Yes he has...so lets get everyone to start demanding a GM change, no more waiting to see what the PLAN is.

Nucker, Bloated, Bingo and that wishywashyleafs guy, are right....Gillis was such a demi god GM, how could we have been so wrong.

Personally I'm gonna wait this out, I've given every other GM and coach the benefit of a doubt for a few years, I'll be doing the same here.

The problem is that if you don't swallow what the nay sayers are pushing then your automatically lumped into the circle jerk gang...for the record I'm the wait and see what happens, 2 hands above the covers guy.
- Makita

I was never a Gillis supporter. I called the circle jerk gang out when they were gushing over Gillis and his 'out of the box' thinking.

Said the same thing when the gang started gushing over Benning. We have no idea what this rookie GM will be like. Let's see the evidence before we call this hire a success.

Holy (frank) I'm about to lose my poop on this guy!!!!
- LeftCoaster

Wondering if the faceoff % was a driving force in acquiring Sutter. We overpaid for Malhotra and was a different team because of his winning face offs and gaining possession.

Will Sutter be on the ice for more face offs so if Vey is 4th line c, Sutter might be on for faceoffs and switching soon after.?

I look at it this way. I think Bonino may be a better second liner than Sutter but that job is clearly going to Bo. I think Sutter is a better third liner than Nick
- VANTEL

Agreed.

Completely agree and yet outside the Garrison move, could we really have afforded to wait?

Kesler quite literally defined his own value while waiting another season to move him could have imploded the locker room.

It was Lack or Markstrom. Benning made a choice in an otherwise overpopulated goalie market.

The mere return on Kassian in my view demonstrates his lack of perceived value league-wide.

Apart from the pick i have to say that i am more excited heading into this season with Sutter over Bonino.

To each their own. I am not a Benning supporter by any means and yet i'm not about to completely discount every little thing he has done.
- Whiskey-Tango

I couldn't agree more with the bolded and do like Sutter as much or more than Bonino.

I think the Kesler deal needed to be made but all the other ones I think were forced by either the plan Benning had created or by not having a plan or changing the plan because it wasn't working. That's on Benning and mgmt and IMO shouldn't be blamed on the market.

Bonino was sold in the Kesler trade as a good young player who would play in our top 6 for years to come and was one of the key pieces coming back in that trade.

Now he has been flipped for a potentially better but very similar player ( will eat minutes and play on the 2nd line but likely wont be a huge impact player ) as well as another previously acquired asset who was sold as NHL ready and a lower pick.

The criticism of the Clendenning move by some including myself was that Benning had handcuffed himself by getting a guy who had a limited window to show he could make it. That window has now closed apparently and he has been moved. Personnaly I think holding on to Forsling and his slim chance of becoming a player was better asset mgmt then getting 21 gms and 3 points out of Clendenning.

This all suggests to me that either Benning and mgmt are still developing their plan or that that plan has been abandoned. Which isn't that surprising for a rookie GM, but certainly doesn't inspire confidence.

I was never a Gillis supporter. I called the circle jerk gang out when they were gushing over Gillis and his 'out of the box' thinking.

Said the same thing when the gang started gushing over Benning. We have no idea what this rookie GM will be like. Let's see the evidence before we call this hire a success.
- bloatedmosquito

Apparently considering Gillis to be an overall OK/meh GM is the same as calling him great? He started out great but sucked later on, drafting was also not great under him.

I thank you for them(Prince George just up the road)
- boonerbuck

We got the Royals back, so in the end it worked out for both of us


Catch anything lately? I was in Sooke last week and lost a 30lb Spring at the boat....ever seen a big man cry?

Agreed.
- boonerbuck

We'll see if Sutter gets 3rd line money...Bonino was getting less than our 4th liners.

Depends upon individual perception.

Gillis refused to move core players while shipping out picks/prospects at the deadline for a kick at the can.

Benning has shipped off "core" players to a fault but at the very least is shaking things up for better or worse.
- Whiskey-Tango

Yet he could not refuse the same core's request to get an overpriced veteran goalie for one more run at the cup?

Wondering if the faceoff % was a driving force in acquiring Sutter. We overpaid for Malhotra and was a different team because of his winning face offs and gaining possession.

Will Sutter be on the ice for more face offs so if Vey is 4th line c, Sutter might be on for faceoffs and switching soon after.?
- hillbillydeluxe

I don't know, what I do know is the team needed to get better in that area. But Benning just outwardly projects himself as a moron when he talks...that bugs me to no end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would disregard some of the fancy stats when it comes to Sutter, especially ones where it shows his impact on linemates. Don't forget, if those linemates aren't playing with him they're often with Sid or Malkin.

Did you really see Bonino long term here? He was getting demoted this year, what about when McCann and Cassels are ready?
- VANTEL

I would have liked to see a better return on the Kesler deal.

I would disregard some of the fancy stats when it comes to Sutter, especially ones where it shows his impact on linemates. Don't forget, if those linemates aren't playing with him they're often with Sid or Malkin.
- golfingsince

He couldn't score when playing with Eric Staal.

Apparently considering Gillis to be an overall OK/meh GM is the same as calling him great? He started out great but sucked later on, drafting was also not great under him.
- Nucker101

Hard to say as he didn't have that many picks and overhauled the scouting department somewhat. His last draft looks very nice, but his misses on Schroeder and perhaps Jensen look appalling.

Agreed.
- boonerbuck

I don't understand why people think Bonino out means Horvat to 2nd line....may happen but Sutter will still likely be getting more minutes then Horvat.

Sutter is a UFA after the season. How do you feel now?

Clendenning is an RFA. Bonino has 2 years and half the price before he's a UFA.
- Scooby_Doo

I don't know why your're sweating that Bonio could have been here two more years in the way of Horvat. If Horvat did beat out Bonio for the 2nd C spot, that means Bonino playing way outside his role on the 3rd and doing it sluggishly all the while holding back Cassels as well.

I'm actually laughing that Bonino is in Pitts for 2 more seasons. When Malkin spends half the season injured... Bonio will be their 2nd line C... when Crosby spends the other half of the season injured... Bonio will be their 2nd line C. When both Crosby and Malkin injuries overlap... Bonio is their 1st line C. There is going to be regrets in Pitts... mark my words.

I would have liked to see a better return on the Kesler deal.
- bloatedmosquito

I would have liked to see a better negotiation on a lot of the contracts/trades Benning has made so far.

Sutter is going to get more money than some think. This will be fun.

If Benning values Sutter over Bonino, because he's better in the faceoff circle, at a million dollars more a season he's a total (frank)in idiot.


- LeftCoaster

That aboy Lefty, let the hate flow through you!

It's easier then caring and being disappointed season after season after season.

He couldn't score when playing with Eric Staal.
- BINGO!

But the Canes suck so we'll disregard that information.

We'll see if Sutter gets 3rd line money...Bonino was getting less than our 4th liners.
- Nucker101

I never seen Bonino as long term. Soon as McCann was ready Bonino would be odd man out

I don't know why your're sweating that Bonio could have been here two more years in the way of Horvat. If Horvat did beat out Bonio for the 2nd C spot, that means Bonino playing way outside his role on the 3rd and doing it sluggishly all the while holding back Cassels as well.

I'm actually laughing that Bonino is in Pitts for 2 more seasons. When Malkin spends half the season injured... Bonio will be their 2nd line C... when Crosby spends the other half of the season injured... Bonio will be their 2nd line C. When both Crosby and Malkin injuries overlap... Bonio is their 1st line C. There is going to be regrets in Pitts... mark my words.

- boonerbuck

Regrets for trading a 3LC for a cheaper one signed for an extra year? And upgrading a 3rd to a 2nd while also getting a decent young dman who could become a bottom pairing dman who can play the PP?

Yup, sounds horrible.

He couldn't score when playing with Eric Staal.
- BINGO!

He'll do better with our stacked lineup...

I never seen Bonino as long term. Soon as McCann was ready Bonino would be odd man out
- VANTEL

Just wait for the Sutter contract..

That aboy Lefty, let the hate flow through you!

It's easier then caring and being disappointed season after season after season.
- bloatedmosquito

I'm not a Benning lover or hater....I just see things long term as oppose to instant gratification. Time will tell how he does, but I'm not gonna make that judgment for a few more years.

Until then, I'll call em as I see em...

I never seen Bonino as long term. Soon as McCann was ready Bonino would be odd man out
- VANTEL

Also you keep bringing up the offer sheet thing but 2016 picks are for current RFA's and who's left unsigned? And with 2M in cap I don't think there's much room for one.

Maybe Benning is building a team so awful that the Sedins won't wanna be here??? Then he can start the rebuild officially....that's the only reason....