I think the problem is that Gillis just had too many players on one way contracts earning big $ to legitimately give youth a chance. Under the new CBA you can't send Booth to the minors without having $3.35m of his salary count against the cap, so unless Jensen is such a huge improvement in play, it doesn't make sense to have a kid on an ELC playing in his place. The only way to truly have competition for roster spots is to only have 14 or 15 guys signed, and then bring in veterans on PTO's and prospects on ELC's and let them fight it out at camp.
- 1970vintage

IMO he hasn't drafted any youth, to speak of, that could legitimately warrant giving a chance to. CH being the exception.

Booner?
- Bieksa#3

Booner can't handle this......

IMO he hasn't drafted any youth, to speak of, that could legitimately warrant giving a chance to. CH being the exception.
- LeftCoaster

Corrado doesn't ring a bell????

Im late to the John Tavares talk but I would be shocked if he goes anywhere unless he demands to be traded. The bidding war for him would be epic. I still remember when Burkie turned down Luke Schenn and a 1st and 2nd for JT. What a fool.

This was after Luke schenns rookie when burke thought he was the next D stud.

One could start the conversation with Ryan Johansen
- VANTEL

Blue Jackets give up a 23 year old center who is already better than 29 year old Kesler...Jackets have been waiting since their existence for a franchise center, why trade him for a guy who is a 50 pt player at this stage of his career?

Johansen is going nowhere

Blue Jackets give up a 23 year old center who is already better than 29 year old Kesler...Jackets have been waiting since their existence for a franchise center, why trade him for a guy who is a 50 pt player at this stage of his career?

Johansen is going nowhere
- GardinerExpress

What do leaf fans know about talent.Go wish Don Cherry Happy birthday

Im late to the John Tavares talk but I would be shocked if he goes anywhere unless he demands to be traded. The bidding war for him would be epic. I still remember when Burkie turned down Luke Schenn and a 1st and 2nd for JT. What a fool.

This was after Luke schenns rookie when burke thought he was the next D stud.
- Bluechip23

The trade you are probably thinking of was Schenn + 7th overall (Kadri) + 2nd rd pick to move into the lottery that year. There was no guarantee Tavares was gonna be there at 2 or 3 or whatever that pick was. Considering we have JVR and Kadri to show for not trading , no complaints considering burkie prob would have drafted B.Schenn if Tavares went #1

What do leaf fans know about talent.Go wish Don Cherry Happy birthday
- VANTEL

I know Ryan Johansen is worth a hell of a lot more than Ryan Kesler..you are one of the biggest homers on this site if you think otherwise

The trade you are probably thinking of was Schenn + 7th overall (Kadri) + 2nd rd pick to move into the lottery that year. There was no guarantee Tavares was gonna be there at 2 or 3 or whatever that pick was. Considering we have JVR and Kadri to show for not trading , no complaints considering burkie prob would have drafted B.Schenn if Tavares went #1
- GardinerExpress

Fair enough. I could have sworn it was for JT because burke wanted him badly. The isles wanted Luke schenn and the leafs 1st (kadri) and 2nd. But burke turned it down because he didnt want to part with Schenn. Obviously this is all rumors but kess can only dream of a center like JT to play with.

IMO he hasn't drafted any youth, to speak of, that could legitimately warrant giving a chance to. CH being the exception.
- LeftCoaster

Well, there's that too, but when going into the season the only spots that are open are on the 4th line...

Corrado doesn't ring a bell????
- chompsey

He's playing because of injuries, but you could include him I guess. Definitely not the kind of "push" I was referring to.

Gillis better get on this if he is going to dig his way out of this season!

I know Ryan Johansen is worth a hell of a lot more than Ryan Kesler..you are one of the biggest homers on this site if you think otherwise
- GardinerExpress

Johansen ain't NEVER being traded......

He's playing because of injuries, but you could include him I guess. Definitely not the kind of "push" I was referring to.
- LeftCoaster

Say what you mean then: you want the Canucks to be the number 1 team every year, win the cup every year, and have the best farm team every year.....

Sounds easy enough! Why didn't gillis think of that......

Well, there's that too, but when going into the season the only spots that are open are on the 4th line...
- 1970vintage

If Gillis would have drafted, say in 2009, players like Ryan O'Rielly or Marcus Johansson or Jakob Silfverberg or Cody Eakin or Robin Lehner or Alex Chiasson they'd be pushing guys out the door and you probably wouldn't have seen Burrows get a $4.5 million dollar contract.

Our forward depth is so poor Gillis had no choice but to desperately hang onto what he had. Burrows may be a bad example but you get what I mean.

Fair enough. I could have sworn it was for JT because burke wanted him badly. The isles wanted Luke schenn and the leafs 1st (kadri) and 2nd. But burke turned it down because he didnt want to part with Schenn. Obviously this is all rumors but kess can only dream of a center like JT to play with.
- Bluechip23

I think it was Tampa who was willing to move the #2 pick...and they wanted it done Before the draft started...Burkie surely woulda taken B.schenn at 2, and we woulda been screwed

If Gillis would have drafted, say in 2009, players like Ryan O'Rielly or Marcus Johansson or Jakob Silfverberg or Cody Eakin or Robin Lehner or Alex Chiasson they'd be pushing guys out the door and you probably wouldn't have seen Burrows get a $4.5 million dollar contract.

Our forward depth is so poor Gillis had no choice but to desperately hang onto what he had. Burrows may be a bad example but you get what I mean.
- LeftCoaster

Yup. A little too much loyalty perhaps to the "core"...

If Gillis would have drafted, say in 2009, players like Ryan O'Rielly or Marcus Johansson or Jakob Silfverberg or Cody Eakin or Robin Lehner or Alex Chiasson they'd be pushing guys out the door and you probably wouldn't have seen Burrows get a $4.5 million dollar contract.

Our forward depth is so poor Gillis had no choice but to desperately hang onto what he had. Burrows may be a bad example but you get what I mean.
- LeftCoaster

Just like that eh?

Say what you mean then: you want the Canucks to be the number 1 team every year, win the cup every year, and have the best farm team every year.....

Sounds easy enough! Why didn't gillis think of that......
- chompsey

I'm saying the Canucks should have put more emphasis on drafting and developing when he got here instead of just talking about it.

I think it was Tampa who was willing to move the #2 pick...and they wanted it done Before the draft started...Burkie surely woulda taken B.schenn at 2, and we woulda been screwed
- GardinerExpress

I don't think he takes schenn at all. From what I remember Hedman and Duchene were the clear 2 and 3 in that draft. burke loved Duchene as well. There were rumors that duchene might go 1st over JT by some people.

Just like that eh?
- chompsey

Yup - the stronger your system is the less likely you grow into an old aging team. Other teams that are having more success than we are have better systems with just as poopty draft positions.

Yup. A little too much loyalty perhaps to the "core"...
- 1970vintage

It's amazing how we all sit here and pick apart decisions 5 years after the fact without having ANY insight to what these players were thought of at the time. Some of these teams unearthed some gems but I assure other GM's swung and missed just as bad......it's not a science people....

If Gillis would have drafted, say in 2009, players like Ryan O'Rielly or Marcus Johansson or Jakob Silfverberg or Cody Eakin or Robin Lehner or Alex Chiasson they'd be pushing guys out the door and you probably wouldn't have seen Burrows get a $4.5 million dollar contract.

Our forward depth is so poor Gillis had no choice but to desperately hang onto what he had. Burrows may be a bad example but you get what I mean.
- LeftCoaster

Which players that Gillis has resigned has he done so out of desperation? Who's he given more money than they deserve?

I'm saying the Canucks should have put more emphasis on drafting and developing when he got here instead of just talking about it.
- LeftCoaster

I'm glad that you're the jury and judge on that......

Johansen ain't NEVER being traded......
- chompsey

Nope. He'll be in Columbus forever. Just like Rick Nash...