Ian Esplen: Boston Giants & Gillis Boston Giants & Gillis

Although I agree Marchand (that little puke) and Krejci were excellent, I believe Rask and Chara played a bigger role in their success. Their roles were not as flashy, but more important IMO.

This is a make it or break it summer for Mike Gillis in my eyes, he must deliver! He spews a lot of BS that people like to hear but he's yet to make a significant move to change the core of the team during his time here.

Ian Esplen: Boston Giants & Gillis
Boston Giants & Gillis
- IanEsplen

Big difference between size and grit. Marchand is a douche but plays gritty and that is what makes him good. That said though, Boston has a ton of size and strength to back up their smaller guys.

Perhaps, maybe Gillis needs to start finding guys that are big where it matters: in the chest.

I think Cody Hodgson is one of those players but like you say, he was traded for size which inspite of all the things Gillis said we became instantly in that trade.... Kassian is just a project player.

Big difference between size and grit. Marchand is a douche but plays gritty and that is what makes him good. That said though, Boston has a ton of size and strength to back up their smaller guys.
- Iggysbff

this is exactly what I think as well. in terms of the nucks they are to small with no back up. the sedins are great but will never play a style similar to marchand so put people in place that will.

this is exactly what I think as well. in terms of the nucks they are to small with no back up. the sedins are great but will never play a style similar to marchand so put people in place that will.
- allen_gamble

THIS. Marchand plays that way because, he knows Z and Thornton have his back. Marchand plays exponentially smaller without those guys out there. Put the Sedins on the ice with Z for back up and watch them shine. Big Z can do it all. Makes you wonder wtf the sens were doing when they let him go in favor of Redden.

Ian Esplen: Boston Giants & Gillis
Boston Giants & Gillis
- IanEsplen

Luongo for Bogosian + Kane

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.

this is exactly what I think as well. in terms of the nucks they are to small with no back up. the sedins are great but will never play a style similar to marchand so put people in place that will.
- allen_gamble

I don't even know where to begin with this?

I think Cody Hodgson is one of those players but like you say, he was traded for size which inspite of all the things Gillis said we became instantly in that trade.... Kassian is just a project player.
- boonerbuck

I thought Cody was that guy too, but that type of player doesn't spend as much time whining about his ice time. He shows up on the ice and gives the coach no option but to play him more.

So Gonchar gets 2 years at $5m per. I'd be extremely interested to hear what sort of offers Gillis is getting for Edler.

Ian Esplen: Boston Giants & Gillis
Boston Giants & Gillis
- IanEsplen

Stop the overrating of size and take the kids that want “it” the most.

So Gonchar gets 2 years at $5m per. I'd be extremely interested to hear what sort of offers Gillis is getting for Edler.
- AlexF

Ridiculous contract, I don;t care if they're a cap floor team, that's just awful for a 39 year old d-man past his prime.

Mark Streit will get 5++ easily now. The market has officially been set. Thank God for that lockout.


And yes, it might be just a tad bit easier to like Edler's contract today....

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

If Daniel fought back against Marchand then Marchand got under his skin. If he doesn't fight back he has no heart. It's a ridiculous no win situation for him. If Datsyuk did the same thing he'd be praised for not letting Marchand get the better of him.

The Canucks didn't lose in 2011 because they weren't big enough or tough enough. They lost because they ran out of healthy bodies. Kesler, Hamhuis, Malhotra, Samuelsson, Raymond, Edler, Ehrhoff, Salo, Rome, all hurt. Hard to compete against a team as good as the Bruins with that many injured players.

Ridiculous contract, I don;t care if they're a cap floor team, that's just awful for a 39 year old d-man past his prime.

Mark Streit will get 5++ easily now. The market has officially been set. Thank God for that lockout.


And yes, it might be just a tad bit easier to like Edler's contract today....
- Nucker101

This is why there will be a taker for Ballard. Lots of teams have cap space and need defencemen. There just aren't many available. Also why Gillis would get a boat load if he traded Edler.

Boston vs Chicago should be a great Cup final, Krejci and Rask played really well in the Pittsburgh series.

Boston vs Chicago should be a great Cup final, Krejci and Rask played really well in the Pittsburgh series.

I thought Cody was that guy too, but that type of player doesn't spend as much time whining about his ice time. He shows up on the ice and gives the coach no option but to play him more.
- KB3Point0

You gave up on him too early...much toSabres benefit. Cody spends his entire summer training insanely to improve his game, to me he has the fire in the belly. That said, Sabres need many, many more guys with heart and dogged determination that skilled, perimeter players. Here's hoping it starts on June 30th

The difference between Yzerman and Gillis' performance isn't the fan bases...it's what they each started with. Yzerman started with an empty farm system whereas Gillis started with a stacked team. TB now has a great prospect pool and the Canucks are further away from success than they've been in years.


Gillis is on the clock because he's managed his assets terribly.

The difference between Yzerman and Gillis' performance isn't the fan bases...it's what they each started with. Yzerman started with an empty farm system whereas Gillis started with a stacked team. TB now has a great prospect pool and the Canucks are further away from success than they've been in years.


Gillis is on the clock because he's managed his assets terribly.
- djamon

This is ridiculous, sorry, but it is. You just stated two completely different things and tried to make them into the same.

Mike Gillis started with a poor prospect pool, Steve Yzerman started with a poor prospect pool. Those are one in the same.

Gillis started with a good core of players (Daniel, Hank, Kesler, Lu, Edler), Yzerman started with a good core of players (St Louis, Stamkos, Lecavalier, Purcell, Malone, Mike Smith, Hedman). Those again are one in the same.

To date Gillis has done a decent job adding to his core, where as Yzerman has not.

You gave up on him too early...much toSabres benefit. Cody spends his entire summer training insanely to improve his game, to me he has the fire in the belly. That said, Sabres need many, many more guys with heart and dogged determination that skilled, perimeter players. Here's hoping it starts on June 30th
- IonSabres

Buffalo gave up on Kassian too early, he's gonna be a beast in a few years!!

You gave up on him too early...much toSabres benefit. Cody spends his entire summer training insanely to improve his game, to me he has the fire in the belly. That said, Sabres need many, many more guys with heart and dogged determination that skilled, perimeter players. Here's hoping it starts on June 30th
- IonSabres

Nobody here gave up on him.

He was traded because there were some minor issues behind the scenes, and AV didn't feel comfortable playing him for some reason...

This is ridiculous, sorry, but it is. You just stated two completely different things and tried to make them into the same.

Mike Gillis started with a poor prospect pool, Steve Yzerman started with a poor prospect pool. Those are one in the same.

Gillis started with a good core of players (Daniel, Hank, Kesler, Lu, Edler), Yzerman started with a good core of players (St Louis, Stamkos, Lecavalier, Purcell, Malone, Mike Smith, Hedman). Those agains are one in the same.

To date Gillis has done a decent job adding to his core, where as Yzerman has not.
- LeftCoaster

Well said, LC.

Although I'm not thrilled with how Gillis has managed his assets the last two years.

This is ridiculous, sorry, but it is. You just stated two completely different things and tried to make them into the same.

Mike Gillis started with a poor prospect pool, Steve Yzerman started with a poor prospect pool. Those are one in the same.

Gillis started with a good core of players (Daniel, Hank, Kesler, Lu, Edler), Yzerman started with a good core of players (St Louis, Stamkos, Lecavalier, Purcell, Malone, Mike Smith, Hedman). Those agains are one in the same.

To date Gillis has done a decent job adding to his core, where as Yzerman has not.
- LeftCoaster

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.

This is ridiculous, sorry, but it is. You just stated two completely different things and tried to make them into the same.

Mike Gillis started with a poor prospect pool, Steve Yzerman started with a poor prospect pool. Those are one in the same.

Gillis started with a good core of players (Daniel, Hank, Kesler, Lu, Edler), Yzerman started with a good core of players (St Louis, Stamkos, Lecavalier, Purcell, Malone, Mike Smith, Hedman). Those again are one in the same.

To date Gillis has done a decent job adding to his core, where as Yzerman has not.
- LeftCoaster

the core of this team was here before Gillis, he's only tinkered with it, with mixed results.

if you take it further, and look at where they were when he took over, he's really only shown that he's been good with throwing a chequebook at ufa's. He's failed more than succeeded in trades and has completely messed up their cap situation.

http://canucksarmy.com/20...cord-at-look-back-at-2008