Notion? Ah no. It's a simple fact that the core that went to the finals was already here when Gillis took over. He added a few pieces that helped, but 5 years after he took over...the core is essentially the same.herb wrote:I don’t buy this notion that Gillis “inherited” the team in 2008 and had nothing to do with it being successful. I don’t think that’s fair at all. Was he supposed to blow up the whole thing and make it “his” team? Now that would’ve been stupid.Zedlee wrote:Hey Herb...gotta disagree with you here. Overall a lousy job by Gillis.
Gillis inherited the team that went to the finals, except for Erhoff and Hamhuis. He has failed to add to the core that was already here....the aging core is past their prime and there doesn't seem to be any young guns to step in. Trades and drafting has been lousy. Contracts? Some good "home town deals" but just as many stinkers. The Luongo contract was nuts as was the huge offer to Sundin. I pray that we're not saying the same thing about the Burrows and Sedin new deals in a year or two. Credit for finding Tanev and Higgins but hard to find much else to be positive about.
When he came here he instilled a culture of winning. He added some key pieces to the team via trade and free agency, and re-signed our core guys to fantastic deals (Sedins, Kesler, our defense, his original Burrows deal was great, etc.). Hamhuis, Ehrhoff, Samuelsson, Sundin, Demitra, Torres, Higgins and Garrison have all been key pick-ups.
But by all means, please cling to the notion that Gillis & Co. “inherited” the organization and had no role in its successes and is only responsible for its failures.
The “young guns” everybody wants to see are coming. Four excellent junior players are our property. We’ll see how they fare starting next fall.
Gillis has done well with the contracts, for sure...but to get those "home town discounts" he gave out way too many no trade clauses. Now he can't or won't move those guys!
Yes there are some young guns....but who knows how they will turn out...they are still jr prospects. Only one made the world juniors and he (Horvat) was acquired by trading a guy that was already here! You can't give Gillis credit for that.
Gillis gets a failing grade in my books.