If we had a different GM everything would likely be very similar, maybe a little worse or maybe a little better but very similar. It all comes down to expectations. You guys can throw around the Canucks record the last 4 years but the vast majority of people were expecting the losing considering the state of the team when Benning took over. What most people expected was that the GM build a new elite core through drafting which Benning has done a good job of.
Most people have the expectation that pro scouting is will likely be bad when you are in the process of building a new core, because you are not a hot destination for UFAs and you don't have the quality assets to bring in quality players through trade.
The new GM (if Benning is fired) will have different expectations of good pro scouting and winning games similar to when Gillis arrived.
Or maybe the Canucks would have been better if Bennings regime hadn't pissed away 2 top 6 pick getting a 3rd liner and d-man thats still not in the NHL.
If Benning had got good value for pieces like Kesler, Garrison and Hamhuis the Canucks would be better of. If they hadn't spent 7 draft picks on the stupid age gap plan, loosing high picks for crap like Vey,Pedan and the likes. Trading Kassian and a pick for Prust is another move that everyone knew was stupid from the get go.
Giving up assets and cap space to Move on from the cheap but effective Bonino to the Sutter who was not an upgrade. Re-signing Sbisa to a ridiculous deal.If Benning hadn't given up a young player in McCann plus picks for a bottom pairing d-man everything would be better.
Signing Eriksson, Beagle, Gagner and Shaller useless players who are payed more than 10 million between them and are not upgrades on guys like Gaunce, Archibald or Granlund.
There are to many misstakes here. Benning regime has made to many misstakes, everyone responsible for this mess should be fired. Being the worst team in hockey for 3 years should be enough to get anyone fired.
I want a great GM , great GM:s win stuff, makes their team elite. I dont want a mediocre one, I want a good one. I think it was time to fire Gillis because his team was getting stale, unfortunately the Canucks downgraded into this mess.