Again I think there is part truth to your comments.

I don't think Gillis was fired because he disagreed with Francesco, I think he was fired due to public demand. I remember seeing him in his final days where everyone was commenting about his scroatie. He looked white as a ghost , like a guy fighting for his job. He also did his final interview on the TSN1040 and one of his final comments was "Donnie I honestly don't know if I still have a job"

If Aquillini tells Benning there is no money to spend then end of story . You can carry your pride and walk away from a million dollar job or you can stay. I think most people would stay.

None of us know what goes on behind their closed doors. In the smart words of Makita "Until Benning is not GM he is, until Travis is not coach he is"

I do think a couple of trades in the couple of next days/weeks will happen and after that wait and see.

I also know that if Benning is fired , that in another six years the fans will be pining for his return



- VANTEL

This is awesome. In this post you said Gillis was fired due to public demand. In other posts you said TL was hired due to public demand.
And then you say, "none of us knows what happens behind their closed doors."

Simply outstanding vantel.

The arenas we getting less fans . The merchandise was falling off . The fans that did come were screaming Fire Gillis.

Gillis definitely was trying to save his job , I seen him and I heard him .

I hope Benning doesn't get fired because I think he has set this team up nicely for the next two years despite the screaming fan base.
- VANTEL

Mike Gillis isn't without fault either, although he didn't exactly draft in favourable positions his drafting was still atrociously bad. That's on him. It doesn't change the fact the team at the time absolutely needed to rebuild and Aquilini wouldn't allow it. As I said, his first interfering mistake.

Benning's done one thing relatively well and that's drafting, not much else has turned out for him, he doesn't deserve to remain IMO. His failures while trying to be competitive ended up with good draft positions where he's done well and even picked up an all-star goal scorer at #23 in Brock Boeser.

Mike Gillis isn't without fault either, although he didn't exactly draft in favourable positions his drafting was still atrociously bad. That's on him. It doesn't change the fact the team at the time absolutely needed to rebuild and Aquilini wouldn't allow it. As I said, his first interfering mistake.

Benning's done one thing relatively well and that's drafting, not much else has turned out for him, he doesn't deserve to remain IMO. His failures while trying to be competitive ended up with good draft positions where he's done well and even picked up an all-star goal scorer at #23 in Brock Boeser.
- Pacificgem

Well this is a year that needs good drafting .

Who did Porky Pigs voice ?
Who did Elmer Fudds voice?

- VANTEL

Mel Blanc. You’re on to something, Benning does talk out the side of his mouth...

Well this is a year that needs good drafting .
- VANTEL

Benning acquired a bunch of extra picks in 2014, which leads me to believe he can do it, something that needs to be done now.....start selling and compiling draft picks.

In 2016 the Canucks finished second last in the entire league and only had six draft picks, a complete and gross mismanagement scenario where three out of the six picks they had were a 6th and two 7th round picks.

Mel Blanc. You’re on to something, Benning does talk out the side of his mouth...
- 1970vintage

Funny thing is at first I was going to say in his Mel Blanc voice but then thought half the people wouldn't know who he was because of the age . Then I find out almost everyone here is in their fifties or older.

Mike Gillis isn't without fault either, although he didn't exactly draft in favourable positions his drafting was still atrociously bad. That's on him. It doesn't change the fact the team at the time absolutely needed to rebuild and Aquilini wouldn't allow it. As I said, his first interfering mistake.

Benning's done one thing relatively well and that's drafting, not much else has turned out for him, he doesn't deserve to remain IMO. His failures while trying to be competitive ended up with good draft positions where he's done well and even picked up an all-star goal scorer at #23 in Brock Boeser.
- Pacificgem

i was a gillis supporter but even i was of the opinion that his time was up.

it was obvious that the relationship between he and the owner was not tenable. his mistakes (from trades to draft) were obvious and i think that led the owner to get more hands on in decision making. this culminated in the torts hiring and the team needed a fresh start after that debacle.

anyway, i think that we're at the same point with benning (but not for the same reasons). i think his time is up but not because he's in disagreement with the owner.

let's be honest: THIS IS THE TIME WHEN A RETOOL ON THE FLY IS NEEDED. you need a gm who can assemble a contender level team, not a guy who can assemble a young team. the team needs a cap savvy guy who can add vets to what should be a playoff level team.

benning doesn't have that skill set.

the only solace with respect to ownership is that the team should be at the level to compete for the playoffs so their "win now" mentality shouldn't cause too much friction as opposed to 7 years ago.

Benning acquired a bunch of extra picks in 2014, which leads me to believe he can do it, something that needs to be done now.....start selling and compiling draft picks.

In 2016 the Canucks finished second last in the entire league and only had six draft picks, a complete and gross mismanagement scenario where three out of the six picks they had were a 6th and two 7th round picks.
- Pacificgem

I read it is going to be a quiet next couple of months for the league so may as well jump on it if you can.

This is awesome. In this post you said Gillis was fired due to public demand. In other posts you said TL was hired due to public demand.
And then you say, "none of us knows what happens behind their closed doors."

Simply outstanding vantel.
- RealityChecker

You get a new Twitter account.

Someone got the tap on the back of his head that it is his turn

You get a new Twitter account.
- Marwood

one thing i learned today: it's not FA's fault either. the damn fans are to blame!

one thing i learned today: it's not FA's fault either. the damn fans are to blame!
- RealityChecker

The real fans get it, it's the hysterical armchair GM fans that are crying & flailing.

i was a gillis supporter but even i was of the opinion that his time was up.

it was obvious that the relationship between he and the owner was not tenable. his mistakes (from trades to draft) were obvious and i think that led the owner to get more hands on in decision making. this culminated in the torts hiring and the team needed a fresh start after that debacle.

anyway, i think that we're at the same point with benning (but not for the same reasons). i think his time is up but not because he's in disagreement with the owner.

let's be honest: THIS IS THE TIME WHEN A RETOOL ON THE FLY IS NEEDED. you need a gm who can assemble a contender level team, not a guy who can assemble a young team. the team needs a cap savvy guy who can add vets to what should be a playoff level team.

benning doesn't have that skill set.

the only solace with respect to ownership is that the team should be at the level to compete for the playoffs so their "win now" mentality shouldn't cause too much friction as opposed to 7 years ago.
- RealityChecker

If Aquilini continues to employ the guy/guys that've created this situation then who's really to blame, is what I'm getting at. This is not a traditionally run franchise, there's something to that IMO regarding their lack of success since they've been without a President of Hockey Operations.

If Aquilini continues to employ the guy/guys that've created this situation then who's really to blame, is what I'm getting at. This is not a traditionally run franchise, there's something to that IMO regarding their lack of success since they've been without a President of Hockey Operations.
- Pacificgem

i understand what you're saying and agree to a certain point.

at the end of the day though even if the gm "has to" listen to FA's demands/vision, i'd rather someone more competent.

they're at the point where pro-scouting/cap management is more important than amateur scouting. if benning truly transformed the amateur scouting department, the team should reap those rewards for years.

as we've seen from various draft day videos, GMs (benning included) aren't necessarily well versed on every player they draft. they rely on the scouts so not having benning this year won't make a drastic difference either.

If Aquilini continues to employ the guy/guys that've created this situation then who's really to blame, is what I'm getting at. This is not a traditionally run franchise, there's something to that IMO regarding their lack of success since they've been without a President of Hockey Operations.
- Pacificgem

They have one, Francesco.

They have one, Francesco.
- VanHockeyGuy

Porky pig - president
Elmer fudd - gm

i understand what you're saying and agree to a certain point.

at the end of the day though even if the gm "has to" listen to FA's demands/vision, i'd rather someone more competent.

they're at the point where pro-scouting/cap management is more important than amateur scouting. if benning truly transformed the amateur scouting department, the team should reap those rewards for years.

as we've seen from various draft day videos, GMs (benning included) aren't necessarily well versed on every player they draft. they rely on the scouts so not having benning this year won't make a drastic difference either.
- RealityChecker

100%....something that's proven challenging for Jim Benning.

poor Holtby.
- Blackstrom2

He was pretty bad in WAS last year needed a change.

If he would apply Clarke's teachings a bit more maybe he'd make an f'n save.

lol

He was pretty bad in WAS last year needed a change.

If he would apply Clarke's teachings a bit more maybe he'd make an f'n save.

lol
- LordHumungous

What is Clarke specifically teaching him that he's not doing?

I am looking forward to 4 p.m. today.
- Reubenkincade

Someone got the tap on the back of his head that it is his turn
- VANTEL

Well this is a year that needs good drafting .
- VANTEL

Most years Benning will be in charge will need good drafting. It’s an endless loop.

Gas on the south island went up to 1:44.99 this week and now mortgage rates are starting to raise.


TD Canada Trust was the first mega-bank to react Friday with a one-quarter point boost to its “special” 5-year fixed rates. At 2.24 per cent, its uninsured 5-year fixed is now the highest it’s been since September. Other major banks should be right on TD’s coattails.

Oakland Athletics getting a new Ballpark

Oakland Athletics getting a new Ballpark


- Pacificgem

Have to do something to get younger people to give a damn about the league