Knowing the Aquilinis, they'll keep Torts so they don't have to pay him out... Then Gillis will quit. Cheap (frank)s.
- DrChristianTroy

If you are right Gillis will not quit but will have to be bought out.

What a weird, awful season this has come to. Gillis actually speaking candidly. Did not see this coming
- geebaan

Agonal respirations.

Yeah, imo I'd rather Gillis stay and Torts go if we had the option.
- anavar

I've been saying this since the team has been poopting the bed this season.
- Nucker101

Agreed.

It's not so much the personnel, although we all know there are changes needed, this should still be a playoff team. FA should appreciate this!

When people talk about Gillis giving up the GM duties and just being team pres, I think he would rather be GM...

I thought it was John Stevens that Gillis wanted? Eakins looks like a terrible coach to me.
- Nucker101

Eakins is brutal?

I think Gulutzan was Mike Gillis, Torts was ownership.

Eakins is brutal?

I think Gulutzan was Mike Gillis, Torts was ownership.
- LeftCoaster

Gulutzan was my guess as well or he was at least in the top 3 or runner-up. Stevens could have been first choice but he's already an assistant in LA so no point I'm him taking the same job in Vancouver. The fact that Torts had no say in the Gulutzan hire tells me he was definitely one of the coaches Gillis liked(either the most or 2nd-most).

Eakins is brutal?

I think Gulutzan was Mike Gillis, Torts was ownership.
- LeftCoaster

You are correct. Gully was the emergency chute in case things got crazier than Calgary. He's definitely more of a players coach. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the next coach as he has had the whole season to learn the players.

You are correct. Gully was the emergency chute in case things got crazier than Calgary. He's definitely more of a players coach. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the next coach as he has had the whole season to learn the players.
- rugdnit

I never thought of Dallas as a boring or defensive minded team when he coached there as well, he gave young players plenty of ice time as well. He needs an assistant that can run a PP though.

You are correct. Gully was the emergency chute in case things got crazier than Calgary. He's definitely more of a players coach. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the next coach as he has had the whole season to learn the players.
- rugdnit

Just a quality guy that was available and there was a spot for him?

On a similar note,
Is a head coach's job more coveted in the AHL over an assistants position in the NHL? Or is it the experience of both will make a better head coach?

You are correct. Gully was the emergency chute in case things got crazier than Calgary. He's definitely more of a players coach. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the next coach as he has had the whole season to learn the players.
- rugdnit

Here's the problem... There's usually a good cop/bad cop dynamic when it comes to coaching staff chemistry with the roster. Torts and Sulllivan are obviously not good cops... So if Gulutzan has been the players' sounding board behind the scenes this season, it puts him in a difficult position to take the reins next year. When a guy has to overcompensate in the good cop department, it becomes extra difficult to be taken seriously once he needs to crack the whip. That's the ONLY thing that worries me about Gulutzan taking over. I think he would have been the right choice & done well had he been hired instead of Torts.

After Gillis gets formed and forced into a psych ward for the rest of his life, I'd like to see Gulutzan take over the reins as coach, Dave McNab brought in as GM.

If it was FA that made that hire maybe it will be the point at which he lets MG do his job without any interference or blame MG for his mistake and bring in a new face.
- thundachunk

Can FA fire himself first and sell the team to a non-meddling owner group?

Gulutzan was my guess as well or he was at least in the top 3 or runner-up. Stevens could have been first choice but he's already an assistant in LA so no point I'm him taking the same job in Vancouver. The fact that Torts had no say in the Gulutzan hire tells me he was definitely one of the coaches Gillis liked(either the most or 2nd-most).
- Nucker101

Gulutzan can coach the style of play Gillis (or new GM) wants, he's got a track record of coaching and working/developing with kids. I like him for coach!

Fire Torts
Play Markstrom
Trade Edler

Evander Kane getting sued for an assault he comitted last August. Apparently he jumped this guy because owed Kane a couple hundred $$ or something miniscule (to Kane) like that.

The kid has a serious attitude problem.

Can FA fire himself first and sell the team to a non-meddling owner group?
- moondawg

I've gotta believe every owner is involved in some respects; they should be concerned about the business perspective moreso than the hockey. One is not indifferent from the other though. With a good hockey operation, you've likely got a good business operation.

Evander Kane getting sued for an assault he comitted last August. Apparently he jumped this guy because owed Kane a couple hundred $$ or something miniscule (to Kane) like that.

The kid has a serious attitude problem.
- Chest Rockwell

Nice... Buy low

Nice... Buy low
- DrChristianTroy

Won't have far to commute for the hearings

Knowing the Aquilinis, they'll keep Torts so they don't have to pay him out... Then Gillis will quit. Cheap (frank)s.
- DrChristianTroy

I'm not sure if that would be the worse case scenario but it wouldn't be far off.

Personally I'd like to both Gillis and Torts swept away but that might be too dramatic for ownership to handle.

It's pretty obvious now Torts wasn't Gillis' guy. Stevens was.
- Boinker

Why is it obvious Stevens was? Its just a popular guess is all....

Nice... Buy low
- DrChristianTroy

Why is it obvious Stevens was? Its just a popular guess is all....
- boonerbuck

Yeah, no one can say for sure. I'd say it's likely that it was one of the 3 though(Eakins, Stevens, Gulutzan).

You and I were on the same page at the time of Torts hiring. MG shares some blame here, but to me this season is all on FA and Torts. Going further down that road is not an option.

People talk about lack of depth, but they forced Manny out and let Torres walk. Those guys were difference makers in 2011. Hard to replace Manny, but you man up and pay Torres-- NO QUESTION. From there on there was a huge gap in depth. Obviously the Farm has it's issues, but not bolstering that 3rd cost this team 3 years.
- rugdnit

I think pretty much everyone was on the same page with respect to Torts. Not the first choice but tried to be open minded. Looked like a pretty solid choice up until the end of December.

I think pretty much everyone was on the same page with respect to Torts. Not the first choice but tried to be open minded. Looked like a pretty solid choice up until the end of December.
- Canuckleafer

I assumed it was a Gillis hire and thought it was AV 2.0, meaning Torts had agreed to coach a more offensive style than he did in NY. The 2 man forecheck turned out to be hilarious, either the players aren't aggressive enough on it or the system is just stupid. What's the point of sending in 2 guys if they're just casually forechecking or too late to the puck?


Lets not blame this all on Torts though, this roster wasn't good enough and as soon as a top 6 forward goes down it looks horrible offensively. That's on Gillis as well. The Sedins need to bounceback next season big time and of course the core needs to stay healthy.

Yeah, no one can say for sure. I'd say it's likely that it was one of the 3 though(Eakins, Stevens, Gulutzan).
- Nucker101

I thought it was made clear that Eakins was an intriguing candidate but his lack of NHL head coaching experience precluded him from getting the job.

Knowing the Aquilinis, they'll keep Torts so they don't have to pay him out... Then Gillis will quit. Cheap (frank)s.
- DrChristianTroy

I can see this happening too.
I wonder how many horse heads FA has left in MG's bed over the last few years?
I think Mike's worn out his welcome both with management in Vancouver and throughout the league.