Speculation: The Team Presidency Discussion Thread
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Who cares? You're waxing on about what they inherited and how he inherited MVP's, not 75 point 1st liner and 30 point 3rd liners.
Hindsight people are treating the 2011 team like it was inevitable, it was not. It was carefully managed and peaked one win short.
The "mess" he left behind is also incredibly overstated. Largely the same group, produced a 100+ point season the season after his dismissal. It wasn't until Benning really started putting his stamps on the team to improve it for the post season (Sutter, Sbisa/Dorsett extensions, Gudbranson, Sutter, Prust Eriksson) that they bottomed out and have been at the bottom 4 straight seasons.
People treat them being at the bottom for 4 straight seasons like it was a foregone conclusion...it wasn't. I actually remember people being against the moves because they were scared the team would never bottom out....boy were we wrong, Benning's moves are the reason for where they are.
Bad plan and horrible execution, but I'm sure you loved Linden Vey.
sting101
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- Feb 8, 2012
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i'm not sure why you keep bringing up Benning?
Mike Gillis had a top10 NHL core handed to him as they were approaching prime ages. He did a masterful job taking that core to the best team in the NHL by 2011/2012.
By 2014 they had fired 2 really good NHL coaches. Pissed away Ehrhoff, embarrassed and traded 2 world class goalies, Samuelsson Raymond Ehrhoff Luongo Schneider Malhotra Torres gone, refused to aquire a legit top6 talent with assets like Hodgson and Schneider available to trade and Ryan Kesler wanted out. Not only that the media relations with Gillis were soured and his fans were chanting for his head.
To be clear... (because i keep getting but Benning rebuttals) I would have preferred Gillis and his staff rebuilding the Canucks then hiring Benning. That said...Gillis was absolutely liable and worthy of firing and he got axed and i dont blame Aquilini one bit other than feeling bad about what would come and his trust in Trevor who had no experience and could not be more removed from the game doing other things. He was not qualified to hire a GM and set the direction of the franchise.
But this narrative of Aquilini being a idiot or bad owner because he wanted to win and wont re hire the HF love child Gillis is brutal
You're not sure why Benning is brought up when you're talking about what Gillis left the team with? Then you're just obtuse.
A top 10 core that missed the playoffs 2 of the 3 previous seasons?
Gillis fired one coach, not 2.
Ehrhoff's game fell off a cliff, and the Canucks PP didn't. Walking from Ehrhoff was the right call.
Traded 2 goalies, and the return are two of the top 6 players currently on the team.
Ryan Kesler wanting out...it happens, he was tradeable and the next GM made it happen. Oh well.
Fans are idiots, the really dumb ones were the chanters.
Media relations is literally the least important part of the job, but at least he came across as intelligent.
Mike Gillis IMO was not worthy of firing and the Canucks would be further along with him if Aquilini didn't start meddling.
People around here are excited with the capspace the organization has this summer....they had as much if not more in 2014.
Bojack Horvatman
IAMGROOT
- Jun 15, 2016
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I love how people complain about Gillis leaving the team with long term contracts and letting Ehrhoff walk. Ehrhoff will be getting paid until 2028. Letting him walk if he wanted a 10 year contract was the right move.
sting101
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Obtuse?
What Gillis had left by 2014 was a factual situation. 6th last in the NHL and the details i have already outlined. Ok right he didnt get to fire Tortz....Not gonna go over it again. How you and i view it is opposed
Trying to discuss Aquilini and Gillis and getting a "but Benning" response is completely unwarranted. Especially considering how worked up people get when this happens in reverse.
This whole conversation started by me asking what you expected of the 75 point 1st liners and 30 point 3rd liners he inherited. Benning gets brought up because you talk about a "mess", when every season in the last 4, the team has failed to even reach the 83 point mess (that season they were actually a top 10 team until new years when they got incredibly injured and the wheels fell off).
Your "details" aren't facts, they're just your opinion.
There also isn't a "but benning" in these posts...I'm arguing against your opinion on the "mess" he left Benning. So yes, I'd say if you can't comprehend that you're obtuse.
sting101
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It's not complaining. I agree that teams have to make fiscal decisions and sometimes those are tough.
At the end of the day if you let players walk and have nothing good to replace them with then that effects your teams performance negatively. Ehrhoff was just one piece but he was a valuable commodity that had an big impact on the canucks ability to attack from the back end with speed. 50pt defenseman are huge assets. His loss and the cumulative effects of other losses and inability to have push from kids had a profound effect on this team which has a profound effect on how Coaching and management staffs are judged and viewed. It's really that simple.
sting101
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Having the best team in hockey and a few years later having Eddie Lack as your starter. Kesler wanting out. No good prospects 23-18 (that dont need rehab) having an impact, a coach that needed to be fired and poor media and fan relations and a 6th last finish is a mess.
Not seeing that as anything but a mess is "obtuse"
Obviously you feel it wasnt bad but it was a mess that needed to be cleaned up. Aquilini didnt like it and didnt fabricate his firing for no reason.
I never said that Benning didnt have pieces to retool or rebuild with.....that was completely your assertion
What of this is opinion you have issues with then?? "Mike Gillis had a top10 NHL core handed to him as they were approaching prime ages. He did a masterful job taking that core to the best team in the NHL by 2011/2012.
By 2014 they had fired 2 really good NHL coaches. Pissed away Ehrhoff, embarrassed and traded 2 world class goalies, Samuelsson Raymond Ehrhoff Luongo Schneider Malhotra Torres gone, refused to aquire a legit top6 talent with assets like Hodgson and Schneider available to trade and Ryan Kesler wanted out. Not only that the media relations with Gillis were soured and his fans were chanting for his head. "
Uh it's pretty damn obvious.
The top 10 core....top 10 cores don't miss playoffs 2 of 3 seasons preceding it.
"pissed away Ehrhoff"....he actually got an asset for his rights and Ehrhoff was quite clearly a product of the team Gillis built not vice versa, since he never got close to that level again and the team won the presidents trophy the following year without him.
How did Gillis specifically embarass the goalies?
Are we honestly crying over the spilled milk of Raymond and Samuelsson now?
He refused to acquire a legit top 6 talent for Hodgson and Schneider? What did he refuse?
The team Benning inherited from Gillis....the so called "mess" bounced back the following year.
When was Eddie Lack ever the defacto starter in Vancouver? Right, he never was.
The man was fired before we were able to see what his next vision was, absolutely insane that the man who ran the most successful era in franchise history that basically had a rough 1/3 of a season. The man left the organization with a top 4 defense. 2/3 of a 1st line. $20m in cap space and lots of flexibility.
I'm disputing how much of a "mess" it actually was....I don't think it was that much of a mess.
Bottom line, Gillis was only allowed the 'luxury' of one 'bad season' before he was canned.....Jimbo has had five consecutive ''bad seasons' yet seems entrenched.
Would things have been any worse if Aquilini had stuck with Gillis? How could they be?. The Canucks have had the worst winning percentage of any team in the NHL over the past four seasons, so it's hard to imagine things could have been any worse.
Would things have been any worse if Aquilini had stuck with Gillis? How could they be?. The Canucks have had the worst winning percentage of any team in the NHL over the past four seasons, so it's hard to imagine things could have been any worse.
Ugh, Benning vs Gillis, so boring. Anyone with half a brain and no ulterior trolling motive knows the truth. Enough. Ignore the baiting.
Gillis is out of the running. Who’s the next best candidate? Let’s re-rail this thread.
Gillis is out of the running. Who’s the next best candidate? Let’s re-rail this thread.
TryamkinPleaseReturn
Rapidly Shrinking Cult
- Feb 7, 2019
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It was simply fate that Gillis's team started off ok and over a few years developed into the best team in the league. Just fate, luck, coincidence. And also fate that Benning's team became the single worst team in the NHL over his time here. Mere fate. It's not like the GM had any effect on anything.
I don't understand the need to take strong positions here. There are very few situations where a GM doesn't inherit a something. You think the WCE era would have happened without Pat Quinn and Mike Keenan? We wouldn't have had Luongo and Schneider without Nonis. Likewise, the Canucks wouldn't have made it to the Cup finals without Gillis having made the moves that he made. And I said at the time of Benning's hiring that if the Canucks draft well under him it would be good for the team long term.
Gillis didn't draft well and at the end had to "reset" the franchise. The cupboards were bare. It also doesn't mean that the team was in such a mess that it couldn't be turned around. The team could have went the accumulate draft picks route and things may be different if the team hit on their draft picks. On the other hand, the core may not be better than what we have now.
I do find it funny that Benning gets criticized for talking about alignment when firing the AGMs he inherited, yet the same people aren't criticizing Gillis for his alignment talk. In reality, Aquilini could go the traditional route and hire a President who simply handles the corporate end of things. It's probably not a good idea to hire a President of Hockey Operations who is going to have a role in roster building and force him to keep Benning on as GM.
Gillis didn't draft well and at the end had to "reset" the franchise. The cupboards were bare. It also doesn't mean that the team was in such a mess that it couldn't be turned around. The team could have went the accumulate draft picks route and things may be different if the team hit on their draft picks. On the other hand, the core may not be better than what we have now.
I do find it funny that Benning gets criticized for talking about alignment when firing the AGMs he inherited, yet the same people aren't criticizing Gillis for his alignment talk. In reality, Aquilini could go the traditional route and hire a President who simply handles the corporate end of things. It's probably not a good idea to hire a President of Hockey Operations who is going to have a role in roster building and force him to keep Benning on as GM.
Intangibos
High-End Intangibos
The replies to that tweet reinforce my dislike for this fanbase.
Just a reminder that some people on here have tried to argue, essentially, that he isn't good at his (non-Canuck) job because he was born into a family with money.
Just a reminder that some people on here have tried to argue, essentially, that he isn't good at his (non-Canuck) job because he was born into a family with money.
xtra
Registered User
There isn’t any proof for us to say one way or the other that he is good or not good in his non canucks job.
I think the plan is simpley. if the Canucks make the playoffs next year. Jim Benning gets his 3rd year option renewed. if not
Weisbroud becomes president of Hockey Operations and Ryan Johnson GM. Weisbroud has the experience. and is best friends with Quinn Hughes Dad
Weisbroud becomes president of Hockey Operations and Ryan Johnson GM. Weisbroud has the experience. and is best friends with Quinn Hughes Dad
This would be the absolute darkest timeline.
TruGr1t
Proper Villain
- Jun 26, 2003
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Good Lord. What the hell is this? Burn it with fire. I need a dislike button.
Bojack Horvatman
IAMGROOT
- Jun 15, 2016
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I'll be pissed if he hires another president based off nepotism( especially if it's weisbrod). Ryan Johnson can't even properly manage Utica. If Aqua does this he will guarantee the primes of our core is wasted.
BeardyCanuck03
@BeardyCanuck03
Has there actually been a report that the Canucks are looking for a President of Hockey Operations or has all this just been wild speculation and hoping?
Aquilini has taken to Twitter claiming he's never talked to either Gillis or Lombardi about coming to the Canucks as President, and has no intention of doing so.
So looking less likely they'll have anyone in place prior to the draft....just maybe they have no intention of ever hiring anyone as a replacement for Linden.
So looking less likely they'll have anyone in place prior to the draft....just maybe they have no intention of ever hiring anyone as a replacement for Linden.
Lindgren
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- Jun 30, 2005
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My best guess is that there will be no additions to the front office. Benning will be given the year, the team won't make the playoffs, and he'll be fired a year from now.
I wonder what restraints, if any, ownership might place on Benning going into the free agency.
I wonder what restraints, if any, ownership might place on Benning going into the free agency.
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