or this

Retweeted by Chris Johnston
Ryan Kesler ‏@Ryan_Kesler 15m
"Told you so" - @strombone1 ☔️
- Canada Cup

How much do you guys love this?

So he has to add every single piece? Most of the pieces he didn't bring in were playing under contracts that he got them to sign, well below market value, so that they had the space to add players that he added. He did build that team.

You sound like people who say that Team Canada won in 2010 despite Luongo. Even though without him they likely lose.
- KB3Point0

You're probably right. No other GM would have been able to get players on an emerging team, many of whom, essentially grew up together to want to stick together to try to win a cup together.

How much do you guys love this?
- Gullzy

I will chalk that up as his excitement overshadowing his good judgment. But it is a classless move by a classy guy.

How much do you guys love this?
- Gullzy

It's getting to be less fun by the day.

How much do you guys love this?
- Gullzy

People are gonna read all of his quotes today and take it out of context, apparently he was joking around. I think he can live with playing the season out. And it sounds like he's the one who nixed a deal to NYR so if he really wanted out that badly he would have been gone.

Grabner was expendable because him and Raymond were the exact same player but Raymond was more developed had a better upside and quite frankly was good till his back injury.
Hodgson was a trade from strength. Could he have gotten more. Sure. But we had just learned the value of a power fwd and league wide nobody was moving them. Kassian had a huge upside and potential to develop into 1. Nobody expected the injuries to Kesler and Sedin to leave huge blanks in the middle. It was bad luck and frankly bad scouting of the development of Kassian. Gillis fixed that by firing the almost the entire scouting staff.
Schnieder was a great trade. I believe Bo has a toews potential. Great leader with strong 2 way game.
Lou- this was getting something for nothing. The writing was on the wall after the snub at Heritage classic. Torts really put Gillis behind the 8 ball and he had not choice but to take the best offer on the table. I like this trade because we got a good goalie potential for a great goalie that was treated unfairly by Coaches, and Betman wit the new CBA.
If anything Gillis needs to see a voodoo man to see why he has such bad luck. Maybe all these years of fleecing GMs have caught up to his karma.
I cant believe I am defending Gillis but some things he did were the right moves at the time.
- Linden_4_Capt

Maybe you are confusing why he trades for what he gets in return. Not sure you are following the conversation.

Maybe you are confusing why he trades for what he gets in return. Not sure you are following the conversation.



- boonerbuck

I am following the conversation. Your comment was that Grabner and Cody would look good in Nucks right now. I explained the reasons for trade and what we got. At the time those were good trades. But hindsight is 20/20 right. If Ballard turned into a Doughty and Kassian into a Lucic would you be singing the same tune. We trade unknown for potential unknown. Very rarely does a talented young player that has reached potential is traded for same. Hodgson was unknown potential because he was never given the chance to prove as a 1lc or 2lc. Grabner was second fiddle to Raymond. We got another unknown in Kassian with great upside potential. Nuck did overestimate his development but the potential is there. Ballard was a top point producing dman in eastern conference. Established dman. Too bad AV loved his followers and did not trust an outsider. If you really think about it there were no trades or FA signing that really worked during AV era. The guys that got the best treatment were the same guys he had during Moosejaw days and were already on nucks.

But I have a feeling this will spawn another argument from you.

Updated blog with my take on the day's proceedings.

Almost as sunny here in Vancouver now as it was on Gillis' golf course in Phoenix earlier...

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=58457

Are you saying that Grabner was a developed 1st rounder when Gillis traded him? Even calling Hodgson a "developed 1st rounder" when he was traded is being a little bit too liberal with the term.

Grabner had more question marks than Kassian and Horvat as evidenced by his very quick trip to the waiver wire. Hodgson still has question marks.
- KB3Point0

I disagree about Grabner having more question marks than Kassian when he was traded. A questionable situation more like it. Questions about Kassian were why he doesn't put a physical effort in on a consistent basis. Same with his offensive output. His temper was in question on the ice and his behavior was question off the ice because of police involvement. You are just making a blind statement there. I don't remember fighting in bars and being suspended for losing his head ... or suspended for contact with the officials in junior(iirc) and AHL(this certainly happened) being in question with Grabner... Grabners questions could have been answered with opportunities which he didnt get.

Those are a lot of questions you are ignoring....

Now that we are looking back clearly these kids were developed into NHLers. Grabner stepped right into the NHL and scored 34 in his rookie year. He would be 5th in scoring since on this team. He was obviously developed well but coaching and management misread it.

Trading a 1st round pick because you question if he's an NHLer years later without giving him a shot is not legitimate. Yeah yeah, a hundred times you point to him being waived by the Panthers.... who didnt even give him a reg season game is also stupid but is just a deflection.

Hodgson had a decent year for the Canucks on the 3rd line and was more productive than Kesler in his early years in the same position. They had the option of putting Hodgson in the line up before his injury years earlier but left him to develop more. Hodgson moved up Buffalos line up since the trade and last I looked, had the same points per game as Kesler with 4 less minutes a night and no Sedin PP. He's been given the A on his jersey. Kesler lost his.... I don't know, looks like the kid was developed into an NHLer when he was traded.... he isnt done developing obviously... but leave it to you to twist my comment into something like that.

There are question marks about Hodgson mostly because of how over valued he was by us fans when he was younger still but its not a question of if he's an legit NHLer or not. Hodgson is good enough to lead his team in scoring or sit in the top 10 in PP points in the NHL for half the season. He's already considered a team leader represented by the A on his jersey. Clearly he would look like a much better player on a much better team. His further development is going to be hampered playing on that team. I dont doubt that... I dont think he's a legit 1st liner at this point thats for sure.

Sooo... anybody want to do any trades in the pool before the TDL tomorrow?

All the reports out of Pittsburgh indicated that their offer would improve in the summer. No reason an offer for Kesler should get any smaller. And if they do then screw'em all and keep him.
- KB3Point0

You say no reason.

Why are you so sure about that? I mean, I havent said it wont be so but they lose a year of playoff hockey from him... Kesler may be going into his usual surgery and rehab in the off season... him (frank)ing a team mates woman may taint the situation a little...

Dont be so narrow minded.

Gary Mason(Globe and Mail) said the offer from Pittsburgh was Sutter + 1st + 2nd


Anyone who's ripping on Gillis for turning that down needs to give their head a shake.

Burke says Kesler talks was why he couldn't move Cammy in time.

Grabner and 1st for a top 2D with great offensive game. This is like trading for Edler. The issue was that AV never really gave Ballard a shot. If I remember correctly Ballard played good in the playoffs but was benched for making 1 mistake in favor of Andrew "Franking" Alberts. Offensive Dmen sometimes make bad pinches and get caught. But you don't stifle them by sending them straight to the press box. If Av had some creativity he would have put Cody on Keslers wing. That would have solved the issue of Cody not being happy on the 3rd line. Lack of vision and adaptability killed this team. Then Gillis instead of sending AV packing gives him an extension. This is where the downfall started.
- Linden_4_Capt

Cody and agent to this day stick to their story that he was happy on the 3rd line. Remember, AV put Cody on the 4rth line for no reason for the couple of games leading up to the TDL. Cody still scored from there in a game where the top six was invisible and he was started there again. If he was ever unhappy about the line, it was obviously the 4rth.

Cody was productive on the 3rd line, 4rth line and carried the 2nd PP unit. Why would he be unhappy if you think about it...

Gary Mason(Globe and Mail) said the offer from Pittsburgh was Sutter + 1st + 2nd


Anyone who's ripping on Gillis for turning that down needs to give their head a shake.
- Nucker101

it boggles my mind that a player with Kesler's skillset & contract didn't bring multiple significant offers from every team he'd waive for. Wow...

Gary Mason(Globe and Mail) said the offer from Pittsburgh was Sutter + 1st + 2nd


Anyone who's ripping on Gillis for turning that down needs to give their head a shake.
- Nucker101

Don't think I've seen a single person rip on Gillis for PIT's offer. Truth is we might never known what the official best offer was but every offer I've seen "rumored" has been a joke.

You're probably right. No other GM would have been able to get players on an emerging team, many of whom, essentially grew up together to want to stick together to try to win a cup together.
- bazz

IKR....

Its unfair to say Gillis built that team. Its unfair to say he didnt add to it. Short term success was shared by Gillis.... long term success was a fail for Gillis.

Cody and agent to this day stick to their story that he was happy on the 3rd line. Remember, AV put Cody on the 4rth line for no reason for the couple of games leading up to the TDL. Cody still scored from there in a game where the top six was invisible and he was started there again. If he was ever unhappy about the line, it was obviously the 4rth.

Cody was productive on the 3rd line, 4rth line and carried the 2nd PP unit. Why would he be unhappy if you think about it...
- boonerbuck

I'm embarrassed to be a Canucks fan today. I've never felt this way before, not even during the 2011 riots. FA has to buck the (frank) up, and look for new management. For him to do that though, he has to accept that signing Torts/Gillis to exuberant contracts was his fault; but I doubt he admits he made a mistake.

I am following the conversation. Your comment was that Grabner and Cody would look good in Nucks right now. I explained the reasons for trade and what we got. At the time those were good trades. But hindsight is 20/20 right. If Ballard turned into a Doughty and Kassian into a Lucic would you be singing the same tune. We trade unknown for potential unknown. Very rarely does a talented young player that has reached potential is traded for same. Hodgson was unknown potential because he was never given the chance to prove as a 1lc or 2lc. Grabner was second fiddle to Raymond. We got another unknown in Kassian with great upside potential. Nuck did overestimate his development but the potential is there. Ballard was a top point producing dman in eastern conference. Established dman. Too bad AV loved his followers and did not trust an outsider. If you really think about it there were no trades or FA signing that really worked during AV era. The guys that got the best treatment were the same guys he had during Moosejaw days and were already on nucks.

But I have a feeling this will spawn another argument from you.
- Linden_4_Capt

Wrong. The conversation was what he got in return from those players. Go back and read. People keep trying to steering it to what you think Im saying.. I've only responded to some of it while trying to keep it from getting steered off course. Its what KB3 does as much as he can.

Think Gillis was patient not moving Kessler at the deadline
1.They can still make the playoffs with him
2.At The Draft he will receive more in return
If he is still the GM in June

Think Gillis was patient not moving Kessler at the deadline
1.They can still make the playoffs with him
2.At The Draft he will receive more in return
If he is still the GM in June
- PEIHawkFan

1. No
2. Yes
3. We'll See

Apparently THN doesn't think much about Gillis' handy work at the TDL:

Vancouver - The Canucks and, especially, GM Mike Gillis are easily the biggest losers of the trade deadline. The shocking trade of Roberto Luongo on Tuesday shook the fan base and made everyone question what Gillis’ plan was, or even if he was still in charge. On top of that, Ryan Kesler, who wants out of town, was not traded, so that negative storyline will hang over this team for the rest of the season. And the last thing the Canucks need is another one of those distracting them. This team is heading down a very confusing path and whether or not they make the playoffs is secondary at this point – what the heck is next for the Canucks in the summer?

Think Gillis was patient not moving Kessler at the deadline
1.They can still make the playoffs with him
2.At The Draft he will receive more in return
If he is still the GM in June
- PEIHawkFan

The teams that were in on him are gonna regret not picking him up when they had a chance. They will most likely flounder because they were missing what Kesler bought to the table. If this happens, I expect Keslers price to either rise or stay the same.

The teams that were in on him are gonna regret not picking him up when they had a chance. They will most likely flounder because they were missing what Kesler bought to the table. If this happens, I expect Keslers price to either rise or stay the same.
- Gullzy

If we're talking Sutter + late 1st + late 2nd as the better offer I'm positive that we can at least match that at the draft.

If we're talking Sutter + late 1st + late 2nd as the better offer I'm positive that we can at least match that at the draft.
- AlexF

Even then, that's a terrible trade.