Signed Hamhuis and Garrison .. which many teams were after. And they signed for less dollars. The Lappy and Higgins deal were great.. bringing in Torres was a perfect move at the time.

Pretty much every contract he has signed has been very good... his drafting has been pretty decent too. Everyone rips on it.. but its not easy drafting in the 25-30 range every year. Hodgson was good drafting... bringing in Tanev was money. Just signed Ericcson (sp) Heck.. he won a GM of the year award.. voted by his peers.. so obviously they felt he did something right.

Has brought in some good behind the scene type guys.. sleep doctor.. sports psychiatrists.. other sports therapists. Renovated the dressing room to an amazing level.. (don't underestimate small stuff like that, means a lot to players)

He hasn't been perfect.. but not many GMs have been. The ballard trade looks worse than it is because AV ruined him. The worst thing he has done.. is not fire AV sooner. Not many people were ripping on him for the Lu contract.. many were giving him praise for getting it so cap friendly.. as many though Lu would be in the 6.5-7 million range for cap hit.

He has brought this team to within 1 game of winning the cup.. closer than 99.9 percent of the GMs have done within this organization.

That being said.. I give him 1 or 2 more seasons before he gets let go.

He definitely isn't the greatest GM of all time.. but come on... what the (frank) is with you people.. he has done some great things for this organization.
- kneughter

I think most people are referring to his handling of the Luongo situation which IMO has not been very good. In fact i think it's very bad.

You honestly think the Northwest division is the weakest? The southeast is.. by far.

It has been for a couple of years. Even when Washington was at its peak.. winning the division.. and losing in the first round.

Plus from 1 thru 10.. the East is much weaker than the West. Typical East bias... barely watching any west games. I actually have to watch eastern garbage on a regular basis.
- kneughter

Just curious -- who makes you watch Eatern games?

Canuck fans set and expect a pretty high standard
- Canada Cup

All fans should expect the highest of standards for your club. That's the whole point of playing the games isn't it? Leafs have pretty much been the laughing stock of the league for the past 40+ years yet their fans are the most critical of other teams, but they fail to criticize their own???

They definitely have some good young pieces, but lets be honest, they made the playoffs because of John Tavares. Their CURRENT lack of NHL defensemen is troublesome, they have NO NHL caliber goaltending at the moment.

Some great young prospects yes, but they need some serious help to continue moving forward.
- LeftCoaster

like you said...great prospect pool and potential...no goalie, no defense...youre away the offseason hasnt even begun, correct?

All fans should expect the highest of standards for your club. That's the whole point of playing the games isn't it? Leafs have pretty much been the laughing stock of the league for the past 40+ years yet their fans are the most critical of other teams, but they fail to criticize their own???
- LeftCoaster

I think most people are referring to his handling of the Luongo situation which IMO has not been very good. In fact i think it's very bad.
- Cptmjl

Don't think you'll get many arguments on that, that said, his body of work entails much more than the Luongo situation.

It would probably have to be one legit prospect (Nino/Nelson) 1 top 6 forward (Okposo, Bailey, F Nielsen) and a 2nd round or weak prospect.

That would be fair for a top 2 D man... and a legit number 1 goalie.

You think too much? Canucks need scoring.. and help at C
- kneughter

lock it up!!!!

All fans should expect the highest of standards for your club. That's the whole point of playing the games isn't it? Leafs have pretty much been the laughing stock of the league for the past 40+ years yet their fans are the most critical of other teams, but they fail to criticize their own???
- LeftCoaster

Uhm -- Leaf fans eat their own. Canuck fans are pretty much the most arrogant group I've come across.

like you said...great prospect pool and potential...no goalie, no defense...youre away the offseason hasnt even begun, correct?
- LetsGoIsles

That is correct, Snow has the whole summer to address those needs. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to an active some on the NHL front!

Uhm -- Leaf fans eat their own. Canuck fans are pretty much the most arrogant group I've come across.
- Canada Cup

You've met all 3+ million of us?

I remember on HNIC radio on Sirius a year and a half ago when all the Luongo stuff started to go down there was a hockey insider on (sorry I forget who) who said that if someone offered a 4th round pick for Luongo with that horrible contract they should take it as they won't get much more. At the time I though the dude was nuts but it could end up they get worse than a 4th round pick

You honestly think the Northwest division is the weakest? The southeast is.. by far.

It has been for a couple of years. Even when Washington was at its peak.. winning the division.. and losing in the first round.

Plus from 1 thru 10.. the East is much weaker than the West. Typical East bias... barely watching any west games. I actually have to watch eastern garbage on a regular basis.
- kneughter

Oilers - Three #1 picks in a row with a #7 this year
Flames - A complete disaster in recent years and even more so now
Wild - Before Parise and Suter... enough said
Avs - When was the last time the Avs were any threat in the NW?

So yeah, the NW has been weak and the Canucks have been the direct beneficiaries of that.

The SE has been weak too, but at least it has been somewhat competitive from an inter-division POV.

Edit: Like I said, Gillis blew his chance and missed his window over the past few seasons. If you think Vancouver is going to be able to continue as they have been now that the divisions have been aligned and that Edm/Min/Col should be on the rise, YOU ARE DREAMING!

Don't think you'll get many arguments on that, that said, his body of works entails much more than the Luongo situation.
- LeftCoaster

Of course. As far as "worst GM in NHL history" that position is held by someone that I feel will never relinquish that crown. The very man who started Luongo's trip to your club.

You've met all 3+ million of us?
- LeftCoaster

The world met all of you a few years back...

You've met all 3+ million of us?
- LeftCoaster

I just assumed Scooby, Boinkers and Kneughter were representative of the entire fan base.

Oh and that American with the Indian Avatar, he's pretty cool too.

That is correct, Snow has the whole summer to address those needs. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to an active some on the NHL front!
- LeftCoaster

very much looking forward and would love to get my hands on schneider and edler

The world met all of you a few years back...
- Flyfreaky

you mean the 200 idiots who represent ALL of us right? Even though a lot of us have never lived in Vancouver. .....

They definitely have some good young pieces, but lets be honest, they made the playoffs because of John Tavares. Their CURRENT lack of NHL defensemen is troublesome, they have NO NHL caliber goaltending at the moment.

Some great young prospects yes, but they need some serious help to continue moving forward.
- LeftCoaster

If you think that then you were'nt watching the last couple of months. Not saying JT wasn't a part of the reason but he certainly wasn't THE REASON. Okposo, Bailey, and even Nabokov played unreal leading up to the PO's.

I just assumed Scooby, Boinkers and Kneughter were representative of the entire fan base.

Oh and that American with the Indian Avatar, he's pretty cool too.
- Canada Cup

I tend to like to speak for myself....thank you very much.

you mean the 200 idiots who represent ALL of us right? Even though a lot of us have never lived in Vancouver. .....
- LeftCoaster

Most Arab countries are adopting the "Vancouver Riot Protocol" when engaging in Jihad...

Uhm -- Leaf fans eat their own. Canuck fans are pretty much the most arrogant group I've come across.
- Canada Cup

I disagree. Both fan bases are equally neurotic. Vancouver fans are very tough on their team. The only year they weren't was 2010-11. It reminds me just like TO. Very similar fan bases - especially when Toronto is making the playoffs consistently like in the early 2000's.

If you think that then you were'nt watching the last couple of months. Not saying JT wasn't a part of the reason but he certainly wasn't THE REASON. Okposo, Bailey, and even Nabokov played unreal leading up to the PO's.
- Cptmjl

The team as a whole came together the second half of the season, but IMO, JT was the biggest reason they made it as the 8th seed. Without him there is no playoffs for you.

The world met all of you a few years back...
- Flyfreaky

I tend to like to speak for myself....thank you very much.
- LeftCoaster

I wouldn't put you in the same catagory as those guys --- but watch your step

If you think that then you were'nt watching the last couple of months. Not saying JT wasn't a part of the reason but he certainly wasn't THE REASON. Okposo, Bailey, and even Nabokov played unreal leading up to the PO's.
- Cptmjl

Okposo was playing quite well for them down the stretch. With a little more depth, the isles could really surprise a few in the east next year.