News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports · 3m3 minutes ago
Utica gm Pat Conacher on the #Canucks prospects : "They are learning how to be a pro and learning how to win."
- LeftCoaster

Are Pat and Cory related?

Nice to hear about Canucks management watching that game, must be getting some air miles, JB has been back and forth a few times.

I hope scouts are there from other teams too.

Trade Hamhuis at next years TDL for draft picks...that's how it should be done if management has any clue about a path forward.
- LeftCoaster

Yep. Look ahead instead of giving aging veterans raises for getting slower, aging and no goal production. I like some of the intangibles Hamhuis 'could' bring but it's time. It's all about forward thinking now not loyalties to this dead core we have.

Are Pat and Cory related?

Nice to hear about Canucks management watching that game, must be getting some air miles, JB has been back and forth a few times.

I hope scouts are there from other teams too.
- hillbillydeluxe

No - but this is interesting

"Conacher was born with a rare condition in which his bladder was outside his body. As a result, he underwent a ten hour surgical procedure at only five days old in which doctors reconstructed his pelvis in order to place his bladder back into his body. The situation was so severe that doctors informed his parents that he might never walk properly. Additionally, Conacher has suffered from Type 1 Diabetes since the age of eight. When not playing he often has an insulin pump attached to his hip to regulate his sugar levels.

Conacher is a distant relative of Hockey Hall of Famers Charlie, Roy, and Lionel Conacher"

Bieksa is the one that needs to go this summer/draft, not Hamhuis.
- LeftCoaster

I would say, all defenceman are in play aside from Tanev. In the position the D is in right now, the more options you have the better.

Canucks Misconduct ‏@nucksmisconduct · 4m4 minutes ago
#Comets forward scoring:

Gaunce— 4G,5A/16 GP
Friesen—4G,6A/18 GP
Grenier—5G, 7A/18 GP
Baertschi—6 G,7A/13 GP
O'Reilly—15A/18GP

Trade Hamhuis at next years TDL for draft picks...that's how it should be done if management has any clue about a path forward.
- LeftCoaster

One thing we do know is any player decisions will be made by committee, that seems to be JB's Modus operandi.

No - but this is interesting

"Conacher was born with a rare condition in which his bladder was outside his body. As a result, he underwent a ten hour surgical procedure at only five days old in which doctors reconstructed his pelvis in order to place his bladder back into his body. The situation was so severe that doctors informed his parents that he might never walk properly. Additionally, Conacher has suffered from Type 1 Diabetes since the age of eight. When not playing he often has an insulin pump attached to his hip to regulate his sugar levels.

Conacher is a distant relative of Hockey Hall of Famers Charlie, Roy, and Lionel Conacher"
- LeftCoaster

Why is it when you put hurdles in front of some people, stack the odds against them, they rise to the occasion and succeed and when you set it all up nice for others, they often fail.

Some people can't succeed without a helping hand, some can't succeed with a helping hand.

Strange world.

One thing we do know is any player decisions will be made by committee, that seems to be JB's Modus operandi.
- VanHockeyGuy

There will be input for sure.

Was just thinking this morning, wasn't there an interview from JB, just after the season started that he talks to other team's GM's daily?

Likely these discussions are less after the trade deadline and during the playoffs, just guessing he will be receiving some phone calls congratulating him on the success so far of the Comets, commenting on Markstrom....

Just thinking he has to be more approachable than GMMG was, and we will see something develop before the draft, a goalie has to be on the move.

There will be input for sure.

Was just thinking this morning, wasn't there an interview from JB, just after the season started that he talks to other team's GM's daily?

Likely these discussions are less after the trade deadline and during the playoffs, just guessing he will be receiving some phone calls congratulating him on the success so far of the Comets, commenting on Markstrom....

Just thinking he has to be more approachable than GMMG was, and we will see something develop before the draft, a goalie has to be on the move.
- hillbillydeluxe

MG's persona limited him to trades with about 10% of his counterparts, I would guess JB is probably at or close to 100%.

MG's persona limited him to trades with about 10% of his counterparts, I would guess JB is probably at or close to 100%.
- VanHockeyGuy

gillis was far too smug. I wouldnt doubt it if ninety percent of the GMs hung up the phone when they heard it was him calling.

gillis was far too smug. I wouldnt doubt it if ninety percent of the GMs hung up the phone when they heard it was him calling.
- vancity787

Doubt it, this is pro sports. If you're going to let hurt feelings get in the way of trying to win then you're in the wrong business and the guy who hired you made a mistake. Why would I turn down a deal that makes my team better just because I don't like the other guy?

Are these grown men or 13 year old girls?

gillis was far too smug. I wouldnt doubt it if ninety percent of the GMs hung up the phone when they heard it was him calling.
- vancity787

I see JB as a Jim Nabors type- approachable, down to earth and sincere, but hope he isn't afraid to go slingblade if he has to.

I see JB as a Jim Nabors type- approachable, down to earth and sincere, but hope he isn't afraid to go slingblade if he has to.
- hillbillydeluxe

Well he is probably easier to deal with for sure, the way he paid Sbisa/Miller and how he's traded so far suggests that he's usually willing to just meet the other team's demands much more than Gillis was. That will mean more trades will be completed but we'll see if they turn out good or not.

Doubt it, this is pro sports. If you're going to let hurt feelings get in the way of trying to win then you're in the wrong business and the guy who hired you made a mistake. Why would I turn down a deal that makes my team better just because I don't like the other guy?

Are these grown men or 13 year old girls?
- Nucker101

Ask Dave Nonis.

Doubt it, this is pro sports. If you're going to let hurt feelings get in the way of trying to win then you're in the wrong business and the guy who hired you made a mistake. Why would I turn down a deal that makes my team better just because I don't like the other guy?

Are these grown men or 13 year old girls?
- Nucker101

They are professional, but they are also human. It would be tough to completely eliminate personal bias. It's not like it comes down to trade with Gillis or don't trade at all. If a him had two possible trades on the table, one with Gillis and one with a GM that is not a pompous Dbag, they're probably not trading with Gillis.

Well he is probably easier to deal with for sure, the way he paid Sbisa/Miller and how he's traded so far suggests that he's usually willing to just meet the other team's demands much more than Gillis was. That will mean more trades will be completed but we'll see if they turn out good or not.
- Nucker101

Gillis lost more trades then he won, and his unwillingness to simply meet other teams demands led to two years of goalie BS.

Well he is probably easier to deal with for sure, the way he paid Sbisa/Miller and how he's traded so far suggests that he's usually willing to just meet the other team's demands much more than Gillis was. That will mean more trades will be completed but we'll see if they turn out good or not.
- Nucker101

I agree, in principle, with what you said earlier about needing a thick skin.

Business is business.

But people are people. Don't know how many times I have heard someone say, don't take this personally and then you see that same guy who said that take something personally.

Hopefully, JB's perceived overpayments were a result of him having a ball park figure in mind and the contracts were negotiated within that range. For attracting free agents and retaining players he wants to retain, overspending a few hundred K may be seen more as an investment than a loss.

Doubt it, this is pro sports. If you're going to let hurt feelings get in the way of trying to win then you're in the wrong business and the guy who hired you made a mistake. Why would I turn down a deal that makes my team better just because I don't like the other guy?

Are these grown men or 13 year old girls?
- Nucker101

From 2014 but some real good insight on MG. This has nothing to do with feelings, why would you want to deal with a tool who overvalued players, and alienated himself from his counterparts? I think Murray from ANA was as perplexed by this clown as all of the other GM's in the NHL. Except Dale Talon who loved dealing with him as much a he enjoyed repeatedly bending him over in every trade. Edit; Gillis was in the "wrong business"

http://vansunsportsblogs....anucks-during-2011-final/

Well he is probably easier to deal with for sure, the way he paid Sbisa/Miller and how he's traded so far suggests that he's usually willing to just meet the other team's demands much more than Gillis was. That will mean more trades will be completed but we'll see if they turn out good or not.
- Nucker101

That also falls on Gilman as well. Decisions are by committee.

They are professional, but they are also human. It would be tough to completely eliminate personal bias. It's not like it comes down to trade with Gillis or don't trade at all. If a him had two possible trades on the table, one with Gillis and one with a GM that is not a pompous Dbag, they're probably not trading with Gillis.
- CubanBuffet

Sure, but I highly doubt that there's many scenarios where two trades were exactly the same value. It's probably pretty rare. There's always pro scouts begging GM's to take a certain trade over the other, I just highly doubt that liking the other GM is even close to being a top factor.

Sure, but I highly doubt that there's many scenarios where two trades were exactly the same value. It's probably pretty rare. There's always pro scouts begging GM's to take a certain trade over the other, I just highly doubt that liking the other GM is even close to being a top factor.
- Nucker101

Not a top factor but I garauntee you it is a factor.

Gillis lost more trades then he won, and his unwillingness to simply meet other teams demands led to two years of goalie BS.
- CubanBuffet

That's true, ideally you want someone who's not that stubborn but you also don't want a guy who's easy to negotiate with. I'm really curious to know what other teams were offering for Pedan/Vey and how much Miller/Sbisa would have gotten had they not signed here.

Not a top factor but I garauntee you it is a factor.
- vancity787

A small one at best.


"Hey pro scouts, this has been a good debate we've had on which of these two offers to take but I'm just going to accept the deal from the guy I like better"

I agree, in principle, with what you said earlier about needing a thick skin.

Business is business.

But people are people. Don't know how many times I have heard someone say, don't take this personally and then you see that same guy who said that take something personally.

Hopefully, JB's perceived overpayments were a result of him having a ball park figure in mind and the contracts were negotiated within that range. For attracting free agents and retaining players he wants to retain, overspending a few hundred K may be seen more as an investment than a loss.
- hillbillydeluxe

I have zero doubts that Benning has a plan and was prepared to spend as much as he did on Sbisa/Tanev/Miller/Dorsett/Vrbata but just how good is a plan that involves paying 3M+ for a 6/7 defender and 6M for a starting goalie who's save percentage was below league average?

That's true, ideally you want someone who's not that stubborn but you also don't want a guy who's easy to negotiate with. I'm really curious to know what other teams were offering for Pedan/Vey and how much Miller/Sbisa would have gotten had they not signed here.
- Nucker101

I'm not. I really don't want to know.