I was expecting a Luongo buyout or an "agreement" with Florida.

3 things that have (frank)ed Gillis:

1. Not firing AV when he first took over.
2. The AV/Gillis handling of Luongo/Schneider.
3. Hodgson for Kassian(even if he had to move him, he should have held out for better value).

Bonus: Booth and Ballard*
- Nucker101

Holy (frank) man Hodgson has 19 pts this season. Can we stop pretending he was the 2nd coming now?

The writing was on ze wall for months. I believe vantal and I had a discussion on here.
Schneider is a great goalie, no question. But far to many people on this forum gave him the maple leaf trade value.
A top 9 pick in perhaps the richest draft ever. So lets say top 5 pick in the average draft. For a great yet largely unproven #1 goalie. And you guys don't like the deal
- Bieksa#3

I was like a school girl when at the draft listening to Gary Bettman.

I am on the fence on the Kassian trade. Right now neither player is a top 6 on many teams for a varying amount of reasons and weaknesses.
I don't like the trade because if that was indeed the best he could have done for Hogdson then do it at the draft. If your going to move him at the deadline you need to improve your team
- Bieksa#3

I am a Zack fan. I will be patient

AV shouldn't have been fired when Gilles got here. I believe he should been fired after the 2nd loss to the hawks.
- Bieksa#3

When you come in as GM you put your stamp on the team. AV should have been gone.

Holy (frank) man Hodgson has 19 pts this season. Can we stop pretending he was the 2nd coming now?
- golfingsince

If Kass was give the minutes Hodgson is being given he would have double the points.

I am on the fence on the Kassian trade. Right now neither player is a top 6 on many teams for a varying amount of reasons and weaknesses.
I don't like the trade because if that was indeed the best he could have done for Hogdson then do it at the draft. If your going to move him at the deadline you need to improve your team
- Bieksa#3

Maybe they didn't want it to come out that he wanted to be moved. Regardless, i'm done beating that dead horse. Kassian keeps improving and that's all I can hope for. He shows flashes of skill and I think Torts will turn him into a really solid player.

If Kass was give the minutes Hodgson is being given he would have double the points.
- thundachunk

Best players Kass has taken a regular shift with since he's been here are Richardson and Booth. True story.

When you come in as GM you put your stamp on the team. AV should have been gone.
- thundachunk

Even if it means hiring a worse coach I guess. He was a good coach for a period here.

Maybe they didn't want it to come out that he wanted to be moved. Regardless, i'm done beating that dead horse. Kassian keeps improving and that's all I can hope for. He shows flashes of skill and I think Torts will turn him into a really solid player.
- golfingsince

I think when the kid decides to play he is unstoppable, he just needs that feeling more often

Maybe they didn't want it to come out that he wanted to be moved. Regardless, i'm done beating that dead horse. Kassian keeps improving and that's all I can hope for. He shows flashes of skill and I think Torts will turn him into a really solid player.
- golfingsince

Perhaps that is the case. As I said I'm on the fence as to whether we lost the trade.

Holy (frank) man Hodgson has 19 pts this season. Can we stop pretending he was the 2nd coming now?
- golfingsince

Exactly.

Even if it means hiring a worse coach I guess. He was a good coach for a period here.
- Bieksa#3

Yup, I get that he needed to go. But the hate he gets is beyond me.

Ray Whitney could be interesting with Kesler. Forces Higgins down to third line.

Vanek only if you can pick up an above average playmaking winger to join them.

Brian Boyle is appealing because they still need to add size to their lineup. Even if it's not as gritty as say Ott, who might have been a better fit two years ago.

They need the pure offensive game-breaking skill like a Gaborik or Vanek who could enhance their second unit power play and stretch defensive coverage out to hopefully allow the Sedins to be more of a factor. But they also need size that can get to the front of the net. Ideally it would all be in the same package but they're not getting that from a rental. Moulson's perhaps the closest to that type of player.

Parting with second round draft picks for rentals is harmless if you can keep signing free agents like Tanev or Lack. Not sure there's anybody on that list who'd make enough of a difference to be worth giving up a first though. Maybe if they're taking Booth as part of the deal.

Exactly.
- Bieksa#3

As soon as somebody crowned him as the next Linden the love he has gotten has been ridiculous to say the least.

LA took it in the chin tonight

Yup, I get that he needed to go. But the hate he gets is beyond me.
- golfingsince

For what its worth, I don't believe the twins would have become the same players as they did without a coach of AVs personality. He let them be to play their game.

I am a Zack fan. I will be patient
- VANTEL

Brother from another mother

Yup, I get that he needed to go. But the hate he gets is beyond me.
- golfingsince

My dislike was he got out coached and beaten to the draw over and over.

Brother from another mother
- LeftCoaster

As soon as somebody crowned him as the next Linden the love he has gotten has been ridiculous to say the least.
- golfingsince

Exactly.

Ray Whitney could be interesting with Kesler. Forces Higgins down to third line.

Vanek only if you can pick up an above average playmaking winger to join them.

Brian Boyle is appealing because they still need to add size to their lineup. Even if it's not as gritty as say Ott, who might have been a better fit two years ago.

They need the pure offensive game-breaking skill like a Gaborik or Vanek who could enhance their second unit power play and stretch defensive coverage out to hopefully allow the Sedins to be more of a factor. But they also need size that can get to the front of the net. Ideally it would all be in the same package but they're not getting that from a rental. Moulson's perhaps the closest to that type of player.

Parting with second round draft picks for rentals is harmless if you can keep signing free agents like Tanev or Lack. Not sure there's anybody on that list who'd make enough of a difference to be worth giving up a first though. Maybe if they're taking Booth as part of the deal.
- YeOldTimer

I'd like one of Jagr/Moulson and Setoguchi for this year if the cost isn't that much. I don't want to trade the 2015 2nd rounder either.

Heatly might be good to rent at the right price but I don't think we would keep him after his contract is up.
- thundachunk

I think he's finally worn out his welcome in the NHL and will be headed for Europe next year.

I'd like one of Jagr/Moulson and Setoguchi for this year if the cost isn't that much. I don't want to trade the 2015 2nd rounder either.
- golfingsince

Agreed

Or maybe, just maybe, they need to play 2 rounds in order to make enough money to buy out Lu? Not saying either is going to happen but if i'm an owner and the GM wants me to buy out a contract that size then I tell him to generate the revenue this season.
- golfingsince

Given his level of play and attractive cap hit, Luongo will be the starter here until Lack has proven he can take over as #1. That's at least two years away, right about the time Lou's contract starts to become very appealing to cap floor teams.

Even if it means hiring a worse coach I guess. He was a good coach for a period here.
- Bieksa#3

At the time I do believe Randy Carlyle was available