At least I understand the rationale behind every move he made outside of Hodgson-Kassian but in hindsight he had AV giving him cupcake minutes on a stacked team to raise his trade value and likely wanted to sell high and give more of those minutes to the Sedins/Kesler in the playoffs.
- Nucker101

Friedman: Possibility of Hodgson buyout "very real"

Just saying.

Because MG exhausted all his efforts. He wasn't respected by his peers, which was ultimately his undoing.
- VanHockeyGuy

Ya I agree, it's well documented he wasn't liked by his peers and had to get others to do the negotiating.

Friedman: Possibility of Hodgson buyout "very real"

Just saying.
- bloatedmosquito

Our scouts wanted Kyle Beach instead and Gillis overruled them as first time GM Hodgson is an all-star compared to that scrub and I'd take Kassian over both right now.

Our scouts wanted Kyle Beach instead and Gillis overruled them as first time GM Hodgson is an all-star compared to that scrub and I'd take Kassian over both right now.
- Nucker101

Me too. Kassian's got issues but he is the kind of player the canucks have very few of. At least Gillis was trying to fill a void.

My favorite MG gaffe was the "Mind Room", I wonder if it had a waterbed, beads, incense and a bong?

Me too. Kassian's got issues but he is the kind of player the canucks have very few of. At least Gillis was trying to fill a void.
- bloatedmosquito

Why isn't he working, or been approached by anyone?

Sami Pahlsson
Derek Roy
Keith Ballard
David Booth

I have a big problem with these.
- VanHockeyGuy

A) Retired
B) Traded to Edmonton
C) Played 59 games in two years
D)Plays For the Leafs

We seriously kill talent.

Ya I agree, it's well documented he wasn't liked by his peers and had to get others to do the negotiating.
- LeftCoaster

Smartest man in the room arrogance, that poop don't fly in the old boy's club. Still think what would have been best for this team was finding another methodical type of GM like Gillis and hiring a scout-oriented assistant GM to replace Gilman that would run the draft and make suggestions to the GM on which prospects to make inquiries on from other teams. And the GM would rely a little bit less on the numbers and have a good scouting eye to identify targets for him.

I think Benning's downfall will be that he doesn't have a methodical approach to asset management. He sees a player he likes and makes a strong offer right away(on contracts and trades). That results in overpaying and even if you're acquiring/signing decent players, if you keep overpaying it's going to kill you in the salary cap NHL.

Ideally he's an assistant GM like he was in Boston and doesn't have final say but does have an influence especially with prospects and the draft. I hope he proves me wrong.


We'd all feel a lot better right now if:
- Luca Sbisa was signed for half the amount he is right now
- Dorsett had either one less year on his deal or made 500K less
- Miller had one less year on his deal or wasn't signed at all and they signed a cheaper stopgap
- They gave up a lower pick for Pedan
- Jordan Subban was signed
- MacKenzie Stewart wasn't drafted or at least not signed yet

I think if you had a GM like Gillis, but one who was more open to listening to a right-hand man like Benning that he may not always agree with but would be willing to trust, you'd be in a much better position right now.

Smartest man in the room arrogance, that poop don't fly in the old boy's club. Still think what would have been best for this team was finding another methodical type of GM like Gillis and hiring a scout-oriented assistant GM to replace Gilman that would run the draft and make suggestions to the GM on which prospects to make inquiries on from other teams. And the GM would rely a little bit less on the numbers and have a good scouting eye to identify targets for him.

I think Benning's downfall will be that he doesn't have a methodical approach to asset management. He sees a player he likes and makes a strong offer right away(on contracts and trades). That results in overpaying and even if you're acquiring/signing decent players, if you keep overpaying it's going to kill you in the salary cap NHL.

Ideally he's an assistant GM like he was in Boston and doesn't have final say but does have an influence especially with prospects and the draft. I hope he proves me wrong.


We'd all feel a lot better right now if:
- Luca Sbisa was signed for half the amount he is right now
- Dorsett had either one elss year on his deal or made 500K less
- Miller had one less year on his deal or wasn't signed at all and they signed a cheaper stopgap
- They gave up a lower pick for Pedan
- Jordan Subban was signed
- MacKenzie Stewart wasn't drafted or at least not signed yet

I think if you had a GM like Gillis, but one who was more open to listening to a right-hand man like Benning that he may not always agree with but would be willing to trust, you'd be in a much better position right now.
- Nucker101

How can you judge our GM on the job he's done after turning this team into a better team in 1 year?

It takes TIME to build stability and strength. People taking shots at JB is just stupid at this point.

Smartest man in the room arrogance, that poop don't fly in the old boy's club. Still think what would have been best for this team was finding another methodical type of GM like Gillis and hiring a scout-oriented assistant GM to replace Gilman that would run the draft and make suggestions to the GM on which prospects to make inquiries on from other teams. And the GM would rely a little bit less on the numbers and have a good scouting eye to identify targets for him.

I think Benning's downfall will be that he doesn't have a methodical approach to asset management. He sees a player he likes and makes a strong offer right away(on contracts and trades). That results in overpaying and even if you're acquiring/signing decent players, if you keep overpaying it's going to kill you in the salary cap NHL.

Ideally he's an assistant GM like he was in Boston and doesn't have final say but does have an influence especially with prospects and the draft. I hope he proves me wrong.


We'd all feel a lot better right now if:
- Luca Sbisa was signed for half the amount he is right now
- Dorsett had either one less year on his deal or made 500K less
- Miller had one less year on his deal or wasn't signed at all and they signed a cheaper stopgap
- They gave up a lower pick for Pedan
- Jordan Subban was signed
- MacKenzie Stewart wasn't drafted or at least not signed yet

I think if you had a GM like Gillis, but one who was more open to listening to a right-hand man like Benning that he may not always agree with but would be willing to trust, you'd be in a much better position right now.
- Nucker101

He was kind of thrown to the wolves, patch holes first, plan as you go along. Previous management created the holes and left the shelves empty. He has his work cut out for him. Like just over 2 weeks to sign Subban.

How can you judge our GM on the job he's done after turning this team into a better team in 1 year?

It takes TIME to build stability and strength. People taking shots at JB is just stupid at this point.
- vancity787

He's overpaying, it's pretty clear. How many other teams would line up to give Sbisa 3.6M per? How many would pay a 3rd round pick for a d-man playing in the ECHL that's going to waiver eligible next year? Ryan Miller wanted to be close to California, all of the Cali teams had their goalies set so why did we give Miller 3 years and 6M per for a 34 year old with a career save percentage of .915%?

I don't have a problem with the players he targets, but his negotiating skills aren't looking great so far. If you keep overpaying, your margin of error becomes pretty thin quickly.

How can you judge our GM on the job he's done after turning this team into a better team in 1 year?

It takes TIME to build stability and strength. People taking shots at JB is just stupid at this point.
- vancity787

Cause he talk's funny, has a fifty's haircut.

He was kind of thrown to the wolves, patch holes first, plan as you go along. Previous management created the holes and left the shelves empty. He has his work cut out for him. Like just over 2 weeks to sign Subban.
- VanHockeyGuy

He had all year to sign Subban. Even if Subban told him that he wanted to wait until his OHL season finished, that still gave Benning tons of time. The OHL season ended on March 22nd. Yet we're seeing prospects who don't even have to get signed until next year and will be lucky to ever become regular AHL'er get contracts.

It's just the little things Benning does that annoy me. Overpaying extra dollars/term for players, paying a little extra in a trade, etc.

He's overpaying, it's pretty clear. How many other teams would line up to give Sbisa 3.6M per? How many would pay a 3rd round pick for a d-man playing in the ECHL that's going to waiver eligible next year? Ryan Miller wanted to be close to California, all of the Cali teams had their goalies set so why did we give Miller 3 years and 6M per for a 34 year old with a career save percentage of .915%?

I don't have a problem with the players he targets, but his negotiating skills aren't looking great so far. If you keep overpaying, your margin of error becomes pretty thin quickly.
- Nucker101

Yes he has/is, now wait to see how it turns out. Worst case, we miss the playoffs next year. Or is that such a bad thing considering?

Cause he talk's funny, has a fifty's haircut.
- VanHockeyGuy

Not gonna lie, the talking doesn't help. People bring up Darrly Sutter, but while he's a good coach he was a horrible GM in Calgary.

Yes he has/is, now wait to see how it turns out. Worst case, we miss the playoffs next year. Or is that such a bad thing considering?
- VanHockeyGuy

As long as we keep our picks or accumulate some new ones, missing the playoffs isn`t so bad. Should be the silver lining to tank nation folks.

Not gonna lie, the talking doesn't help. People bring up Darrly Sutter, but while he's a good coach he was a horrible GM in Calgary.
- Nucker101

Reminds me of Jim Nabors.

Not gonna lie, the talking doesn't help. People bring up Darrly Sutter, but while he's a good coach he was a horrible GM in Calgary.
- Nucker101

At the end of the day, I think he comes across as a honest knowledgeable, hardworking guy. MG? not so much.

As long as we keep our picks or accumulate some new ones, missing the playoffs isn`t so bad. Should be the silver lining to tank nation folks.
- hillbillydeluxe

Trade for picks, forget the FA market. No one we draft helps us anytime soon. Let the cards fall where they may.

Sami Pahlsson
Derek Roy
Keith Ballard
David Booth

I have a big problem with these.
- VanHockeyGuy

Those were bad for sure. Never liked those acquisitions.

Why isn't he working, or been approached by anyone?
- VanHockeyGuy

Because he's still making millions from the canucks?

Those were bad for sure. Never liked those acquisitions.
- rugdnit

Hindsight; Two seconds, and a first hurt though.

Because he's still making millions from the canucks?
- bloatedmosquito

Just like Chiarelli (could have), but being a real GM and not a pos agent wannabe got him a job right away.

At the end of the day, I think he comes across as a honest knowledgeable, hardworking guy. MG? not so much.
- VanHockeyGuy

I'll take the guy who's smarter rather than who's more honest or humble. But then I've had a similar argument about players with some people here, I'll take a team with 20 a$$holes and d-bags that can win me a cup over 20 guys who are great people but won't come close to winning a cup.

Because he's still making millions from the canucks?
- bloatedmosquito

Plus I believe he lives in B.C. so this was the job he strongly preferred. He's already set for life now from his days as an agent and as a GM.