What does any of this have to do with what we’re talking about?

Good for you, you have a good memory for poopty GM’s. That doesn’t change the fact that the bar for Benning was set at Milbury, which was what I was responding to, which is squarely in centre field...
- 1970vintage

You quoted Google not I. My memory is good cuz old & have seen many GM’s do well or not. Personally idc listing who was good or not since it serves no purpose unless ppl have to look for a scape goat as does this fanbase we have in Vancity. It’s old & lives on every year we are not on top.

Doug Wilson eh

Yes he’s been a staple in SJ.
Yes he has not won a cup.
Yes he has been at it much longer.
In Vancouver we forget the good times.
Pres Cups, Cup Finals, Hart winner.
If he were in a top hockey market he woulda been gone already. All said Wilson has done well as did Lombardi did in LA. Lombardi won 2 cups & got his walking papers.
- Nighthawk

I believe the Sharks are the winningest franchise over the past decade, though they haven’t hoisted the cup. There is a lot of chatter from players about what a great place SJ is to play. I’d say he’s done an excellent job.

Sure, I could have said Stan Boweman, he has two cups (or three?), but his success is much more debatable, as there is the “Tallon built that team” narrative and the suspect trades and signings that have them where they are now, picking 3rd.

Ok but when you looked at those teams you could predict the slide ...their players were getting older
- Redmile247

Take a look at the projection that started last season. I don't remember too many people counting LA and Anaheim being bottom of the league.

I just disagree with how the teams been managed over the past five years, a lot of that falls on Aquilini, but Benning shares much of that blame too. That positive thing is, by being poor at his job they gave themselves access to the best kids in the world through the draft and they’ve made some progress because of it.

That’s not unique to the Canucks though, most teams who draft top five get better sooner or later.
- Pacificgem

First off it would be pretty nice to draft top 5, nice exaggeration. Second Benning is not poor at his job, he’s progressing quite fine.

Doug Wilson eh

Yes he’s been a staple in SJ.
Yes he has not won a cup.
Yes he has been at it much longer.
In Vancouver we forget the good times.
Pres Cups, Cup Finals, Hart winner.
If he were in a top hockey market he woulda been gone already. All said Wilson has done well as did Lombardi did in LA. Lombardi won 2 cups & got his walking papers.
- Nighthawk

I will give Wilson credit for being bold, always willing to make moves, making trades for players that other teams stay away from (kane, karlsson), and drafting players that other GM's wouldn't take a chance on (Merkley), but, the fact remains (and this is stolen from someone else on twitter)

Pavelski - pending UFA
Thornton - pending UFA
E Karlsson - pending UFA
Nyquist - pending UFA
Donskoi - pending UFA
Heed/Haley - pending UFA

Draft:
No 2019 1st/2nd rd pick
No 2020 1st rd pick
Lose 2021 2nd rd if EK65 return
Lose 2020 2nd rd if Nyquist return

The first five are on Linden, so Benji will get five of his own.
- 1970vintage

Linden was the President for four years. I don’t think Benning makes it past this contract, which is up at the end of next year. When they miss the playoffs again next year I think his number will be up.

You quoted Google not I. My memory is good cuz old & have seen many GM’s do well or not. Personally idc listing who was good or not since it serves no purpose unless ppl have to look for a scape goat as does this fanbase we have in Vancity. It’s old & lives on every year we are not on top.
- Nighthawk

Whatever, I still have no idea what this has to do with your left field comment.

Linden was the President for four years. I don’t think Benning makes it past this contract, which is up at the end of next year. When they miss the playoffs again next year I think his number will be up.
- Pacificgem

I bet you he has a new deal before the TDL. FA wants Benning to see things through.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1131587802276257795
- Codes1087

See what having Tanev is doing to Stecher. By the end of Tanev's contract Stecher will think he can stop a bullet.

First off it would be pretty nice to draft top 5, nice exaggeration. Second Benning is not poor at his job, he’s progressing quite fine.
- Makita

You have your opinion, I have mine. I don’t see anything he’s done well except finish 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 9th last in the past five years.

I will give Wilson credit for being bold, always willing to make moves, making trades for players that other teams stay away from (kane, karlsson), and drafting players that other GM's wouldn't take a chance on (Merkley), but, the fact remains (and this is stolen from someone else on twitter)

Pavelski - pending UFA
Thornton - pending UFA
E Karlsson - pending UFA
Nyquist - pending UFA
Donskoi - pending UFA
Heed/Haley - pending UFA

Draft:
No 2019 1st/2nd rd pick
No 2020 1st rd pick
Lose 2021 2nd rd if EK65 return
Lose 2020 2nd rd if Nyquist return
- Codes1087

The Joes will return, I don’t think they go to another team. Karlsson is looking out for #1, so he will go to whoever offers him 7 years and $10m per. They can replace those bottom of the roster guys internally (remember, Dahlen is on the way). Draft picks is a problem. They may need to step back for a few years to reload. If he goes full Gillis it will be trouble.

I bet you he has a new deal before the TDL. FA wants Benning to see things through.
- 1970vintage

I heard Benning’s had his ass chewed this year, by ownership, for the waste of money he’s piled up. It’s not all sunshine and roses.

2014 - Florida, Buffalo, Edm, Calgary, NYI, Van, Carolina, Tor, Win, Anaheim
2015 - Edm, Buffalo, AZ, Tor, Carolina, NJ, Phil, CBJ, SJ, Colorado
2016 - Tor, Win, CBJ, Edm, Van, Calgary, AZ, Buffalo, Mon, Colorado
2017 - NJ, Phil, Dallas, Colorado, Van, Vegas, NYR, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida
2018 - Buffalo, Carolina, Mon, Ottawa, AZ, Detroit, Van, Chi, NYR, Edm

Just thought I’d see who had the most top ten picks in the past five drafts and who’s gotten the best results from it. Kinda obvious everyone got better but some teams had better groups that they added those kids to. Vancouver wasn’t one of those teams.

Buffalo- 5
Vancouver - 4
Edmonton - 4
Colorado - 3
Carolina - 3
Toronto - 3
AZ - 3
Winnipeg - 2
NJ - 2
Phil - 2
NYR - 2
Calgary - 2
Detroit - 2
- Pacificgem

How many of these teams have drafted say top 2 picks that are generally better then picks 3-10.

Linden was the President for four years. I don’t think Benning makes it past this contract, which is up at the end of next year. When they miss the playoffs again next year I think his number will be up.
- Pacificgem

Quite possible but firing a GM is FA not the Pres. We don’t have one. Who out there is the replacement if there is a better one?

How many of these teams have drafted say top 2 picks that are generally better then picks 3-10.
- manvanfan

The picks are in order they drafted.

I heard Benning’s had his ass chewed this year, by ownership, for the waste of money he’s piled up. It’s not all sunshine and roses.
- Pacificgem

I agree, he has wasted (is still wasting) a lot of money, but I think a lot of those decisions were driven by ownerships desire to compete for the playoffs "for the twins". Most of those guys are one now. I just can't see an owner who would be willing to let a guy continue to run his business if it was playoffs or you're fired when they have been so bad. It's an unrealistic bar to set, it creates an incredible amount of risk that Benning will do something that compromises the long term success for short term. I just don't see it.

The picks are in order they drafted.
- Pacificgem

The picks are the amount of times they have drafted in the top 10 in the past 5 seasons. How many of those teams ended up with winning draft lottery and getting 1st or 2nd overall.

I agree, he has wasted (is still wasting) a lot of money, but I think a lot of those decisions were driven by ownerships desire to compete for the playoffs "for the twins". Most of those guys are one now. I just can't see an owner who would be willing to let a guy continue to run his business if it was playoffs or you're fired when they have been so bad. It's an unrealistic bar to set, it creates an incredible amount of risk that Benning will do something that compromises the long term success for short term. I just don't see it.
- 1970vintage

We’ll see how it plays out, I don’t know if he’s allowed to spend as freely right now as in years past.

The picks are the amount of times they have drafted in the top 10 in the past 5 seasons. How many of those teams ended up with winning draft lottery and getting 1st or 2nd overall.
- manvanfan

If you look at the years it tells you who drafted 1-2-3. Buffalo has three top two picks, the only team who’s picked multiple times top three.

Edit: Edmonton picked 1-3 so two teams.

You have your opinion, I have mine. I don’t see anything he’s done well except finish 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 9th last in the past five years.
- Pacificgem

Whoa whoa whoa, slow down chief...........he's hardly responsible for the team he inherited, thats pretty inflammatory to suggest that the first 2, possibly 3 years of a declining team were on him......3 maybe a stretch but definitely 2....

Whoa whoa whoa, slow down chief...........he's hardly responsible for the team he inherited, thats pretty inflammatory to suggest that the first 2, possibly 3 years of a declining team were on him......3 maybe a stretch but definitely 2....
- chompsey

It’s on Aquilini and Benning. Why. Because they weren’t trying to rebuild, they were trying to win. If they were trying to rebuild I would have a different opinion.

If you look at the years it tell you who drafted 1-2-3. Buffalo has three top two picks, the only team who’s picked multiple times top three.

Edit: Edmonton picked 1-3 so two teams.
- Pacificgem

Man if Van could have just won the lotto last season. Dahlin already helping out the team probably could have made the playoffs.

Point is it takes a bit longer when you are drafting 5th and not 1st or 2nd to see results. Clearly getting multiple picks is not the only way to build a hockey club. Sorry Tankers.

I'm telling you Benning baring doing anything stupid is pretty much exactly on my theory of how long a rebuild should take.

Where we stand today is much rosier.
Where we used to be accustomed too was good times. Sure these last 5-6yrs has been painful & frustrating to us all. Can we not look forward & see its top on down throughout the entire organization that we have to have faith in?

We have an owner willing to spend.
We have a profitable team as a rule.
As fans we cannot get out of our own way when it’s difficult times. The last time during the Pacific Mausoleum days of old when the fans spoke like fans of today the team signed Barry Pederson & we regret that til this very day. Todays team lacks management depth. The farm team gets barely any talent to nurture & develop. The Cups runs had a far reaching effect on todays state of affairs. Those were some glorious times but price of them was astronomical & he we are today showing nice signs of years of fun ahead.

Embrace the process

Man if Van could have just won the lotto last season. Dahlin already helping out the team probably could have made the playoffs.

Point is it takes a bit longer when you are drafting 5th and not 1st or 2nd to see results. Clearly getting multiple picks is not the only way to build a hockey club. Sorry Tankers.

I'm telling you Benning baring doing anything stupid is pretty much exactly on my theory of how long a rebuild should take.
- manvanfan

Needs more hits past the first round.

I believe the Sharks are the winningest franchise over the past decade, though they haven’t hoisted the cup. There is a lot of chatter from players about what a great place SJ is to play. I’d say he’s done an excellent job.

Sure, I could have said Stan Boweman, he has two cups (or three?), but his success is much more debatable, as there is the “Tallon built that team” narrative and the suspect trades and signings that have them where they are now, picking 3rd.
- 1970vintage

He built it as much as Nonis/burke did for Gillis. Bowman made a couple nice moves but it was Tallon for the most part.