How is it a major collapse if they lose in the 1st round for the 3rd straight year? Disappointing? Absolutely. But "major collapse?" Wouldn't that be more like "par for the course?"

The good things that Gillis has done since the end of last year far outweigh the bad. Tortorella, Santorelli, Richardson, Stanton, the draft, etc.
- KB3Point0

Par for the course was Stanley Cup contender, not 7th best team in your division. Apart from our PK, this team has declined both in stats and standing since the 2010 Cup final run. Compare that with Boston (our opponent) who've returned to the final over that time and still feature in the contender conversation. I would constitute that we've collapsed over the past 3 years.

Gillis' moves over the past 3 years have been modest at best. They're the kind of touch-up/depth moves you'd make if you were LA or CHI, not a team in swift decline.

Unless, as has been speculated, that the Aquillinis are the ones actually making the decisions: sign Luongo to 12 year contract, no buyouts, hiring Tortarella. If that's the case, what is one puppet GM going to do differently than the other?
- 1970vintage

We're heavy into speculation mode here assuming quite a bit. Your assumption also assumes Gillis is a guy that's content with having his job micromanaged by the owner. Highly doubtful from a former GM of the year who'd have no troubles finding another job, let alone what I understand of Gillis' personality.

Even if they Aquillini's did have a hand in certain decisions, that doesn't mean they had a hand in all of them or even the majority of them. I'm assuming at the very least that Gillis and Gillman are in charge of most of the contract discussions and almost if not all of the trades/FA signings.

Par for the course was Stanley Cup contender, not 7th best team in your division. Apart from our PK, this team has declined both in stats and standing since the 2010 Cup final run. Compare that with Boston (our opponent) who've returned to the final over that time and still feature in the contender conversation. I would constitute that we've collapsed over the past 3 years.

Gillis' moves over the past 3 years have been modest at best. They're the kind of touch-up/depth moves you'd make if you were LA or CHI, not a team in swift decline.
- AlexF

Say what you want about Gillis, but the fact is he inherited a team that missed the playoffs 2/3 seasons prior to his arrival. Nobody had much for expectations for this team this season. This team could end up with well over 100 pts and still finish 6th or 7th in the West, hardly a failure considering the cap restraints.

Say what you want about Gillis, but the fact is he inherited a team that missed the playoffs 2/3 seasons prior to his arrival. Nobody had much for expectations for this team this season. This team could end up with well over 100 pts and still finish 6th or 7th in the West, hardly a failure considering the cap restraints.
- golfingsince

Agreed. Similar point totals to last year, and they're not playing the EDMs and CLGs quite as much.

Say what you want about Gillis, but the fact is he inherited a team that missed the playoffs 2/3 seasons prior to his arrival. Nobody had much for expectations for this team this season. This team could end up with well over 100 pts and still finish 6th or 7th in the West, hardly a failure considering the cap restraints.
- golfingsince

What do you consider success for this franchise?

Say what you want about Gillis, but the fact is he inherited a team that missed the playoffs 2/3 seasons prior to his arrival. Nobody had much for expectations for this team this season. This team could end up with well over 100 pts and still finish 6th or 7th in the West, hardly a failure considering the cap restraints.
- golfingsince

What happened to the argument, that Burke and Nonis built the Canucks.

Agreed. Similar point totals to last year, and they're not playing the EDMs and CLGs quite as much.
- Fosco

Not to mention that our prospects cupboard is better stocked.

Not to mention that our prospects cupboard is better stocked.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Definitely better than it's looked for a while

Knights/Storm game currently on SNP for those who want to watch Horvat.

What do you consider success for this franchise?
- AlexF

There are different levels of success. Being competitive on a yearly basis is a benchmark for sure. We all know the ultimate goal is the Cup, and we came damn close. Doesn't mean we get there every year. Could Gillis have done a better job on some of his moves or lack thereof? Certainly.

The problem I have is wanting to fire a guy without having a reasonable plan in place to improve things. I mean who do you bring in? Is there a quick fix? Does this team with added space and possibly a contributing entry level deal next season look better? Is all hope lost entirely for this season?

In reality, this team is still in the top 1/3 of the league while also being in the top 1/3 for man games lost. Also, despite struggling to score goals they play a style of hockey that better prepares them for the playoffs. I'd feel much better about our chances if we played in the East but we don't.

What happened to the argument, that Burke and Nonis built the Canucks.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Yeah, Nonis has just done brilliantly hasn't he.

Knights/Storm game currently on SNP for those who want to watch Horvat.
- Fosco

Thanks.
I bought Royals tickets for the only Tigers game later this month so I could see Hunter and now he's out for the year. I guess I'll take my brother since he'll be down here doing ERT training.

Yeah, Nonis has just done brilliantly hasn't he.
- golfingsince

Leaf fans sure have changed their tune.

I'd honestly prefer that Gillis wait, and not give in to outside pressure as pertained to making a move.

My family has run the same business for 25 years, and recently they've been making reactionary decisions which have lead to loss of sales; this is the wrong way to improve any business.

I know its sort of silly that I'm comparing my family business to the VANCOUVER CANUCKS, but, from personal experience, I can say that having a plan is the best way to go.

I trust that this guy has a plan, and he's on his way to accomplishing his goals.

As a fan of the team it sort of sucks just having to wait and see what happens, but I'm hoping there is a payoff at the end of the road.

Thats my spiel for the day folks, hows the day going?

There are different levels of success. Being competitive on a yearly basis is a benchmark for sure. We all know the ultimate goal is the Cup, and we came damn close. Doesn't mean we get there every year. Could Gillis have done a better job on some of his moves or lack thereof? Certainly.

The problem I have is wanting to fire a guy without having a reasonable plan in place to improve things. I mean who do you bring in? Is there a quick fix? Does this team with added space and possibly a contributing entry level deal next season look better? Is all hope lost entirely for this season?

In reality, this team is still in the top 1/3 of the league while also being in the top 1/3 for man games lost. Also, despite struggling to score goals they play a style of hockey that better prepares them for the playoffs. I'd feel much better about our chances if we played in the East but we don't.
- golfingsince

Agreed that we can't get to the final every year but I would expect a team that was good enough to make it one year and keeps their core intact would continue to be in the conversation for several years afterward (CHI, LA, BOS) not fall off the map entirely. NJ fell off the map recently after a final appearance, but they also lost their 2 best players so that was to be expected.

I agree that simply dumping the guy with no replacement plan is silly. But I for one have been advocating for a change for some time and, had the Aquillini's felt the same, several years is plenty of time to find a quality replacement. I thought the move CBJ made for their new Finnish GM was a strong move, not to mention the Avs bringing in the Roy/Sakic tandem which has provided immediate results.

To simply say, "it can get worse" is to paralyze yourself from ever improving. I never said Gillis was a horrible GM like Sherman or Howson, but since the Cup run I found him to be either not connected with what I believe the gaps to be in this team, too slow to react to those developing gaps, or simply too cautious/conservative to do anything about them. He's not the GM this team needs right now or moving forward.

Leaf fans sure have changed their tune.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Clarkson.

Thanks.
I bought Royals tickets for the only Tigers game later this month so I could see Hunter and now he's out for the year. I guess I'll take my brother since he'll be down here doing ERT training.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Yeah, I have tickets for that game as well.

Was pretty disappointed hearing he's out for the season, but I'm just hoping he has a smooth recovery.

I'd honestly prefer that Gillis wait, and not give in to outside pressure as pertained to making a move.

My family has run the same business for 25 years, and recently they've been making reactionary decisions which have lead to loss of sales; this is the wrong way to improve any business.

I know its sort of silly that I'm comparing my family business to the VANCOUVER CANUCKS, but, from personal experience, I can say that having a plan is the best way to go.

I trust that this guy has a plan, and he's on his way to accomplishing his goals.

As a fan of the team it sort of sucks just having to wait and see what happens, but I'm hoping there is a payoff at the end of the road.

Thats my spiel for the day folks, hows the day going?
- Gullzy

I think we all knew that it wouldn't happen this year, I can be patient enough to wait for the kids to get here. Chi and Bos both won the cup with ELCs contributing, that is the way to do it in a cap system.

I'd honestly prefer that Gillis wait, and not give in to outside pressure as pertained to making a move.

My family has run the same business for 25 years, and recently they've been making reactionary decisions which have lead to loss of sales; this is the wrong way to improve any business.

I know its sort of silly that I'm comparing my family business to the VANCOUVER CANUCKS, but, from personal experience, I can say that having a plan is the best way to go.

I trust that this guy has a plan, and he's on his way to accomplishing his goals.

As a fan of the team it sort of sucks just having to wait and see what happens, but I'm hoping there is a payoff at the end of the road.

Thats my spiel for the day folks, hows the day going?
- Gullzy

I would really be sellers than buyers at TDL if GMs are throwing back crazy offers for roster players then we could do quite nicely and even she'd the likes of Booth and Weise

I would really be sellers than buyers at TDL if GMs are throwing back crazy offers for roster players then we could do quite nicely and even she'd the likes of Booth and Weise
- VANTEL

I don't think any GM in his right mind would be picking up either Booth nor Weise at the TDL.

Agreed that we can't get to the final every year but I would expect a team that was good enough to make it one year and keeps their core intact would continue to be in the conversation for several years afterward (CHI, LA, BOS) not fall off the map entirely. NJ fell off the map recently after a final appearance, but they also lost their 2 best players so that was to be expected.

I agree that simply dumping the guy with no replacement plan is silly. But I for one have been advocating for a change for some time and, had the Aquillini's felt the same, several years is plenty of time to find a quality replacement. I thought the move CBJ made for their new Finnish GM was a strong move, not to mention the Avs bringing in the Roy/Sakic tandem which has provided immediate results.

To simply say, "it can get worse" is to paralyze yourself from ever improving. I never said Gillis was a horrible GM like Sherman or Howson, but since the Cup run I found him to be either not connected with what I believe the gaps to be in this team, too slow to react to those developing gaps, or simply too cautious/conservative to do anything about them. He's not the GM this team needs right now or moving forward.
- AlexF

I think if your team makes it within 1 game of the Stanley Cup then they deserve a chance to get back there, especially if they win another PT along the way. Last year and this year the team has been dealing with cap constraints.

Yeah, nice moves by CBJ and the AVS but they were both bottom dwellers. Several years? We are less than 2 years removed from a 2nd consecutive PT following a game 7 loss of the finals. To even consider firing the GM a couple of years ago would have been asinine. There is no basis for firing a guy that has his team in the top 1/3 of the league every year.

I'm as frustrated as the next guy as I actually pay for a half season, I just don't think that firing the GM is the answer. Take a look around the NHL and every GM out there makes bad moves. The better ones just make more good moves than bad ones.

I may be in the minority but I want Gillis to stay the course this year unless he can pick up somebody at a bargain price or bring in an incredibly young and talented player. I don't even really want to see Edler dealt anymore. Next season we get some breathing room cap wise and in a couple of years that contract should look like a real bargain.

I don't think any GM in his right mind would be picking up either Booth nor Weise at the TDL.
- AlexF

They picked up Ballard and Raymond , GMs don't have normal brains

They picked up Ballard and Raymond , GMs don't have normal brains
- VANTEL

Weise I could see. If Gillis can trade Booth without picking up salary or taking back a bad contract he deserves an extension.

I think if your team makes it within 1 game of the Stanley Cup then they deserve a chance to get back there, especially if they win another PT along the way. Last year and this year the team has been dealing with cap constraints.

Yeah, nice moves by CBJ and the AVS but they were both bottom dwellers. Several years? We are less than 2 years removed from a 2nd consecutive PT following a game 7 loss of the finals. To even consider firing the GM a couple of years ago would have been asinine. There is no basis for firing a guy that has his team in the top 1/3 of the league every year.

I'm as frustrated as the next guy as I actually pay for a half season, I just don't think that firing the GM is the answer. Take a look around the NHL and every GM out there makes bad moves. The better ones just make more good moves than bad ones.

I may be in the minority but I want Gillis to stay the course this year unless he can pick up somebody at a bargain price or bring in an incredibly young and talented player. I don't even really want to see Edler dealt anymore. Next season we get some breathing room cap wise and in a couple of years that contract should look like a real bargain.
- golfingsince

I think there's something to be said about seeing a decline in process and initiating a change at that moment rather than waiting until the decline has been thoroughly completed before deciding to act. You shouldn't have to hit rock bottom with fans and the media coming out with pitchforks before going in a different direction that you think can improve the team.

Unfortunately you see teams hanging on to depreciating situations far too long in this league. And it happens over and over. Gillis' time will inevitably come to an end. I just hope (as I suspect) that we don't look back and realize it was several years later than it should/could have been, like with AV.

They picked up Ballard and Raymond , GMs don't have normal brains
- VANTEL

Not in a trade.