Bostons two most important players were Lucic and Chara who made lots of room for rats to play and snipers to snipe.

Mike Gillis started with a legitimate Cup contender...do you honestly think they still are? Didn't think so. Playing in the league's weakest division has masked their decline.

Yzerman hasn't set the world on fire by any means, but he's taken a weakness and made it a strength. They have a very nice prospect pool which they'll need since they're not a Cap team like the Canucks. Unfortunately they'll need to get out from under the Vinnie contract before they can really move to the next level.

As far as adding to the core I'm actually shocked that anyone would think Gillis has done it at all. THE CORE HASN'T CHANGED! His misallocation of salary has been a fireable offense alone, IMO.
- djamon

Legitimate Cup contender? Why did they finish 10th last the year before he was hired then? I'll agree he started with a good core of players, that's not really debatable, but they really needed to add some important pieces to get to where they could contend. The core doesn't always win you a Stanley Cup, more often than not it's the role players that play such an important part in team success.

Edit: I should clarify, maybe I should be saying surrounding his core...not adding to his core?

Size is important as well as heart. The Canucks got bullied and pushed around during the playoffs. To watch Daniel get repeatedly punched in the head and not do anything made me sick, he looks at the ref, what do you think that does to team morale? That is the kind of culture you need to get away from! Stick up for yourselves. Get some big good Canadian boys who are proud to be fighting for a Stanley cup and would gladly leave a few teeth on the ice to accomplish that. So I will stick with size, grit and heart anytime.
- VanHockeyGuy

We got bullied and pushed but at least we scored 8 goals and and won 3 games . Pittsburg with all their fire power and toughness were invisible. Bruins are that good .

Legitimate Cup contender? Why did they finish 10th last the year before he was hired then? I'll agree he started with a good core of players, that's not really debatable, but they really needed to add some important pieces to get to where they could contend. The core doesn't always win you a Stanley Cup, more often than not it's the role players that play such an important part in team success.
- LeftCoaster

which is exactly why the canucks were swept in the first round.

We got bullied and pushed but at least we scored 8 goals and and won 3 games . Pittsburg with all their fire power and toughness were invisible. Bruins are that good .
- VANTEL

comparing what one team did against another two years ago isn't exactly an equal comparision. Neither roster is the same, their cores are mostly the same, but it's a silly comparison.

We got bullied and pushed but at least we scored 8 goals and and won 3 games . Pittsburg with all their fire power and toughness were invisible. Bruins are that good .
- VANTEL

I actually think they are better than the 11 team. B's had alot of help and fortunate circumstances in 11.

which is exactly why the canucks were swept in the first round.
- Isles_since_6

He took a 10th last place team in 2008 to a Stanley Cup final in 2011, that's three years. They peaked and now he needs to make some changes. NHL rosters are a fluid thing, they need to change to keep moving forward. We're now at that stage where we not only need to surround the core with better players, we also need an adjustment to the actual core.

I'm excited at the thought of it, change is good in my opinion!

Anyone think edler could grab 1st overall pick after that gonchar singing?

See this is where hockey fans in Vancouver differ from most markets around the NHL. We want our coaches, players and GMs to deliver a Cup, not high draft picks and hope of AHL success. If Gillis can’t deliver something close to that this season, I think you’ll see Mr. Aquilini take a very close look at whether he has the right captain running the ship.

No Cup, maybe Gillis is gone. No playoffs, Gillis is diffidently gone.

We don’t settle for Calder Cups in Van City; we want something more here.

A. I also think he is diffidently gone.

B. Only out-of-towners and lazy TSN "professionals" call Vancouver, Van City. It was TSN's attempt at a "TO" to make them sound cool, vivid and on the ground........... it's a credit union people..... a credit union.... move on.... diffidently move on.

Anyone think edler could grab 1st overall pick after that gonchar singing?
- RF_4eva

He is a top 2 Dman, top 4 at worst with special teams to boot. That is the price for a first rounder but only if the other team needs him.

Anyone think edler could grab 1st overall pick after that gonchar singing?
- RF_4eva

Not a chance...

We got bullied and pushed but at least we scored 8 goals and and won 3 games . Pittsburg with all their fire power and toughness were invisible. Bruins are that good .
- VANTEL

I had a strong feeling even before the playoffs started that PIT would go down to a strong defensive team. I would never have guessed that they'd only score 2 goals in 4 games. That's an amazing stat line with the forwards they have.

Anyone think edler could grab 1st overall pick after that gonchar singing?
- RF_4eva

I'd be surprised if he could net us a top 10 pick in this draft. If he does get traded more than likely it'll be for a forward.

comparing what one team did against another two years ago isn't exactly an equal comparision. Neither roster is the same, their cores are mostly the same, but it's a silly comparison.
- Isles_since_6

If you want to see silly look between your legs

which is exactly why the canucks were swept in the first round.
- Isles_since_6

It's also why they made it to game 7 of the SCF.

If Gillis hadn't re-signed the core to good contracts (Sedins, Burrows, Kesler), he wouldn't have been able to add the depth they needed to make that run.

He brought in Hamhuis, who was crucial in both the regular season and playoffs (his injury lost the team the cup), traded for Ehrhoff, who didn't play as well in the playoffs, but was crucial in the Canucks reg. season success, which certainly played a part in their path to the finals, and he also added Lapierre and Higgins, who were also crucial in the SCF run, without removing roster players.

He's had his misses, for sure, and definitely more misses than hits lately, but he did an excellent job constructing that team, and deservedly won the GM of the year award that season.

He took a 10th last place team in 2008 to a Stanley Cup final in 2011, that's three years. They peaked and now he needs to make some changes. NHL rosters are a fluid thing, they need to change to keep moving forward. We're now at that stage where we not only need to surround the core with better players, we also need an adjustment to the actual core.

I'm excited at the thought of it, change is good in my opinion!
- LeftCoaster

He added some nice pieces for the Cup run...Ehrhoff and Hamhuis the best...but it's been offset, IMO, by his poor drafting and salary allocation. Their handling of the Hodgson situation was awful and very damaging. And the Luongo ordeal is about as bad as you can get. Until it gets worse...which it may yet.

The team is in Cap Hell which he can only extricate himself by making the team worse. Their depth is virtually non-existent and they've become old very quickly...which are both the fault of the GM.

I'd be surprised if he could net us a top 10 pick in this draft. If he does get traded more than likely it'll be for a forward.
- AlexF

I would expect more coming back than just a pick once you get higher than the 5th overall. He is definitely worth a 6-10 and higher pick on his own.

I had a strong feeling even before the playoffs started that PIT would go down to a strong defensive team. I would never have guessed that they'd only score 2 goals in 4 games. That's an amazing stat line with the forwards they have.
- AlexF

I think lots of any series has to do with match ups cus in no way would any predict the pens to get 2 goals. I didn't think theyd win the series but I thought theyd at least show up at the games.

I would expect more coming back than just a pick once you get higher than the 5th overall. He is definitely worth a 6-10 and higher pick on his own.
- Fosco

I say 6-10 also. If gonchar got 5 per, to me edlers deal now looks even better than before.

I would expect more coming back than just a pick once you get higher than the 5th overall. He is definitely worth a 6-10 and higher pick on his own.
- Fosco

That might be so but we won't get a pick that high straight up IMO. Too many GMs are too high on this draft class. But as I mentioned, I don't see Gillis dealing Edler for just a pick, rather a forward.

Is it time to revisit the annual Bobby Ryan trade possibilities?

I think lots of any series has to do with match ups cus in no way would any predict the pens to get 2 goals. I didn't think theyd win the series but I thought theyd at least show up at the games.
- allen_gamble

Exactly, the core of the Bruins is the same and the Pens had Crosby Malkin Letang Kunitz Neale Martin Iggy and Morrow. That was bloody shocking with that much fire power they walk away with two goals. Kudos to the Bruins.

He added some nice pieces for the Cup run...Ehrhoff and Hamhuis the best...but it's been offset, IMO, by his poor drafting and salary allocation. Their handling of the Hodgson situation was awful and very damaging. And the Luongo ordeal is about as bad as you can get. Until it gets worse...which it may yet.

The team is in Cap Hell which he can only extricate himself by making the team worse. Their depth is virtually non-existent and they've become old very quickly...which are both the fault of the GM.
- djamon

I'm definitely not Gillis's biggest fan, mostly because I think he's an arrogant azzhole. Anyways, regarding his drafting, who else do you think he should have picked that would put us in a better situation right now? 2008 was a bit of a wash as he was hired a month before the draft. In five drafts he's made four first round picks, 10th in 08, 22nd in 09, 29th in 11 & 26th in 12. The latter round picks are projects, as they are with all clubs. IMO we need more time to judge his drafting.

One terrible trade he made was the Ballard deal, at the time he didn't have Hamhuis signed, but he still paid too much for him and let the coach destroy his confindence and game. That's on him.

He gave Lu way to long of a contract, but I think the owner had his fingers in the pie there. Where he screwed up in this whole thing is he made a commitment to Lu and didn't follow through with it, IMO he should have traded Schneider last year while his stock was high. That's also on him. But we can make a list for every GM in the league, no one GM is without fault, not one!

That might be so but we won't get a pick that high straight up IMO. Too many GMs are too high on this draft class. But as I mentioned, I don't see Gillis dealing Edler for just a pick, rather a forward.

Is it time to revisit the annual Bobby Ryan trade possibilities?
- AlexF

Ryan would be a perfect fit. It would depend on shedding all other salaries(lu, booth, ballard). If he has trouble doing so with only 2 buyouts the only option might be to deal someone like edler or burrows for a pick. That CBA seriously screwed us.

Exactly, the core of the Bruins is the same and the Pens had Crosby Malkin Letang Kunitz Neale Martin Iggy and Morrow. That was bloody shocking with that much fire power they walk away with two goals. Kudos to the Bruins.
- VANTEL

I like the bruins(other than marchand) and was pulling for them. Plus I think we move up in the draft by one spot with a Bs win. Now we need the kings to come back

He added some nice pieces for the Cup run...Ehrhoff and Hamhuis the best...but it's been offset, IMO, by his poor drafting and salary allocation. Their handling of the Hodgson situation was awful and very damaging. And the Luongo ordeal is about as bad as you can get. Until it gets worse...which it may yet.

The team is in Cap Hell which he can only extricate himself by making the team worse. Their depth is virtually non-existent and they've become old very quickly...which are both the fault of the GM.
- djamon

A very quick analysis of the Canucks cap situation is all it takes to see they're set up much better than most teams for this season. Removing Luongo & Ballard leaves them with most of their roster full. Just need to resign Tanev, fill #7 D, #11-13 forwards. And of course, the elusive 3rd line centre, who they should have about $3M to use.

Gillis has flexibility to make it work, now he just has to do it right.