Diehard1 wrote:
Actually you did exactly that - defended Nonis' drafting - 'I'm still waiting for Gillis to have a draft like Nonis did in 2004'.
I love the argument of 'Nonis and Burke drafted everyone'. It's such a stupid argument - they threw away 5 seasons of hockey, or perhaps you forget 96 through 2002? Their reward? They were able to draft the twins and Bryan Allen, who was a major piece of the Luongo trade. Keenan got McCabe, Bertuzzi and Jarkko Ruutu for Linden so he should get just as much credit as Burke for the twins, given McCabe and a 1st (Vorobiev) turned into Henrik Sedin, but nobody gives him any love. Edler was 21 when Nonis was fired - yes Nonis drafted him but Gillis and team developed him into a top level dman. Same with Hansen, who played all of 5 NHL games under Nonis - his development is all Gillis. Kes was a 30 point 3rd line NHLer under Nonis, it was Gillis who brought in Sundin who had a huge hand in helping Kes turn into a top notch player. Burrows wasn't Burke, he was a Moose signing (Cheveldayoff) so he gets zero credit there.
I've criticized Gillis' handling of the Lu situation, and I will criticize it even more if Lu is still a Canuck in 48 hours. Same with Ballard (should have cut bait last off-season). Booth I still think needs some time, if he can ever get any damn luck and stay healthy. You do nothing but criticize without giving any credit for his good moves (Hamhuis, Garrison, Tanev, and keeping pretty much every player on the team for below market value), can't have it both ways my friend.
You really should go cheer for Florida, they are great at being ranked highly by Hockey's Future (which you love) and not coming anywhere close to being an elite team while throwing away year after year. Those are the things you cheer for.
Breath Diehard, take a deep breath
So, according to you, you give no credit to the people (previous mgmt) that brought in the players to this organization who are the core elite group of the team that Gillis has been riding the coattails of since he got here, but now since this group seemingly is on the down slide, getting stale and in need of a serious new addition to, it just proves that Gillis has not added any significant pieces of his own other than signing to BC born and raised defenseman WHO WANTED TO SIGN HERE regardless of who the GM was here.
So in short, you are saying, if it were not for Gillis and Matts Sundin these core group players like the Sedins, Kesler, Edler Bieksa, Schneider, etc would never have become the players they are today. Holy shit Batman, Gillis is fucking brilliant. (I love how AV was left out of the discussion by Diehard, but I digress)
Nonis drafted Schneider late in the draft, Burke drafted Kesler late in the draft - two very important cogs to the Canucks machine at the momment, but no credit given. IT'S ALL GILLIS!
Gillis currently has the best goalie tandem in the NHL, who brought those two goalies in? And just how good would Gillis be without them, cause it seems to me that it's the goaltending right now that is the lifeblood of this organization. Without them, we are riding shotgun with Florida Panther bottom feeders, cause we certainly cannot count on our scoring which is 19th in the league and PP which is 30th. Something that Gillis chooses not to deal with. I really cannot wait to see Gillis add some 3rd or 4th line talent and 5th, 6th,7th type D-men at the trade deadline like he always does like it's really gonna help. Until Gillis manages to figure out how to put his own mark to the core elite group of this team and not ride on Burkes and Nonis, I will then give him credit.
And Diehard, I am not the only critic of Gillis drafting, even Gillis good buddie's and flag wavers on 1040 mainly Tony Eor Gallagher have been calling out Gillis and his drafting which to put lightly, has been atrocious, yet the Player Agent, shitty GM, good executive Gillis shows us his patented, undeserving arrogance, at his hiring by slagging Nonis for leaving the cupboards bare all the while every pundit across this nation rate the Canucks prospect list as worst in the NHL? Don't shoot the messenger, Diehard, get mad at Gillis and his merry men of homo's.
And please do not use the late drafting excuse for Gillis, Teams like the Bruins have managed to draft the likes of Bergeron, Marchand, Krejci and Marchand outside the 2nd round in recent drafts. The Blues always seem to find gems late in the draft and outside the first as well as a boat load of other teams. Just no excuses for Gillis making the cupboards as bare as they are now, which is the worst in Canuck history.
“Tyler Myers is my guy... I was taking to Scotty Bowman last night and he was bringing up his name, and saying he’s a big guy and big guy need big minutes to play, he is playing great for ya… and I agree with him… He’s been exceptional” - Bruce Boudreau