The only quote that should be next to a Stephan A. pic should be something to the tune of "It is only because he is black...."

ESPN's professional racist.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Have you seen his opinion on jeremy lin?

If Lu is your starting goalie for the next decade, what's the point in having three excellent guys behind them?

They are going to rot on the vine.
- Atomic Wedgie

Or we get a top 9 pick for each lol

Can anyone officialy confirm that Glen Gulutzan is one of Tortarella's Assistants? His wiki page says he is a Canucks assistant and there are a few articles that says it a very good possiblity that him and Sullivan will be that assistants but the Canucks home page doesn't have him or Sullivan and I can't find any articles that state he has offically been hired. I was on holidays for a bit in the beginning of July. Did I miss something? Gulutzan would be great assistant coach!

Lu will retire

Can anyone officialy confirm that Glen Gulutzan is one of Tortarella's Assistants? His wiki page says he is a Canucks assistant and there are a few articles that says it a very good possiblity that him and Sullivan will be that assistants but the Canucks home page doesn't have him or Sullivan and I can't find any articles that state he has offically been hired. I was on holidays for a bit in the beginning of July. Did I miss something? Gulutzan would be great assistant coach!
- fiveandagame

There was a Sun article about them finalizing a contract, and then all I could find was an old tweet from Dreger...

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Tortorella, Sullivan and Gulutzan will call the shots from the Canucks bench next season.

There was a Sun article about them finalizing a contract, and then all I could find was an old tweet from Dreger...

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Tortorella, Sullivan and Gulutzan will call the shots from the Canucks bench next season.
- Fosco

Nice.

Dominik Hasek was the best of all time. 6 Vezinas, 2 Hart Trophies, Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold. Highest career save percentage of all time. Lowest goals against average in the modern era.

Roy has more cups because he played for great teams. Hasek didn't have that luxury until the end of his career.
- KB3Point0

You could make a case for Hasek, but i wouldn't suggest the Hab teams Roy played for were great and he got them to the cup 3 times and won twice. The second time he won the cup he also won 11 consecutive overtime playoff games. ( That's as clutch as it gets)

Hasek did win a cup, but as a backup (although he carried Buffalo there earlier). Either way, they both rank well ahead of Lu.

Pass it to Bulis ‏@passittobulis
New #PITB! Betting site favours Maple Leafs ahead of Canucks for 2014 Stanley Cup http://bit.ly/13mS2yY #Canucks

Pass it to Bulis ‏@passittobulis
New #PITB! Betting site favours Maple Leafs ahead of Canucks for 2014 Stanley Cup http://bit.ly/13mS2yY #Canucks
- AlexF

We'll see.

Could be a renaissance season or it could be darker than the Keenan/Messier years, only time will tell. I'm hoping for the best and trying to ignore my cynic.

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports 6h
Unrestricted free agent defenseman Andrew Alberts talking with teams including the #Canucks about a deal.

Wouldn't mind this, but I hope it's less than $1million a season...

Pass it to Bulis ‏@passittobulis
New #PITB! Betting site favours Maple Leafs ahead of Canucks for 2014 Stanley Cup http://bit.ly/13mS2yY #Canucks
- AlexF

Bit of a surprise, but not too farfetched. I disagree with it.

I'm sure there's some bias involved.

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports 6h
Unrestricted free agent defenseman Andrew Alberts talking with teams including the #Canucks about a deal.

Wouldn't mind this, but I hope it's less than $1million a season...
- Fosco

Agreed. If he can sign for say 750k for 2 seasons I'd be ok with that.

We'll see.

Could be a renaissance season or it could be darker than the Keenan/Messier years, only time will tell. I'm hoping for the best and trying to ignore my cynic.
- Marwood

I'm in the same boat right now but am giving it until the start of the season before either praising or writing off this team. There is still time for Gillis to make a move or two. Would really like to see Brunner get signed at the rumored $3m mark, as long as the term isn't too long.

Agreed. If he can sign for say 750k for 2 seasons I'd be ok with that.
- AlexF

Don't think he'd sign for that low, considering he made $1.2 the last two seasons.

He's a decent depth guy who brings a physical edge that the Canucks really don't have in any other player on the team or in the system (maybe Polasek to a lesser degree, and I don't know too much about the Williamson kid they just drafted).

Anything less than $1million and I'll be ok with it. Anything over and I'd rather they go with a prospect for D depth.

I'm in the same boat right now but am giving it until the start of the season before either praising or writing off this team. There is still time for Gillis to make a move or two. Would really like to see Brunner get signed at the rumored $3m mark, as long as the term isn't too long.
- AlexF

There's also the bonus cushion for players over 35, which allows teams to go over the cap by %7.5 with an incentive laden contract.

If the players reach those bonuses, the extra cap slides to the next season.

Could end up just pushing cap issues back a year, but it opens up a few more options, and the cap could always go up next season or they could use their other compliance buy out if need be to solve that problem if it comes about.

Also a chance the player doesn't reach those incentives.

There are a few interesting over 35 UFAs still available. Selanne (probably only considering ANH), Hejduk, Jagr come to mind...

Being a media member has been pretty cool. Got to see the rodeo up close, talk with real cowboys and go to an art auction.
- IanEsplen

Those are things anyone can do, and what is a real cowboy?

Don't think he'd sign for that low, considering he made $1.2 the last two seasons.

He's a decent depth guy who brings a physical edge that the Canucks really don't have in any other player on the team or in the system (maybe Polasek to a lesser degree, and I don't know too much about the Williamson kid they just drafted).

Anything less than $1million and I'll be ok with it. Anything over and I'd rather they go with a prospect for D depth.
- Fosco

You can't have enough D depth. I like Alberts. He is a perfect 7/8 guy.

There's also the bonus cushion for players over 35, which allows teams to go over the cap by %7.5 with an incentive laden contract.

If the players reach those bonuses, the extra cap slides to the next season.

Could end up just pushing cap issues back a year, but it opens up a few more options, and the cap could always go up next season or they could use their other compliance buy out if need be to solve that problem if it comes about.

Also a chance the player doesn't reach those incentives.

There are a few interesting over 35 UFAs still available. Selanne (probably only considering ANH), Hejduk, Jagr come to mind...
- Fosco

I would be interested in Hejduk. The Canucks could use a goalscorer. I just wonder if he has enough gas in the tank to contribute in the top 6.

Good blog. Maybe a little optimistic thinking at times but clearly backs up your point of view.

You can't have enough D depth. I like Alberts. He is a perfect 7/8 guy.
- fiveandagame

Agreed. Hopefully he's willing to accept a slight pay cut due to the lower cap.

I would be interested in Hejduk. The Canucks could use a goalscorer. I just wonder if he has enough gas in the tank to contribute in the top 6.
- fiveandagame

Yeah, I think it's an option they should at least explore.

It's definitely a risk, but I would be happier with them taking a risk on an older player who's shown the ability to still put up points at this stage in their career than going into the season lacking a top6 puck distributing forward.

Obviously a guaranteed contract would be more attractive to any of these players...

Pass it to Bulis ‏@passittobulis
New #PITB! Betting site favours Maple Leafs ahead of Canucks for 2014 Stanley Cup http://bit.ly/13mS2yY #Canucks
- AlexF

Not in a million years..
We have a legend goalie...

im sure people have. its just that no matter what the canucks do he's 100% behind it,selling it as if its genius. Even Canuck fans are concerned with Luongo's state of mind and Gillis GM skills, and yet Ian the Village idiot writes that Gillis is telling Luongo that He'll play in Vancouver and like it or else.

Any Village idiot can write that everything is rosy and that the Team is a shoe-in for the Stanley Cup, and that every prospect is a guaranteed star in the making, but most of us know its not that simple

Ian writes like we as fans are as clueless as he is
- joeyp

If you have an issue with Ian's blogs, it's as simple as not reading them.

It's all opinion, just like any other post here.

There's no reason to be an ass about it—not only do you come off as a whiny little peach, you will probably get a ban when Micah reads that you've insulted the blogger without offering any constructive criticism...

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports 6h
Unrestricted free agent defenseman Andrew Alberts talking with teams including the #Canucks about a deal.

Wouldn't mind this, but I hope it's less than $1million a season...
- Fosco

With MG as our gm he will probably sign him for 1 mil for the next 3 years and tanev 2 mil + for 6 years and ntc

If you have an issue with Ian's blogs, it's as simple as not reading them.

It's all opinion, just like any other post here.

There's no reason to be an ass about it—not only do you come off as a whiny little peach, you will probably get a ban when Micah reads that you've insulted the blogger without offering any constructive criticism...
- Fosco

Your too nice
You should really be a ref

With MG as our gm he will probably sign him for 1 mil for the next 3 years and tanev 2 mil + for 6 years and ntc
- RF_4eva

Brendan Smith just signed a 2 year deal at 1.25 per. I see Tanev signing pretty much the same contract. +/- 100K.