Did I say they handled it properly? I said their hands were tied as he wouldn't accept a trade to anywhere but Florida last summer when they apparently had an offer on the table from the Leafs. They didn't receive a single offer after the new CBA came out that didn't require them to eat some of his salary and cap hit.

The biggest mistake Gillis made was not educating Luongo better on the market last summer. Luongo needed to be made very aware of the fact there was no interest from either Florida team and that there wouldn't be interest from them. Or course, with his ego he still might not have believed them.

What exactly do you think they should have done differently???
- KB3Point0

It wasn't Luongo's ego that got in the way. *cough* Gillis *cough*

They won back to back President's Trophies and came 1 game away from winning the Cup. Gillis has done something right. It's not possible for every move to pan out.
- micah555

I think you should have just posted this in response.

Ah man, are we gonna play this retarded game again? They still had to win the games against their own division.....why don't you show the records of teams outside the division against the Canucks division. I'd be willing to bet that the majority did not post a 75% winning pct against the Northwest...
- chompsey

Im happy you asked. If you look at all playoff teams from the Western conference last year they were actually winning at close to a 70% clip vs the NW division. If you take out the games vs the nucks I am sure they are winning at close to 90% clip.

It wasn't Luongo's ego that got in the way. *cough* Gillis *cough*
- djamon

To be fair...if I were in Luongo's shoes, I wouldn't want to play for the Leafs either!!

I'm shocked that Phanuef got a Team Canada invite, but I suppose it hardly matters given that he won't make the team. Remember the year he didn't go to the World Championships so that he could frolic on the beach with Elisha Cuthbert?

Nice that Hamhuis got an invite. No way he'll make it either, but he'd be a fine player, like Linden was in Nagano.

I think Benn should have been invited to the camp. He's a young stud on the upswing. That's exactly the kind of player they should be taking. He's got to be better than Thornton or Nash or Kunitz.

I'm shocked that Phanuef got a Team Canada invite, but I suppose it hardly matters given that he won't make the team. Remember the year he didn't go to the World Championships so that he could frolic on the beach with Elisha Cuthbert?

Nice that Hamhuis got an invite. No way he'll make it either, but he'd be a fine player, like Linden was in Nagano.

I think Benn should have been invited to the camp. He's a young stud on the upswing. That's exactly the kind of player they should be taking. He's got to be better than Thornton or Nash or Kunitz.
- micah555

Don't count out Hammer just yet, you've got to be a very good skater to play on the big ice. And that he can do!!

Quit hand picking your stats.....its not possible to win everything, every year......you conveniently forget the positives.....poop happens, I expect a rebound year......
- chompsey

It is not handpicking stats. We had a good shot three playoffs ago and missed by one victory. It was fun and enjoyed the ride. The next two years we were not even close. Time to forget three years ago and start building a winner again. This roster is nowhere near a winner. It is not bipolar it is a fact.


Things change and if you don't change you get left behind. Right now we are behind. Time to change.

I'm shocked that Phanuef got a Team Canada invite, but I suppose it hardly matters given that he won't make the team. Remember the year he didn't go to the World Championships so that he could frolic on the beach with Elisha Cuthbert?

Nice that Hamhuis got an invite. No way he'll make it either, but he'd be a fine player, like Linden was in Nagano.

I think Benn should have been invited to the camp. He's a young stud on the upswing. That's exactly the kind of player they should be taking. He's got to be better than Thornton or Nash or Kunitz.
- micah555

Im shocked at kunitz and even jumbo joe. Benn should be there as well. Some of the d invites as well are puzzling. I wish they would have giving J Schultz a chance to be at the camp as well.

Ah, so Gillis' mismanagement of the whole situation was that Luongo stated it would be best if he wasn't here anymore. Yeah, that makes sense.
- KB3Point0

Stop spinning things...you know that's not how it happened.

It is not handpicking stats. We had a good shot three playoffs ago and missed by one victory. It was fun and enjoyed the ride. The next two years we were not even close. Time to forget three years ago and start building a winner again. This roster is nowhere near a winner. It is not bipolar it is a fact.


Things change and if you don't change you get left behind. Right now we are behind. Time to change.
- VANTEL

I have a feeling me and VANTEL are the only ones hoping to blow this ship up after this year and start from scratch.

Window is closed people, Stop looking at this team through rose coloured glasses.

Well the Hodgson trade was strike one. The Schneider trade was strike two. Im just waiting for strike three.

And dont get me wrong, Im fine with Schneider being moved but look at what Anaheim got for Ryan...... I cant believe we didnt get a roster player in that trade. Absolutely unbelievable.
- vancity787

Bobby Ryan is a 4 time 30 goal scorer at 26. Teams ice 12 forwards. Every team in the league wants a guy like that. Anaheim was under no duress to move him. Teams ice 2 goalies, one on the cheap. Many teams are set in the crease. Not sure there is any parallel between the 2 situations.

And your major beef with Gillis is those two moves? A flip of one prospect for another and a goalie who needed to be moved for a kid that looks like a future star? You might need to learn at least a little patience. Those trades could be wins for the Canucks in a few years.

I think me and Vantel are the only ones on the board who are willing to blow this thing up and start from scratch.

The window is closed folks, stop looking at this team through your rose coloured glasses

Bobby Ryan is a 4 time 30 goal scorer at 26. Teams ice 12 forwards. Every team in the league wants a guy like that. Anaheim was under no duress to move him. Teams ice 2 goalies, one on the cheap. Many teams are set in the crease. Not sure there is any parallel between the 2 situations.

And your major beef with Gillis is those two moves? A flip of one prospect for another and a goalie who needed to be moved for a kid that looks like a future star? You might need to learn at least a little patience. Those trades could be wins for the Canucks in a few years.
- micah555

An ace goalie is a better centerpiece to a team thn a power forward IMHO.

Mark my words. If Schneider is playing ahead of Broduer this year, He'll be starting in Sochi

Stop spinning things...you know that's not how it happened.
- djamon

There is blame to go around to everyone. Gillis is to blame. Lu is to blame. Can we just move on. Lu's insider in the Florida organization is to blame. Elliote freidman has stated numerous times that someone in that organization told him that they will trade for him. So he held out. I dont blame him. By the time he figured out that they didnt want him it was too late and then no one wanted him. MG overplayed his hand and learned his lesson. GM's make mistakes. Even the best ones. Trust me I am not a MG fan but he just took a chance and it didnt happen. Great leaders take chances that fail its part of the process.

All i know is I have a great job and make good money. You would have to double my salary to move to edmonton and triple it to move to Winnipeg. To think that players dont look at the city and how the organization treats them with they are resigning is ridiculous. Of course no one knows for sure. But I know I moved here when I was 18 and I have lived in Edmonton and Calgary for about 4 years each. I am so glad I am back here. I left good jobs to move back here and I took a pay cut to live in this city as did my wife.
- Bluechip23

But there are tax advantages in playing in the USA. I'm not saying Vancouver isn't nicer than Edmonton or Winnipeg, but being the nicest city doesn't make you the clear choice regardless.

To be fair...if I were in Luongo's shoes, I wouldn't want to play for the Leafs either!!
- LeftCoaster

Zing!!

What if we sent our Owner to Florida to try and convince him everything would be alright? Would that make a difference?

Im happy you asked. If you look at all playoff teams from the Western conference last year they were actually winning at close to a 70% clip vs the NW division. If you take out the games vs the nucks I am sure they are winning at close to 90% clip.
- Bluechip23

Show me the numbers........and if their winning PCT actually shot up from 75% to 90% taking out games against the Canucks, then aren't you in fact proving that the Canucks were a better team then those playoffs teams because they had a losing record against the Canucks?

Food for thought.....

I think me and Vantel are the only ones on the board who are willing to blow this thing up and start from scratch.

The window is closed folks, stop looking at this team through your rose coloured glasses
- vancity787

No, I think that you're just being dramatic and the essence of why Canuck fans are often mocked......

But there are tax advantages in playing in the USA. I'm not saying Vancouver isn't nicer than Edmonton or Winnipeg, but being the nicest city doesn't make you the clear choice regardless.
- micah555

NOt sure exactly what the rules in the NHL are but in the NBA you pay the tax based on where you played the game. So If the heat are playing the lakers then all the players pay tax based on the tax rates in LA. Like I said not sure what the rules in the NHL are but I am sure it is the same.

Also I think Hockey players are different than NFL and NBA guys. Hockey guys are smart educated and articulate. Living in Canada is not a bad thing like it is in the NBA. Hockey guys like the multiculturism of Canada and especially Vancouver.

Show me the numbers........and if their winning PCT actually shot up from 75% to 90% taking out games against the Canucks, then aren't you in fact proving that the Canucks were a better team then those playoffs teams because they had a losing record against the Canucks?

Food for thought.....
- chompsey

The 75% to 90% number was an arbitrary number. I didnt look at each canuck matchup. I just assumed the nucks won as many games as they lost vs the elite. But you are welcome to look it for yourself.

Playoff teams vs the NW won at a 70% clip. Canucks vs the NW won at 75%. Hence the NW sucks. Canucks vs the rest of the Conference was a 56% clip. Its not rocket science to figure out that we have a weak division.

I have a feeling me and VANTEL are the only ones hoping to blow this ship up after this year and start from scratch.

Window is closed people, Stop looking at this team through rose coloured glasses.
- vancity787

There's no such thing as a "window" in hockey.

It's a horribly inaccurate and simple term that has been coined to poorly try to explain the not so simple increase and decrease in a team's competitiveness—trends that can shift with one or two moves.

No, I think that you're just being dramatic and the essence of why Canuck fans are often mocked......
- chompsey

Another fact of why Canuck fans get mocked is because we think we are elite and never won Richard, unless PT are prized possessions .

No, I think that you're just being dramatic and the essence of why Canuck fans are often mocked......
- chompsey

Ive always mocked those people simply because they jump on the wagon when they do good but simply have no knowledge of the teamnin hindsight. I have loved And believed in this team since I can remember, But since the cup final, The passion is gone and there have been some bad trades that have set us behind.

Im not trying to be a pessimist simply a realist. Are we good, hell yes. Are we good enough? I truly dont believe so.

I have done the stats. You can do it for yourself. Playoff teams vs the NW won at a 70% clip. Canucks vs the NW won at 75%. Hence the NW sucks. Canucks vs the rest of the Conference was a 56% clip. Its not rocket science to figure out that we have a weak division.
- Bluechip23

I'm actually not debating the Canucks were in a weak division but you are implying that the Canucks were not very good and only were as successful as they were because of the division they were in despite going within 1 game of winning the Cup.....

Its an asinine argument to make considering there will never be a way to actually know what would transpire if the Canucks were in a different division. At the end of the day they won the Presidents Trophy back to back, plain and simple, and this is a feat rarely accomplished even by teams who have been in weaker divisions...see the Southeast division of recent history or the Norris division of the 80's etc....

They were/are a good team and may no longer be an elite team but still a very good team if you take the time to be rational....

I think me and Vantel are the only ones on the board who are willing to blow this thing up and start from scratch.

The window is closed folks, stop looking at this team through your rose coloured glasses
- vancity787

I would keep a few . Corrado Garrison Lack Horvat Gaunce Hamhuis Kassian Shinkaruk . I would build around those guys.

I made a bet with a friend at work , Sedins do not get out of the first round of playoffs in a Canuck uni.