Game was bad! the last place team.....a LOSS, not only this game....the last few, were bad

Do you know ANYTHING about hockey?

Blaming this coach for this team (and its performance) demonstrates you know nothing about this sport. (Like your trade rumours and playoff predictions, you consistently prove what little you know.)

Your list of "players we should trade for" is another example of your low HIQ. (You remind me of the guy who phoned into one of the radio gab shows a few years ago claiming the best / fairest trade would be Tony Tanti straight up for No. 99.)

Before you even start to discuss trade idea, go to capgeek.com and look at the salaries. Look at the cap numbers. See what you're getting, and what you need to unload to make it work.

On second thought... keep blogging. I live in BC and need a good laugh now and then.
- 2Over1Under

I'm going to warn you that being a jerk to the blogger isn't permitted. If you disagree, articulate why. Calling some one stupid is cheap and easy, but doesn't really contribute.

ALAIN VIGNEAULT IS NOT THE PROBLEM, ITS THE PLAYERS!!!!!!!
BLAME GILLIS!!!!

Ian, the team just isnt as good as previous years. This falls on Mike Gillis.

-Sami Salo, should of retired a Canuck, was low balled and left. Now he's Tampas best Defensman. He was our best defenseman the last 5 years, and a right handed shot. He was key on the Canuck PP and PK.
Gillis thought he would get Justin Schultz, a right handed BC kid, lost the gamble, already set Salo free, and had to settle and overpay for Jason Garrison on the open market. No one can say Garrison is better even though he's 10 years younger.

-Mikeal Samuelsson, was cocky, had swagger, had never been as productive in his career as he was as a Canuck. He moved up and down the lineup, More importantly he is a sniper, a right handed shot who can play the point on the second unit. He's a winner, vet with experience, just the player this team needed and needs, and as soon as he has an injury, Gillis bails on him because he's "too old" and trades him for an over paid, under acheiving soft, hands of stone, never been to the playoffs, never done anything, rather go hunting David Booth. This team has to many choir boys, not enough edge, so lets get rid of our cock vet with winning edge and a leathal shot, the best shot on the team? The guy single handedly beat the Kings in 2010, scored like 12 points in the series!

-Raffi Torres, the guy was a spark plug, a chusher. He hit the other teams best players, made player play scared, he had character, was cocky with swagger, and has a history of being a big game player(Oilers '06). So Gillis lets him go for nothing, why? because he has an attitude? We have enough choir boys Gillis! Torres would move up and down the lineup, very versatile.

-Christian Ehrhoff, the guy is dynamic, he get 5 mill per year, Ballard makes 4 mill per and is our 6 D man. I know the Sabre gave him 10 mill signing bonus, but he's dynamic, he had chemistry , had a leathal shot and chemistry with this team. You couldnt move Ballard for him! No, you sign Garrison to a 6 year 5 mill per, the same cap hit as Ehrhoff!, Ehrhoff is 10 times better then Garrison. The Canucks are one of the richest teams in the league, owners net worth aprox, 5 billion and we get high balled by Pegula. Why couldnt you make Ehrhoff feel like a part of our core, and important, maybe he would of fore went the crazy signing bonus. The Sedin's won 2 consecutive scoring titles 112pts, and 105 pts with him quarterbacking the backend, they had the best PP in the Effin league!

-Mikael Grabner, a 34 goal scorer rookie of the year candidate, fastest skater in the league, traded for Keith Effin Ballard!

-Roberto Luongo, Why is this guy not moved yet!

Summary
Mike Gillis has made poor talent evaluations of players outside this organization. He has also Not appreciated the talent that had fallen in his lap in house, letting it go for unproven Flordia Panther scraps. And we as Canuck fans wonder why this team isnt winning anymore. Its Gillis, he's gutting this team for no reason of its character and chemistry, they had an elite team, now the just another playoff team, thank Gillis.

Who wants to fire Gillis?

YES

NO

ALAIN VIGNEAULT IS NOT THE PROBLEM, ITS THE PLAYERS!!!!!!!
BLAME GILLIS!!!!

Ian, the team just isnt as good as previous years. This falls on Mike Gillis.

-Sami Salo, should of retired a Canuck, was low balled and left. He was our best defenseman the last 5 years, and a right handed shot. He was key on the Canuck PP and PK.
Gillis thought he would get Justin Schultz, a right handed BC kid, lost the gamble, already set Salo free, and had to settle and overpay for Jason Garrison on the open market. No one can say Garrison is better even though he's 10 years younger.

-Mikeal Samuelsson, was cocky, had swagger, had never been as productive in his career as he was as a Canuck. He moved up and down the lineup, More importantly he is a sniper, a right handed shot who can play the point on the second unit. He's a winner, vet with experience, just the player this team needed and needs, and as soon as he has an injury, Gillis bails on him because he's "too old" and trades him for an over paid, under acheiving soft, hands of stone, never been to the playoffs, never done anything, rather go hunting David Booth. This team has to many choir boys, not enough edge, so lets get rid of our cock vet with winning edge and a leathal shot, the best shot on the team? The guy single handedly beat the Kings in 2010, scored like 12 points in the series!

-Raffi Torres, the guy was a spark plug, a chusher. The hit the other teams best players, made player play scared, he had character, was cocky with swagger, and has a history of being a big game player(Oilers '06). So Gillis lets him go for nothing, why? because he has and attitude? We have enough choir boys Gillis! Torres would move up and down the lineup, very versatile.

-Christian Ehrhoff, the guy is dynamic, he get 5 mill per year, Ballard makes 4 mill per and is our 6 D man. I know the Sabre gave him 10 mill signing bonus, but he's dynamic, he had chemistry , had a leathal shot and chemistry with this team. You couldnt move Ballard for him! No, you sign Garrison to a 6 year 5 mill per, the same cap hit as Ehrhoff!, Ehrhoff is 10 times better then Garrison. The Canucks are one of the richest teams in the league, owners net worth aprox, 5 billion and we get high balled by Pegula. Why couldnt you make Ehrhoff feel like a part of our core, and important, maybe he would of fore went the crazy signing bonus. The Sedin's won 2 consecutive scoring titles 112pts, and 105 pts with him quarterbacking the backend, they had the best PP in the Effin league!

-Mikael Grabner, a 34 goal scorer rookie of the year candidate, fastest skater in the league, traded for Keith Effin Ballard!

-Roberto Luongo, Why is this guy not moved yet!

Summary
Mike Gillis has made poor talent evaluations of players outside this organization. He has also Not appreciated the talent that had fallen in his lap in house, letting it go for unproven Flordia Panther scraps. And we as Canuck fans wonder why this team isnt winning anymore. It Gillis, he gutting this team for no reason of its character and chemistry, they had an elite team, now the just another playoff team, thank Gillis.

Who wants to fire Gillis?

YES

NO
- gunner2233

I'll give you Raffi and maybe Ehrhoff. Salo and Samuelsson were pretty borderline when they left. Health wasn't their strong point. Ehrhoff was got a pretty fat deal, cat hit aside. I wanted to keep him, but 10 years for that guy is weird.

I'll give you Raffi and maybe Ehrhoff. Salo and Samuelsson were pretty borderline when they left. Health wasn't their strong point. Ehrhoff was got a pretty fat deal, cat hit aside. I wanted to keep him, but 10 years for that guy is weird.
- micah555

I know, they overpaid. We had him, he was our most talented Dman, and Gillis didnt convince him, I blame Gillis. I personally like Samuelsson and Salo even now, they have leadership and leathal shots, we dont finish in crucial clutch situations as much. Sedin's used to always set those guys up for one timers. Even if they both play half the year, id rather have them then what we got now. Also Grabner was brutal, we develop the guy, then trade him for a 4 mill per season 6th Dman Ballard. What was he thinking? Grabner was a PPG down the stretch with Kesler, Raymond that year.

Salo, Samuelsson, Ehrhoff, all leathal shots, we dont have them anymore, we dont clutch up as much, or score as much, thats why... Personel decisions by Gillis. Coach can only do so much. The teams competing, there just not elite or dominant offensively anymore. Thus not elite anymore. 2011 was the apex of there talent, and the organization has made decisions to trade away high end skill, even Hodgson, though I at least like Kassian.

I know, they overpaid. We had him, he was our most talented Dman, and Gillis didnt convince him, I blame Gillis. I personally like Samuelsson and Salo even now, they have leadership and leathal shots, we dont finish in crucial clutch situations as much. Sedin's used to always set those guys up for one timers. Even if they both play half the year, id rather have them then what we got now. Also Grabner was brutal, we develop the guy, then trade him for a 4 mill per season 6th Dman Ballard. What was he thinking? Grabner was a PPG down the stretch with Kesler, Raymond that year.

Salo, Samuelsson, Ehrhoff, all leathal shots, we dont have them anymore, we dont clutch up as much, or score as much, thats why... Personel decisions by Gillis. Coach can only do so much. The teams competing, there just not elite or dominant offensively anymore. Thus not elite anymore. 2011 was the apex of there talent, and the organization has made decisions to trade away high end skill, even Hodgson, though I at least like Kassian.
- gunner2233

you dont want saumelsson, been hurt ever since he got back here.

you dont want saumelsson, been hurt ever since he got back here.
- wingz4life

I just like that guy, he's such a gamer when he's healthy, one hell of a player. Hopefully he heals up.

I just like that guy, he's such a gamer when he's healthy, one hell of a player. Hopefully he heals up.
- gunner2233

Given this: "I didn’t think very highly of management, so in that way I didn’t mind."
I doubt he'd be welcomed back this soon.

Given this: "I didn’t think very highly of management, so in that way I didn’t mind."
I doubt he'd be welcomed back this soon.
- Michael_Stuart

Exactly, management, Mike Gillis. He's the common denominator. I think AV is doing what he can with the team he has. Your probably right, I dont think Gillis would trade back for him. I think from my observation he got along fine with his teammates.. Especially the Sedins. I always respected Samuelsson's freedom of expression. Like when he told the Swedish Olympic Management to go Fu%k themselves for not selecting him to there squad over the likes of washed up Freddie Modin what were they thinking, the guy came off a Cup with Detroit and scored 30 with Van on the 2nd/3rd line that year.

Given this: "I didn’t think very highly of management, so in that way I didn’t mind."
I doubt he'd be welcomed back this soon.
- Michael_Stuart

yeah

Given this: "I didn’t think very highly of management, so in that way I didn’t mind."
I doubt he'd be welcomed back this soon.
- Michael_Stuart

Definitely a gamer. Said that about some other management and then played the best he's ever played.

Exactly, management, Mike Gillis. He's the common denominator. I think AV is doing what he can with the team he has. Your probably right, I dont think Gillis would trade back for him. I think from my observation he got along fine with his teammates.. Especially the Sedins. I always respected Samuelsson's freedom of expression.
- gunner2233

Please... The failures of AV existed before Gillis even got here. Anyone who can't see how he butchers the line-up on a nightly basis is (frank)ing blind.

OK, I need to ask; what the (frank) was Henrik thinking on Calvert's GWG? He just allowed him to walk right in completely unobstructed and wire that puck past Schneider. He wasn't even going to cover a man. In fact, he fell back and stood beside the Dman (Tanev, I believe). In what world does that make sense?! Of course, the blame isn't to be completely shouldered by him as Edler got absolutely undressed, but that was just sloppy as hell! I feel like that's the time that a coach needs to step in and throw the hammer down. Now, I don't claim to know what goes on behind closed doors, but it just doesn't seem like AV is doing that. Is that part of why many of you want him gone with a burning passion?

Definitely a gamer. Said that about some other management and then played the best he's ever played.
- micah555

hes part of what I know called the "Old Man Trio"

Cleary, Samuelsson, Bertuzzi

these players are either shells of their former selves or injured all the time.

Please... The failures of AV existed before Gillis even got here. Anyone who can't see how he butchers the line-up on a nightly basis is (frank)ing blind.
- DrChristianTroy

ok but he's guided them to there most success, so what are you comparing him too? The Stanley Cup Champions of every year. Because that pretty much the teams he loses to Ana Chi Bos LA, all went through Van for the Cup with AV as coach. And truthfully, I cant say the Canucks were ever better then those Cup winners. Maybe your expectations for AV to improve the Canucks are to high. The Canucks pretty much do what they should do almost every year, sometimes they even over achieve. I dont see the Canucks as ever underacheiving under AV, the contrary. They got a east coast hockey leaguer undrafted on there first line, Booth doesnt have instincts, Keslers always injured, Bieksas hurt, Hansen plays top 6? Just look at the record man, dispite all the injuries and sh%t through the years. I know you can question his methods. But with all due respect, who are you to measure AV's failures? You know the Canucks lineup better then a 2 time coach of the year?