News Article: Cam Cole article

[Tiranis]

It's the GM's job to bring in enough talent to compete. Gillis has done that.

It's the coaches job to get them to compete. We haven't done a very good job of that over the last year and a half.

Coaches fault.

Well, I know AV is done when even you've turned on him.

 

[jigsaw99]

A reader reminds us of an old hockey adage: “The general manager is responsible for goals FOR, the coach is responsible for goals AGAINST.”

Ian Cole lol

LOL. What an idiot. Look at Sens and Wild who can produce offensive with their depleted line up. Our GAA sucks too. Ian Cole has about as much knowledge in hockey management as poster "King of the ES".

Every team is competitive except us and we are top seed lol. ISlander is giving all Pens can with a MUCH worse lineup.

 

[Tank]

Cam Cole could no catch athletes foot in a moudy shower -- he is clueless and a pro Burke lackie -- anything to get at Gillis he does -- no respect for him as a witer -- the talent is there - coach has not got it out of them -- simple story.

 

[oceanchild]

This team has great depth and talent. It's AV that cannot make it work. Just because its not as deep as the 2011 team which had one of the best statistical seasons ever, doesn't mean it should have gone 1-7 in the playoffs over the last 2 years. Not to mention admit they where unready to start the series both years. I think AV held this team back despite his success

 

[cotillion]

cam cole is an imbecile who is more interested in golf than hockey

 

[vanuck]

Not great on faceoffs ≠ poor depth... just saying.

 

[BoHorvatFan]

Every AV hater, and even I count right now, has to admit that AV was given an incredibly flawed roster by Mike Gillis, moving Kassian, Raymond, Higgins, Weise around would do nothing, Roy was ****, the D was poorly built and couldn't skate and move the puck, 10 million was spent on goaltending, 8.5 on Booth and Ballard.

Terrible GM work and bad coaching with the crap he had.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Great article - it's bang-on. Mike Gillis is much, much more culpable than AV is for this team's druthers.

Tiranis - you're actually suggesting that with a few line changes, this team would be materially better? Everything's been tried. Nothing has worked. Kassian would not have gotten 35 goals playing with the Sedin's. Cole's quote which you referenced is entirely accurate.

It would have provided a spark. Roy was clearly neutered the moment Higgins was taken off his line and wouldn't you know the one shift they were reunited and he looks dynamic again. Look at when Roy first arrived and brought a style set that had frankly become an anomaly here. A few games later and AV's turned him into a worthless dump and chase 'specialist.' Just moving Kassian with the Sedins might not have changed anything, but adjusting the line to a more up tempo mindset and moving away from the conservative approach that clearly has not worked since last year would. To say AV is not responsible for this loss is not shortsighted, it's outright delusional.

 

[vancityluongo]

Had Mike Gillis successfully added some decent supplements to this team during the year - Clowe and/or Torres come to mind - Ebbett wouldn't be playing. But he's playing 8:59 per game. Who cares?

Anyone who thinks adding a penalty machine in Clowe would've made a positive difference in this series should probably start watching a different sport.

This is the very player the Sharks got rid of at the deadline for being slow, taking stupid penalties and not contributing on the scoresheet. Yet that's the player that supposedly would've been the saviour for a team that lost due to taking 24 penalties opposed to their opponents 10.

 

[jigsaw99]

Every AV hater, and even I count right now, has to admit that AV was given an incredibly flawed roster by Mike Gillis, moving Kassian, Raymond, Higgins, Weise around would do nothing, Roy was ****, the D was poorly built and couldn't skate and move the puck, 10 million was spent on goaltending, 8.5 on Booth and Ballard.

Terrible GM work and bad coaching with the crap he had.

top seed two years in a row and got upset. not just upset 1-8. SJS swept us with a questionable line up themselves. I had more points and up score them in the regular season.

 

[Steamer]

Cam Cole is the moron who called trevor Linden an aquired taste!unlike say Dave Semenko or McSorly. He hates the Canucks and is an Oiler fan through and through. Most of what he writes is pure drivel. Rates right up there with Gary Mason as one of the dumbest sports writers around.

 

[MS]

You guys really need to get over Andrew Ebbett.

He sucks, yes. He also plays 8:59 per game. Putting in Schroeder for Ebbett would have about the same effect on a game's outcome as Vigneault choosing to wear a blue tie instead of a red one would. It's immaterial.

Had Mike Gillis successfully added some decent supplements to this team during the year - Clowe and/or Torres come to mind - Ebbett wouldn't be playing. But he's playing 8:59 per game. Who cares?

Pretty much.

As much as fans here like to freak the hell out because Vigneault dresses a 6th defender or 4th line forward they don't like, or uses Edler instead of Garrison on the #1 PP unit ... that's rinky-dink stuff in the bigger picture.

I've been a huge Gillis supporter since his arrival here, but he's had a rotten year this year, Garrison signing excepted.

 

[mossey3535]

I thought Botch's article was generally bang-on. His first point was kinda off but I got the gist of what he was saying and his argument overall. I was never particularly a fan of his in the past but admittedly he has been better as of late, being one media member to incorporate stats to support his arguments. He's a rare/only case though.

Still, I think CA and PITB deserve a lot more attention from the local readership for the work they do. Even if I don't always agree with the way guys like Drance and especially Charron manipulate stats to suit their argument, it's still a lot better than the garbage you get in the Sun and Province.

You know you're not very good at your job when Botchford is kicking your butt.

 

[me2]

Pretty much.

As much as fans here like to freak the hell out because Vigneault dresses a 6th defender or 4th line forward they don't like, or uses Edler instead of Garrison on the #1 PP unit ... that's rinky-dink stuff in the bigger picture.

I've been a huge Gillis supporter since his arrival here, but he's had a rotten year this year, Garrison signing excepted.

I think it's closer to 2 bad years. This is a make or break year for Gillis IMHO. The boat has officially capsized after listing dangerously the last 2 years. Either he rights the ship or he goes. By righting the ship I'd be fine with either a partial rebuild that brings in quality youth to support the vets or gets the vets back into championship shape. Another year of the same is not acceptable.

 

[iFan]

Canucks are just a mess from the GM, coaching and on the ice and even worse our future prospect or lack there of. We should still be a playoff team next year, I think it's the top 4 of each divs get in? So we should make it in but with another 1st round exit.

I'm kinda pissed last year trade deadline Gillis caved into AV about changing the system, really? Change the system mid season and after that style got you to one game from Stanley, that should be Gillis biggest learning experience as a GM, he had it right and should of told AV to go **** himself with the mess AV wanted and tell him we're staying as a offensive team, this is what killed this team, trade deadline last year. Pahlsson to replace Hodgson scoring at a 20+ goal rate? Dumb I get trading Hodgson but do that in the offseason, that deal would still of been there.

 

[vanuck]

I'm kinda pissed last year trade deadline Gillis caved into AV about changing the system, really? Change the system mid season and after that style got you to one game from Stanley, that should be Gillis biggest learning experience as a GM, he had it right and should of told AV to go **** himself with the mess AV wanted and tell him we're staying as a offensive team, this is what killed this team

I think you may have a point there, and I'm a Gillis fan. I do feel as if he's given AV a little too much leeway and has allowed him to dictate the change in play style we've seen this team undergo.

Moreover, it would also corroborate the supposed clash between management and coaching (reported by Botch just recently IIRC?).

And that's not an indictment on the 'more size' movement either. You can acquire more size, grit, toughness or whatever and still be an uptempo, offensively-inclined team.

 

[Derp Kassian]

I think Gillis missed the memo that you're supposed to have size + SKILL in regards to trying to clone LA + Boston.

 

[Lonny Bohonos]

Ah Gillis is the changer of play style. Twice now.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

Pretty much.

As much as fans here like to freak the hell out because Vigneault dresses a 6th defender or 4th line forward they don't like, or uses Edler instead of Garrison on the #1 PP unit ... that's rinky-dink stuff in the bigger picture.

I've been a huge Gillis supporter since his arrival here, but he's had a rotten year this year, Garrison signing excepted.

I'd say two years. The team has bled talent since the Cup run.

-Ehrhoff, Salo, Rome out on the blueline. Garrison, Barker in. I love Garrison but that's just a huge downgrade.
-Keeping a $4 million depth d-man around for 3 seasons.
-Not moving Luongo was such a hysterical failure.

All that dead weight salary on the roster also meant that depth was weaker than it usually was, which also killed the Canucks.