Edmointon got outshot 42-22 by Ottawa but did win 3-2
- VANTEL

Oil!!



On their way up baby!!

I can't envision any scenario where Benning is the head man of a hockey team that comes within 1 game of winning the Stanley Cup. He probably would've surrounded that core with crusty overrated vets, he absolutely sucks at evaluating NHL dmen and overvalues the poop out of 4th liners.
- Nucker101

So your opinion is that if Gillis inherited the poop team Benning did the Canucks are contending, and if Benning inherited the dynamic roster Gillis did it would be a bottom dweller.

Sorry will never agree, Gillis screwed this team for years, I will agree that Benning screwed in contracts, and overvalued some dmen, and some 4th liners, but you can't say Gillis didn't also overvalue players abilities, his list of poop acquisitions is just as long.

Oil!!



On their way up baby!!


- LordHumungous

Oilers suck.

So your opinion is that if Gillis inherited the poop team Benning did the Canucks are contending, and if Benning inherited the dynamic roster Gillis did it would be a bottom dweller.

Sorry will never agree, Gillis screwed this team for years, I will agree that Benning screwed in contracts, and overvalued some dmen, and some 4th liners, but you can't say Gillis didn't also overvalue players abilities, his list of poop acquisitions is just as long.
- Makita

Not sure where you got that from my post but the 2nd part is a somewhat yes, it would be a playoff team but probably first round fodder every year since the Sedins and Kesler would probably be surrounded by a steaming massive load of overpaid poop. Kesler would probably ask to be traded sooner, so we'd be fortunate to watch a younger Sutter anchor the 2nd line behind the Sedins. I would say that maybe he could make it worth with a contracts guy like Gilman but clearly he doesn't like working with Gilman types


Gillis would probably suck with a rebuild due to his drafting. But I would take him over Benning as a rebuilding GM if he let Brackett run the draft without any interference.


Again you're basically debating Loui Eriksson vs Markus Granlund here. It's really really really hard not to look somewhat decent compared to Loui/Jimbo and it's hard to win any argument when you're the one saying you'd take Jimbo or Loui over someone else.


Like we're not even counting Jimbo's avoided disasters in Lucic and Subban or the fact that he wanted to keep an ageing Ryan Kesler but Kesler forced his hand. This franchise could've been even more (frank)ed if Benning pulled off what he really wanted to

So your opinion is that if Gillis inherited the poop team Benning did the Canucks are contending, and if Benning inherited the dynamic roster Gillis did it would be a bottom dweller.

Sorry will never agree, Gillis screwed this team for years, I will agree that Benning screwed in contracts, and overvalued some dmen, and some 4th liners, but you can't say Gillis didn't also overvalue players abilities, his list of poop acquisitions is just as long.
- Makita

Blaming Benning for all the Nucks current poor play is a little on the ridiculous side given the ownership of the club and interference for decades. Burke left Nonis a mess...Nonis left Gillis a mess...Gillis left Benning a mess...Benning left the new GM a mess blah blah blah it;'s like #teamwhiner is running the club lol

Every GM leaves the next with a mess 99% of the time...it's why the previous GM was fired in the first place lol. If Aquilini chooses to move on from Benning then so be it but don't be shocked if it doesn't happen. Even Green can't be held hugely responsible for this current mess. The players are guilty. MNGT and coaching are guilty and ownership are guilty we all get it...only teamwork and toughness will get this club though. If they don't band together then no one wins.

Not sure where you got that from my post but the 2nd part is a somewhat yes, it would be a playoff team but probably first round fodder every year since the Sedins and Kesler would probably be surrounded by a steaming massive load of overpaid poop. Kesler would probably ask to be traded sooner, so we'd be fortunate to watch a younger Sutter anchor the 2nd line behind the Sedins. I would say that maybe he could make it worth with a contracts guy like Gilman but clearly he doesn't like working with Gilman types


Gillis would probably suck with a rebuild due to his drafting. But I would take him over Benning as a rebuilding GM if he let Brackett run the draft without any interference.


Again you're basically debating Loui Eriksson vs Markus Granlund here. It's really really really hard not to look somewhat decent compared to Loui/Jimbo
- Nucker101

Love to see Lombardi as President and Futa as GM but Lombardi declined to be interviewed when they were looking post Gillis as he wasn’t interested in working for the Aquilini’s.

Love to see Lombardi as President and Futa as GM but Lombardi declined to be interviewed when they were looking post Gillis as he wasn’t interested in working for the Aquilini’s.
- Pacificgem

I'm kinda meh on both of them. I didn't mind Francis but he got scooped up by Seattle. McFarland from Colorado seems interesting but again it's hard to get a read as a fan.

I'm kinda meh on both of them. I didn't mind Francis but he got scooped up by Seattle. McFarland from Colorado seems interesting but again it's hard to get a read as a fan.
- Nucker101

The reason I say Lombardi is because I’d like and experienced, successful, GM for once and he’s available.

Blaming Benning for all the Nucks current poor play is a little on the ridiculous side given the ownership of the club and interference for decades. Burke left Nonis a mess...Nonis left Gillis a mess...Gillis left Benning a mess...Benning left the new GM a mess blah blah blah it;'s like #teamwhiner is running the club lol

Every GM leaves the next with a mess 99% of the time...it's why the previous GM was fired in the first place lol. If Aquilini chooses to move on from Benning then so be it but don't be shocked if it doesn't happen. Even Green can't be held hugely responsible for this current mess. The players are guilty. MNGT and coaching are guilty and ownership are guilty we all get it...only teamwork and toughness will get this club though. If they don't band together then no one wins.
- LordHumungous

For sure, GM's usually inherit a sticky situation. But I think that excuse goes out the door after the first few years, especially once you're in season 6 or season 7. That's why Gillis deserved to be fired and why Benning does now.

Jets vs Flames game about to start, PLD making his Jets debut

Jets vs Flames game about to start, PLD making his Jets debut
- Pacificgem

I hope they pound the crap out of each other.

Blaming Benning for all the Nucks current poor play is a little on the ridiculous side given the ownership of the club and interference for decades. Burke left Nonis a mess...Nonis left Gillis a mess...Gillis left Benning a mess...Benning left the new GM a mess blah blah blah it;'s like #teamwhiner is running the club lol

Every GM leaves the next with a mess 99% of the time...it's why the previous GM was fired in the first place lol. If Aquilini chooses to move on from Benning then so be it but don't be shocked if it doesn't happen. Even Green can't be held hugely responsible for this current mess. The players are guilty. MNGT and coaching are guilty and ownership are guilty we all get it...only teamwork and toughness will get this club though. If they don't band together then no one wins.
- LordHumungous

Gillis let Ohlund walk in 2008 because he wanted 3.6 mil. per year. Bad cap management . Can you imagine if he stayed for 2011 run? Walked for free too no assets returned. Poor cap management

Jets vs Flames game about to start, PLD making his Jets debut
- Pacificgem

Everyone saying the Jets got ripped off, but I really like PLD's game, I think it'll turn out to be much more even. Laine is a better scorer for sure, but I think PLD is better at everything else.

Roslovic was a nice little add on for the Jackets though.

Gillis let Ohlund walk in 2008 because he wanted 3.6 mil. per year. Bad cap management . Can you imagine if he stayed for 2011 run? Walked for free too no assets returned. Poor cap management

- VANTEL

I think letting Willie walk was worse, but he had a serve concussion and turned into a fatty during his time off so I can see why the team was hesitant. He was awesome when healthy in his prime. I'll never forget that massive hit he laid on Toews

Ohlund was getting up in there in age and even started playing less physical which was his MO, his body was breaking down after all the wars against Iginla over the years lol.

Ahh, old Nucker is back, everything is right in the universe once again!

Not sure where you got that from my post but the 2nd part is a somewhat yes, it would be a playoff team but probably first round fodder every year since the Sedins and Kesler would probably be surrounded by a steaming massive load of overpaid poop. Kesler would probably ask to be traded sooner, so we'd be fortunate to watch a younger Sutter anchor the 2nd line behind the Sedins. I would say that maybe he could make it worth with a contracts guy like Gilman but clearly he doesn't like working with Gilman types


Gillis would probably suck with a rebuild due to his drafting. But I would take him over Benning as a rebuilding GM if he let Brackett run the draft without any interference.


Again you're basically debating Loui Eriksson vs Markus Granlund here. It's really really really hard not to look somewhat decent compared to Loui/Jimbo and it's hard to win any argument when you're the one saying you'd take Jimbo or Loui over someone else.


Like we're not even counting Jimbo's avoided disasters in Lucic and Subban or the fact that he wanted to keep an ageing Ryan Kesler but Kesler forced his hand. This franchise could've been even more (frank)ed if Benning pulled off what he really wanted to
- Nucker101

To be fair, I don't think Benning would have signed the same type of UFAs if he had the same team Gillis took on. Right or wrong, Benning's goal was to have vets around to support his young, star draft picks. He gave too much term, that was the big mistake.

Kesler had three more solid years for the Ducks so he had some good years in him...the six year contract with the Ducks was the mistake and who know Benning very well may have signed that contract.

A lot of the media have skin in the game when it comes to Benning's demise so all rumors require a grain of salt.

I agree with you on the people aspect...Benning has consolidated power to his detriment.

Blaming Benning for all the Nucks current poor play is a little on the ridiculous side given the ownership of the club and interference for decades. Burke left Nonis a mess...Nonis left Gillis a mess...Gillis left Benning a mess...Benning left the new GM a mess blah blah blah it;'s like #teamwhiner is running the club lol

Every GM leaves the next with a mess 99% of the time...it's why the previous GM was fired in the first place lol. If Aquilini chooses to move on from Benning then so be it but don't be shocked if it doesn't happen. Even Green can't be held hugely responsible for this current mess. The players are guilty. MNGT and coaching are guilty and ownership are guilty we all get it...only teamwork and toughness will get this club though. If they don't band together then no one wins.
- LordHumungous

Will be interesting to see how FA views this season...true reflection of the team (Benning out) or a lost season due to multiple uncontrollable factors (Benning one more shot to sign core and add complementary pieces)

Everyone saying the Jets got ripped off, but I really like PLD's game, I think it'll turn out to be much more even. Laine is a better scorer for sure, but I think PLD is better at everything else.

Roslovic was a nice little add on for the Jackets though.
- Nucker101

To be fair, I don't think Benning would have signed the same type of UFAs if he had the same team Gillis took on. Right or wrong, Benning's goal was to have vets around to support his young, star draft picks. He gave too much term, that was the big mistake.

Kesler had three more solid years for the Ducks so he had some good years in him...the six year contract with the Ducks was the mistake and who know Benning very well may have signed that contract.

A lot of the media have skin in the game when it comes to Benning's demise so all rumors require a grain of salt.

I agree with you on the people aspect...Benning has consolidated power to his detriment.
- CoolerHeads

I actually think he's had a way longer leash than Gillis did with the media(not fans). People like Jim as a person, the media all talk about how nice of s guy he is, they probably feel bad for him. Hell, even us fans felt bad for him when he got scolded by the league about talking about Subban. I decided to listen to 650 for a bit today, and even during all of this turmoil, they still seem hesitant to call out management completely, if anything they're calling out the players.

Friedman seems to like him and he even talks about how the fans in this market are crazy(in a bad way), he's the one who's mentioned the Subban trade that fell apart because Dubois got picked before the Canucks were on the clock so they took OJ instead of getting Subban. it's not a hindsight thing either where he tied to make JB look bad, this came out when Subban was in Nashville and still considered to be a top end dman.

Turned out to be the lesser of two evils picking OJ

And I'm pretty sure Benning's interest in Lucic was reported by multiple guys, first when he got traded to LA by Boston during the Boeser draft and when he was a UFA but chose Edmonton over Montreal and Vancouver..we got LE instead so another scenario where it was a lose-lose

Hell, I remember there was buzz that he might land both Lucic and LE

Gillis let Ohlund walk in 2008 because he wanted 3.6 mil. per year. Bad cap management . Can you imagine if he stayed for 2011 run? Walked for free too no assets returned. Poor cap management

- VANTEL

I’m not a Gillis apologist, however, he let Ohlund walk in 2009 though, he was 33 and getting long in the tooth, used that money to take on 27 year old Ehrhoff for the 2011 run

Everyone saying the Jets got ripped off, but I really like PLD's game, I think it'll turn out to be much more even. Laine is a better scorer for sure, but I think PLD is better at everything else.

Roslovic was a nice little add on for the Jackets though.
- Nucker101

PLD is awesome, he’s a bigger version of Horvat. Jets top six is deep!

Will be interesting to see how FA views this season...true reflection of the team (Benning out) or a lost season due to multiple uncontrollable factors (Benning one more shot to sign core and add complementary pieces)
- CoolerHeads

If Benning is back for one more season, I think a good chunk of fans will tune out unless this season turns around. I've said it before, but this is the first time I've seen casuals turn on Benning, and once the casuals turn on management, the viewership and merchandise sales usually start to decline big time.

I’m not a Gillis apologist. He let Ohlund walk in 2009 though, he was 33 and getting long in the tooth, used that money to take on 27 year old Ehrhoff for the 2011 run
- Pacificgem

I am not an Ehrhoff fan at all . Too many memories of him being afraid against the Bruins. When I hear his name I always remember him skating away from the Sedons when they were being man handled.

They let him walk too in his next contract.

I am not an Ehrhoff fan at all . Too many memories of him being afraid against the Bruins. When I hear his name I always remember him skating away from the Sedons when they were being man handled.

They let him walk too in his next contract.
- VANTEL

I think everyone loved him up until that series, he definitely did not leave a great last impression. I wouldn't give Gillis full credit for walking away, I'm pretty sure it was rumoured that the Canucks offered him a contract, but Buffalo just came in with that monster contract.

I am not an Ehrhoff fan at all . Too many memories of him being afraid against the Bruins. When I hear his name I always remember him skating away from the Sedons when they were being man handled.
- VANTEL

He was instrumental in the Canucks building the #1 PP in the league, so, despite your feelings, he played a major role in the success of the club in 2011. I’m sure you were cheering for them to lose though as you hate everybody from that unbelievable team