Benning is worse at everything except drafting..Gillis was excellent at first then he really went off the rails and overvalued his own assets and tried to buy-low on vets who were on the decline. So overall he was meh.
- Nucker101

It depends on how you rate worse.

You are a fan of the forever contract with a full NTC obviously... as long as it saves a few bucks. You feel threatened by a short contract with limited NTC because it's for a few more bucks.

So, Gillis is better at contracts if you think like that. And before you remind me that the two GM's were facing different situations that needed different contracts... consider it before you make your very early judgement.

Benning seems to love overpaying, I guess this way is more fun at least.
- Nucker101

Ya, Vrbada and Tanev... horrible over payed contracts.


Give it a rest will you. You are handpicking everything and ignoring what doesn't support your trip.

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

We should have traded Cassels and McCann. Can't have them getting in the way of Bonio's excellent contract.

We should have traded Cassels and McCann. Can't have them getting in the way of Bonio's excellent contract.
- boonerbuck

That new thread awaits you...

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

You are so backwards. Battle the people who are willing to give the new GM a chance like you just admitted (after denying to me just a few days back that you were on Gillis' case right away) then battle them later when they decide that the GM is failing.

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?
- LeftCoaster

Ha, lost enough big fish at the boat to be standing ankle deep in tears.

I was up at Chilko River a week ago. Outstanding dry fly fishing in one of the most prettiest places in the province. The big Golden Stones were hatching and my little jet boat was perfect for that section of upper river. Got to catch a boatload of trout on my new 5wt GLoomis.

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

So, you are dead set on having Bonino as our 2nd line C over grooming Horvat for it... as long as we don't offend your hang up about money...

You care way too much about money at this point of the transition. Stack this team to the cap with short term mediocre players that don't overachieve. I am on board with that.

I'm not on board with us holding onto Kesler until the Ducks put together a better package... or holding onto Kassian for better than Prust and holding back Horvat because Bonio's suckage cost less than Sutter.

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

Wow. You are getting really bad at fiction.

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

Not very likely when you have zero leverage. TY Kesler and Gillis.

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.
- belcherbd

It gives Horvat a better shot at getting into the 2nd line because the likelihood that they would use Bonino in a bottom 6 is far less than using Sutter imo. Much safer swapping Sutter and Horvat than Bonino and Horvat.

It gives Horvat a better shot at getting into the 2nd line because the likelihood that they would use Bonino in a bottom 6 is far less than using Sutter imo. Much safer swapping Sutter and Horvat than Bonino and Horvat.
- boonerbuck

We should trade Henrik so we can get him out of Horvat's way as well

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.
- Nucker101

OK, just give us a moment and tell us why you are hoping everything goes poorly in all areas? You want to show up the fans who didnt jump ship in the first year after Gillis was fired. In their face... idiot people with enough loyalty to wait a couple of seasons... they need to be shown?

Get over it.

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....
- I-own_da-Northwest

The people who screamed "TANK" the most are the very same people panicking that we are not building a good team this and next season.

It gives Horvat a better shot at getting into the 2nd line because the likelihood that they would use Bonino in a bottom 6 is far less than using Sutter imo. Much safer swapping Sutter and Horvat than Bonino and Horvat.
- boonerbuck

Maybe he could earn it instead of having it handed to him...

I expect an overpayment for sure , it is what Benning does best, but I still don't mind Sutter as our third for a couple of years.
- VANTEL

I guess I can scratch you up to another who didnt like the amount and term for Vrbada.

Some might think...(even the hyper critical Nucker) that Benning's best at scouting drafting and development.

Everyone has their own opinion.

How is Bonino at 1.9 in the way of Horvat but Sutter at 3.3 and potentially 4-5 not in the way of Horvat?
- belcherbd

Weird question. How does what they get paid this year have to do with it? I'm thinking term and type of player.

Bonino is under contract for 2 more seasons... Sutter 1. I also explained already how Bonino getting demoted to bottom 6 in favor for Horvat less likely than Horvat demoting Sutter.

Weird question. How does what they get paid this year have to do with it? I'm thinking term and type of player.

Bonino is under contract for 2 more seasons... Sutter 1. I also explained already how Bonino getting demoted to bottom 6 in favor for Horvat less likely than Horvat demoting Sutter.
- boonerbuck

WD loves his vets and if Sutter gets signed to a big contract he may even be just as favourable toward Sutter as Bonino. And why could Horvat/Bonino co-exist? WD rolls 4 lines and both could play the PP.

That logic is stupid, you're better than that. If Bonino is that good then why are you trading him for a lesser player who makes more money? And why are you applauding a deal where the team paid extra assets to actually downgrade and spend more money?
- Nucker101

I havent applauded the deal. I have discussed parts of the deal(I don't jump off the edge like you is all). The part I like is that we dont have WD insisting on Bonio as our 2nd liner and now he has to choose between Sutter and Horvat. I think Horvat will get more opportunities when Sutter's game will show to be offensively lacking.

Money money money...you'd think it was coming out of your piggy bank or something. When a player like Sbisa or Sutter is gone and we have youth we drafted in the line up... are you still going to cry about the few hundred thousand extra Sbisa got, or that money they could have saved by keeping Bonino years ago.

This is why I laugh so hard.

WD loves his vets and if Sutter gets signed to a big contract he may even be just as favourable toward Sutter as Bonino. And why could Horvat/Bonino co-exist? WD rolls 4 lines and both could play the PP.
- Nucker101

I think it was pretty clear to anyone watching that WD kept gaining more confidence in Bo as the season progressed. I'm pretty sure WD is on board with him being 2LC and that Sutter is more suited to that 3LC role.

Booner is having a more difficult time defending these moves with each passing bad move.
- Nucker101

How?

Because you keep ignoring everything that doesn't support your immature act?

You are the guy who at the most stressful moment in our playoffs, and in the face of your comrades, jumps ship and starts waiving the enemies flag. I've never seen a real fan of any team do that. Your arguments since then have been pretty much the same style... blind hatred.

Anyone with a hatred that early is obviously still bent out of shape about his man being fired only a year earlier.

one thing i don't get is your level of consternation at these moves. last summer (going forward) you were the strongest advocate of tanking. i'm not entirely sure of my memory, but you called yourself tank commander or captain of the tank.

now that they're making moves that you think that will make the team appreciably worse i.e. tanking, you're screaming and pulling your hair out.

help me understand. are you not happy b/c they are not tanking the way you want or are you like a few others here who want (and think it's possible) to tank while the team still competes for a playoff spot?!?!?

the team is not anywhere close to contending (unless you think contending for the playoffs counts as being a "contender"). if these moves are as bad as you and others think, will this not accomplish your main goal... tanking or at the very least improve the draft position?
- RealityChecker

This is a guy who stood in the middle of all of us here in the playoffs and cheered for the Flames. There are many contradicting angles in his routine but I'll say this... what kind of Canuck fan cheers for the opposition in the playoffs and then goes on a blind hate for his GM right out of the gate?

Booner asked me the same. I want a tank but I don't want a bad GM running it. And I don't want the team to be filled with overpaid/bad contracts during the tank.
- Nucker101

The contracts are basically irreverent because of term... why the need to cry and cry about them? They will be gone with the Sedins. There may be ones otw that extend beyond the Sedins... but until that happens... why bawl about it? It seems to be your biggest beef... makes no sense. Bonino was cheaper... who cares. Horvat even cheaper. Cassels cheaper as well. There's our 2 and 3 C going forward we hope.

I'm with you about giving up picks. I don't have to fabricate and exaggerate about other things to support that opinion either. Try it.

Exactly. Gillis would have just gave away more assets to give this aging core shot after shot after shot...

Looks like some here were happier with Pahlsson, Roy and Booth inj the lineup...


- LordHumungous

Exactly.

I just don't like the moves that have taken place so far starting with the Miller signing (I just can't get over it ). To me as of right now it has been more failure than success.
- bloatedmosquito

It cost us Lack.


He didnt leave twitter so we really lost nothing in the end. Markstrom will lose more games than Lack while he developes. I'm good with that.

But my other point still stands. I don't want a GM who struggles with negotiations as my GM, no matter what position my team is in.
- Nucker101

Maybe they will bring in someone next year for that?

Look, you keep agreeing on JB's strength is scouting etc....

What is our number 1 concern for the next few years? Drafting and scouting or saving a few hundred thousand on Sbisa... and not paying a premium for physical players?

In the perfect world we want a GM that is proven at all parts of his job. Which one of those was available again?

I have no problem with bringing in a GM who's strengths fit our needs today. I've said it enough times... we are going to have to step up when the time is right and bring in a very experienced GM to take us deep into the playoffs but for now, that isnt a strength we need.

Like people keep pointing out... you want to tank, but tank in an unrealistic fashion. Good players, good contracts, good drafting position, success, room for better players, room for prospects.... you want all this at once.

We just spent a long run trapped under the weight of contracts and UFA's. You keep giving props to the GM who did it. Nothing but trash talk for the guy having to deal with it.

Just start the petition to bring back Gillis already... make sure you sign that Lack petition a second time as well.