BladesofSteel wrote:
Hockey Widow wrote:
So much will hinge on getting Luongo outta here and possible moving Ballard or buying him out.
I'm a little surprised you continue to suggest this, HW. Has Gillis not already stated publicly that he will not exercise the buy-out options this summer?
It's hilarious that Canuck fans everywhere are running with this bullshit as though it were gospel.
NO, Gillis did NOT state that (publicly or otherwise).
Gary Mason of The Globe and Mail started this C R A P when he stated 3 weeks ago on TEAM 1040:
"buyouts are a non-starter for Francesco Aquilini".
And based upon that little nugget of poo, Canucks nation is all like:
"ewww newww Canucks will never buyout a contract like evah!!!"
... even though a few days later Botchford stated
here
"Heard a report on TEAM 1040 this week that buyouts are a non-starter for the Aquilinis. I can tell you this is not the understanding of management. Not sure where the miscommunication is."
Iain MacIntyre also stated a few days ago (Canucks Army) that Gillis is authorized for buyouts.
And yet all I hear from Canucks fans everywhere is that THERE WILL BE NO BUYOUTS PERIOD.
I think the problem boils down to social networking combined with the old adage:
"If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth."
See, whatever poop runs outta Gary Mason tends to "trend on twitter" (or whatever).
How about folks start thinking for themselves again just like once upon a time?
THINK
The new "Compliance Buyout" option - 2 per team - is a golden opportunity to spend over the cap
(by getting rid of bad contracts.... by taking top prospects + bad-contracts-to-buyout from poorer teams).
Every rich team WILL do it.
This used to be known as "common sense".
This is NOT "rocket science".
Aquaman has proven a few times in the past that he is willing to pay million$ over the cap to give his team an edge.
Luongo's "cap circumvention" contract is an example of that.
Another example is when he was good with acquiring Ehrhoff at the price of taking Lukowich's $1.8mil contract.
Then there was taking on Reinprecht's $2.2mil contract in order to land Booth + 3rd round pick.
Both of those players were designated to play almost exclusively in the AHL with NHL salaries.
Also, he has given numerous players one-way NHL salaries to play in the AHL, serving as depth...
Yes, my dear BoS, Aquaman would be more than willing to bring in a top prospect at the price of a buyout contract.
It will pay off for him in the long run.