Keep on keeping on there buddy. If I really need to explain how making a highly paid player a backup destroys value then I give up. Cptmjl you were right, what did I get myself into?
- uf1910

Well that was the coach, not Gillis. The coach was fired. What did Gillis do?

To be fair, that was AV's decision. MG attempted to trade Lou but asked for too much (obviously).

He's buyout bound now.
- Canuckleafer

GM's have longer shelf lives than coaches. Maybe Gillis' problem was letting the coach run the offseason decisions and announcements? It wasn't the wrong decision to make Cory the starter, that I understood. But you only announce it after you make a trade. Gillis could have used fictitious Schneider offers as leverage in any negotiations for Lu. Instead he announced to the world that Lu had to be traded and Cory was his replacement.

Gillis had a taker in Burke and the Leafs. Played hardball and like you said asked for too much. It backfired and now Lu will get free $.

Well that was the coach, not Gillis. The coach was fired. What did Gillis do?
- KB3Point0

Tried to cover up his mess by firing the coach. Have you been hibernating for the last two years? Seems like you're starting to shake out of it? You couldn't possibly be this numb?

GM's have longer shelf lives than coaches. Maybe Gillis' problem was letting the coach run the offseason decisions and announcements? It wasn't the wrong decision to make Cory the starter, that I understood. But you only announce it after you make a trade. Gillis could have used fictitious Schneider offers as leverage in any negotiations for Lu. Instead he announced to the world that Lu had to be traded and Cory was his replacement.

Gillis had a taker in Burke and the Leafs. Played hardball and like you said asked for too much. It backfired and now Lu will get free $.
- uf1910

But that's not Gillis's fault

GM's have longer shelf lives than coaches. Maybe Gillis' problem was letting the coach run the offseason decisions and announcements? It wasn't the wrong decision to make Cory the starter, that I understood. But you only announce it after you make a trade. Gillis could have used fictitious Schneider offers as leverage in any negotiations for Lu. Instead he announced to the world that Lu had to be traded and Cory was his replacement.

Gillis had a taker in Burke and the Leafs. Played hardball and like you said asked for too much. It backfired and now Lu will get free $.
- uf1910

That statement may or may not be true.

We'll never know.

Well that was the coach, not Gillis. The coach was fired. What did Gillis do?
- KB3Point0

He let the coach make that announcement. Organizations are supposed to be on the same page working for each other. If Gillis let AV make that announcement then he was just as responsible for the statement. The GM has more power in the org then the coach so he should have told AV to shut his mouth and Gillis would solve the backup/starter problem via trade.

To be fair, that was AV's decision. MG attempted to trade Lou but asked for too much (obviously).

He's buyout bound now.
- Canuckleafer

I'm still crazy enough to think that the Canucks could put him on waivers and have another GM make an impulse claim.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam.../2013/06/20/20916536.html

^^^^^^^^^^ Fosco - if he keeps mainlining his chocolates

By making it known that he was available publicly. That the Canucks NEEDED to get rid of him ASAP. By creating a goalie controversy within your team. By publicly stating that the team was Schneiders not Luongo's. Pretty much telling the entire NHL that he had to get rid of Luongo. Signing him to that ridiculous contract to begin with. Dealing from a position of desperation is not the best vantage point. He should've taken whatever he was offered at the deadline and been done with it instead of expecting the return he was. How did the rest of the world understand his worth with that contract yet Gillis didn't? Now you'll get nothing for him. Book it. That to me is boardering on negligence. Every single person on the face of the Earth knew he'd be lucky to get anything at all besides Gillis himself and maybe you. Now you'll buy him out or take on an equally horrible contract just to be rid of the mess. You of course knew this all you just think you're being coy and funny. Whatever makes you happy? Can't wait for the buy out blog from Esplen!
- Cptmjl

The coach created the goalie controversy by starting Schneider in the playoffs, Gillis did not. Management actually wanted Luongo to start games 3 & 4 this year. AV started Schneider. AV was fired.

Gillis signed Luongo to the contract because that's what ownership wanted.

What was he offered at the deadline if you're such an expert, cause from what I hear the offers he received required him to eat some of Luongo's salary, which is absurd. They'd be better off buying out his contract then eating salary. At least that way there's no ongoing cap hit.

No, you have not shown how Gillis deserves to be fired over his handling of this situation. AV picked the starter for the games (Gillis fired him). The owner wanted the 12 year deal (he's the owner, he gets what he wants). Gillis was not offered anything at the deadline so what did he miss out on???

Get your facts straight.

That statement may or may not be true.

We'll never know.
- Atomic Wedgie

No we won't but there was enough smoke coming from that fire that you'd think there was some kind of deal? Didn't Gillis publicly state that he had offers but they were not enough for what he thought Luongo was worth?

It has NOTHING to do with signing him to that contract.

It has EVERYTHING to do with making him the BACKUP with that contract. Again, by saying Cory Schneider will be the starting goaltender in 2013 it destroyed any value Lu had b/c it basically announced to the NHL that Lu had to be traded. He couldn't use Schneider as leverage in trade negotiations b/c he is the "starter". And Lu had to be traded b/c no team, Vancouver or anyone else, can afford to have their backup making $5.3M.

Did I answer the question that time?
- uf1910

This is the sanest post I've seen in here through the 20 pages. I have faith in my fellow Lightning fan today.

It has NOTHING to do with signing him to that contract.

It has EVERYTHING to do with making him the BACKUP with that contract. Again, by saying Cory Schneider will be the starting goaltender in 2013 it destroyed any value Lu had b/c it basically announced to the NHL that Lu had to be traded. He couldn't use Schneider as leverage in trade negotiations b/c he is the "starter". And Lu had to be traded b/c no team, Vancouver or anyone else, can afford to have their backup making $5.3M.

Did I answer the question that time?
- uf1910

You people are freaking clueless. If he didn't actually "announce" it, would anything be any different??? NO!!! It would be the same whether he publicly said it or not.

If you're saying it's because Schneider got put into the starter's role, then that was on the coach, not the GM.

So, no, you have not answered why Gillis should be fired.

The coach created the goalie controversy by starting Schneider in the playoffs, Gillis did not. Management actually wanted Luongo to start games 3 & 4 this year. AV started Schneider. AV was fired.

Gillis signed Luongo to the contract because that's what ownership wanted.

What was he offered at the deadline if you're such an expert, cause from what I hear the offers he received required him to eat some of Luongo's salary, which is absurd. They'd be better off buying out his contract then eating salary. At least that way there's no ongoing cap hit.

No, you have not shown how Gillis deserves to be fired over his handling of this situation. AV picked the starter for the games (Gillis fired him). The owner wanted the 12 year deal (he's the owner, he gets what he wants). Gillis was not offered anything at the deadline so what did he miss out on???

Get your facts straight.
- KB3Point0

So WTF is Gillis doing there in the first place? What is his function? Between your former coach and owner doesn't sound like you need a GM? Did MG trade and draft players too or was that the owner or coach? I get the owner pushing his contract our crazy owner did the same thing with DP but if you think Gillis didn't play his cards right with this Luongo mess you're nuts and beyond help. Are you really questioning that?

GM's have longer shelf lives than coaches. Maybe Gillis' problem was letting the coach run the offseason decisions and announcements? It wasn't the wrong decision to make Cory the starter, that I understood. But you only announce it after you make a trade. Gillis could have used fictitious Schneider offers as leverage in any negotiations for Lu. Instead he announced to the world that Lu had to be traded and Cory was his replacement.

Gillis had a taker in Burke and the Leafs. Played hardball and like you said asked for too much. It backfired and now Lu will get free $.
- uf1910

You are wrong. Luongo has a no trade and at that point wasn't willing to waive it to go to the Leafs.

You people are freaking clueless. If he didn't actually "announce" it, would anything be any different??? NO!!! It would be the same whether he publicly said it or not.
If you're saying it's because Schneider got put into the starter's role, then that was on the coach, not the GM.

So, no, you have not answered why Gillis should be fired.
- KB3Point0

This is why GM's publicly state all the time that they are trading players with 12 yr contracts. All of them do it. Has no effect on trade value whatsoever. That's why they all do it.

Tried to cover up his mess by firing the coach. Have you been hibernating for the last two years? Seems like you're starting to shake out of it? You couldn't possibly be this numb?
- Cptmjl

Have you? Cover his mess? AV was absolutely horrible.

It's just ridiculous that people's hate for the Canucks can blind them to the point where they think the only option for Luongo is to be bought out.
As I said, Luongo is still the best goalie in the league when he wants to be. Give him a chance as a starter and he would prove that.
A team like Florida or the Islanders who desperately need a good goalie would love to have Luongo. My guess is he ends up in one of those 2 markets for some young players and picks. Will be interesting to see what kind of package each of those teams puts together.

You are wrong. Luongo has a no trade and at that point wasn't willing to waive it to go to the Leafs.
- KB3Point0

source?

Well that was the coach, not Gillis. The coach was fired. What did Gillis do?
- KB3Point0

Another thing Gillis did not do was add toughness to the team, when it was evident it was needed. He didn't address the issue, and playoff results have been getting worse for the Canucks. Two years ago it was clear that the Canucks needed to add some guys who would defend the Sedin's and who would make you guys harder to play against. He didn't do that, instead (for some reason) traded for D. Roy

It's just ridiculous that people's hate for the Canucks can blind them to the point where they think the only option for Luongo is to be bought out.
As I said, Luongo is still the best goalie in the league when he wants to be. Give him a chance as a starter and he would prove that.
A team like Florida or the Islanders who desperately need a good goalie would love to have Luongo. My guess is he ends up in one of those 2 markets for some young players and picks. Will be interesting to see what kind of package each of those teams puts together.
- hankthetank

Have you? Cover his mess? AV was absolutely horrible.
- KB3Point0

What's your opinion on Gillis?

That statement may or may not be true.

We'll never know.
- Atomic Wedgie

Thank you! Even if Luongo was willing to waive his no trade to go to Toronto at that point, which he was not, no one actually knows what was offered. In fact, some reporters (Cox) have reported both that there was a substantial offer, and that there was no offer.

Loungo says his contract sucks, Gillis says it's not a problem. The Canucks are turning into a punchline.

source?
- Cptmjl

MacLean: Luongo said no to Leafs

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-luongo-said-no-to-leafs/

Let's all rewind one second. Gillis's indecision is largely to blame for the decrease in Luongo's trade value but it starts long before this year.

Two years ago, the Canucks held a trade chip at the deadline that could have fetched a great young player, or two, in an attempt to give the team a better chance at winning the Stanley Cup then, and moving forward. That chip was Cory Schneider. Gillis failed to trade Schneider when he could, and then Alain Vigneault made Cory Schneider the starter in the middle of that first round series. That's not what sealed the deal.

Gillis could have continued on with belief in Luongo, and fetched a bounty for Schneider. Or, he could have kept quiet, not tipped his hat, and quietly taken offers for both goalies with the intention of dealing Luongo. Instead, the team came out and said that Schneider was 'the guy'. That's all fine and good, as Schneider's a fantastic goaltender, but it completely eliminated any value for Luongo on the trade market.

As has been pointed out by a fellow Lightning fan, the Canucks lost all leverage in negotiations. It's widely known that the team has to get rid of Luongo. Why pay a high price for something that is going to have to happen regardless? That's the mindset every potential buyer has right now. The market for him wasn't very big to begin with, given the length of his contract. Gillis screwed this up royally. This coming from as big of a Luongo fan as you'll find.

Luongo could be Patrick Roy in his prime, and that wouldn't change anything. The value of a player who has to be traded is virtually nil.