I know I know, he didn't play a shift, but he definitely didn't put his players in a position to succeed (see Ballard for 1 example, and there are tonnes)...

I and I guess a lot of us will always wonder what if he just played Schneider in game 6 (just like in round 1 against the hawks), I thought he learned something there but he didn't. Think Cory, playing in his home town and possibly winning the cup in front of friends and family...worse case we lose and go back to Van with Luo rested and ready to go...nope.

And as far as Crawford goes, frick half of us on this board could have coached Colorado to a cup or two back when he won his 1 and only cup, as that was as stacked a team as you could get...one could argue he was even worse than A/V - I like to believe that at least A/V probably would have let Gretzky have a turn in the friggin shootout (Olympics)

to sum up - both overrated and have good records because of the team, and not because of what they offered/did.

Quinn over achieved, who saw 94 coming and A/V choked, back to back pres trophies and nothing.
- PopCanBong

Or in game 4....

no. i actually said pro scouts. the guys who watch the nhl. the guys you mention are amateur scouts. those are the ones who watch amateurs, the guys who don't get paid as well as the oilers.
- therealagent

Isn't it the amateur scouts who initiate the drafting of players? Those who concentrate on the pro leagues are (obviously) watching players who have been drafted already. I doubt that scouts have as much say in trading as they do in drafting players. For trades Gillis sucks; for drafting the scouting system and Gillis suck.

OMG

Luongo might debut his new mask, everyone set your PVR's

Don't get your hopes up though, it's a game time decision.

Like I've said in the past, Gillis' record of achievements with this team does speak fairly loudly but I believe the team needs a different vision at this juncture.
- AlexF

Speaks loudly? I would have to agree.

OMG

Luongo might debut his new mask, everyone set your PVR's

Don't get your hopes up though, it's a game time decision.
- 1970vintage

Poker theme?

Mike Brophy on CBC wrote about the hockey code, specifically about Hertl's goal. He spent a long time writing about the code, but then at the very end of the article he suggests that Edler targeted Hertl's head. He clearly didn't see the hit.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports-...ly-just-common-sense.html

what a tard.
- Troutback

Okay, I played hockey at a very low level, so maybe I really "just don't understand", but to me, the "code" is mostly a load of garbage, especially in matters like this. This is professional sports. It's about entertainment. And with Hertl's goal, I was entertained. These guys are paid millions of dollars to amuse people. I'll gladly take even the vet minimum to get shown up by some "punk kid" from time to time.

Poker theme?
- Canada Cup

apparently its "johnny canuck", but honestly, who the f really cares. I only mentioned it because the reporter on TSN.ca did in his "ice chips" segment.

Okay, I played hockey at a very low level, so maybe I really "just don't understand", but to me, the "code" is mostly a load of garbage, especially in matters like this. This is professional sports. It's about entertainment. And with Hertl's goal, I was entertained. These guys are paid millions of dollars to amuse people. I'll gladly take even the vet minimum to get shown up by some "punk kid" from time to time.
- buffalofan19

Score as many goals as you can, in whatever way you can get the puck in the net. If the other team doesn't like it, play better defence.

Mike Brophy on CBC wrote about the hockey code, specifically about Hertl's goal. He spent a long time writing about the code, but then at the very end of the article he suggests that Edler targeted Hertl's head. He clearly didn't see the hit.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports-...ly-just-common-sense.html

what a tard.
- Troutback

I avoid everything Brophy, he is a complete idiot.

Scott Arniel wasn't the only other guy available when Gillis came in; Todd McLellan, Joel Quenville and Paul MacLean were available back then. Once again, Hindsight is 20/20.
- Chest Rockwell

I'm a fan of Todd's, would have loved him as our coach. He's a Babcock Jr.

Good ole Sasky boy too.

Poker theme?
- Canada Cup

I avoid everything Brophy, he is a complete idiot.
- A_SteamingLombardi

this

I'm a fan of Todd's, would have loved him as our coach. He's a Babcock Jr.

Good ole Sasky boy too.
- moondawg

Any of McLellan, MacLean or Quenville would have been fantastic additions.

Keeping this line together, well done Torts.

The Hodgson-Kassian trade was pretty clearly one-sided from the start. If they couldn't get an equivalent talent back, they should at least have secured a 1st round pick from Buffalo... especially since Buffalo wound up having two top-15 picks to work with in the 2012 draft. Furthering the insult is the fact that Alexander Sulzer still seems to pop up with the Sabres from time-to-time, while Marc-Andre Gragnani bolted the team after 14 games and has since bolted the continent.

Not to mention that the deal happened with incredibly bizarre timing. For one thing, it's extremely rare for a team currently 1st overall to make such a disruptive move - and given that it was done at the playoff trade deadline, it's more than a bit ironic that they went on to score just 8 goals in 5 playoff games that year, while not even being able to trust Kassian with 5 minutes of ice time per game.

Regardless, I've always disliked the character assassination that sometimes occurs when a player leaves a team. It's certainly not a Canucks-only thing, but it's still a classless attempt to sway public opinion in your favour - when really, the benefits of the trade should be able to do that for you. The genuine shock that Hodgson seemed to display at the news of the trade is also suggestive that if there was any kind of frustration it wasn't amounting to any kind of trade demand or expectation.

Heavy start

Heavy start
- VANTEL

Yeah, at least this won't be a snoozer. Is it just me or is Buffalo's rink kind of dark? So quiet too.

Kesler with the Twins at even strength.

Kesler with the Twins at even strength.
- Nucker101

We can now clearly see how narrow minded AV had been about Kesler on the wing. Torts is going to learn more about Kesler in a month than AV did in the entire career before.

We can now clearly see how narrow minded AV had been about Kesler on the wing. Torts is going to learn more about Kesler in a month than AV did in the entire career before.

- boonerbuck

AV should have been gone years ago

Kassian moving the puck well. We need to play buffalo 41 games a season.

Kassian moving the puck well. We need to play buffalo 41 games a season.
- boonerbuck

Was thinking the same thing, man when's he into the game he can be an effective player.

Higgins again! As a advanced stats fan would say, he was due for these goals.

Kesler with the Twins at even strength.
- Nucker101

This has been the suggestion by half this forum for about 2 years now. How hard was it?

Higgins on a roll