So far? It has been depressing. It's been killing my mood during Canada Day 2 days ago. Everytime I received a text alert from TSN saying "so and so signed with so and so team" or "player traded for player 2" I get depressed and wonder "Uhh, Mike, we're running out of top 6 forwards. Offense needs help please?"
Isn't he making all the same moves Nonis was making last year???!
Blah.
Gillis transactions in no particular order
- Re-signs Curtis Sanford
- Signs Ryan Johnson
- Signs Nolan Baumgartner
- Signs Darcy Hordichuk
- Signs Alexandre Bolduc
- Signs Kyle Wellwood
Hmmm. Yeah. It's looking like the same team last year unless a few of our prospects are able to make the jump into NHL... Patrick Kane/Jonathan Toews style.
Though it was funny. When I received the TSN text message with regards to David Backes being signed to a "$7.5 million" offer sheet, I thought it was "$7.5 million PER YEAR" and was totally panicking while walking around Granville Island, cursing Mike Gillis... 'WHY ARE YOU OFFERING HIM $7.5 MILLION WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT TO MALKIN IF YOU WERE PLANNING ON DOING SO"
Then I came home and heard the Blues matched and eventually found out it was through the length of the contract. LOL
But yeah. Uhm. Go Mike!
I obviously have not seen this guy play, but if all the things I've read about him is true, then I definitely cannot wait to see him play.
:D All the best!
I'm still unable to accept that Luc is really gone. Everytime I think of it, there's still this hope in my heart that it never happened and I will go back to cheering for him next season.
It's strange because the concept of "gone" in hockey has always meant a player from your team is getting traded.. But there's always hope of that player coming back. Luc has always been someone who is stapled to a lot of trade proposals, trade rumors, etc... But death is not the same as a hockey trade or losing a player to a free agent market. We really won't see him again.
For someone I don't personally know, but who is a player who I invested a lot of emotional attachment over the past couple of years, I am very scared of losing my memories of him.
I saw him score his first NHL goal.
I remember a story back when he was in Junior, how Cape Breton's QMJHL didn't really like him because during their teddy bear toss, he threw a teddy bear back to the crowd after the first goal was disallowed.
I remember LOLing so hard during his rookie "hazing" from the Canucks Dice & Ice, beating out Alex Edler for the title of the best dancer.
I remember watching the recorded replay of Team Canada vs Team USA in the WJHC 2007 semi-finals. He scored the tying goal.
I remember the last game of the 07-08 season, when I was joking around with my friend that Luc is all over my shot when I tried to take a photo of Markus Naslund during warmup. Now I'm pretty happy that I have a couple of good photos of him on his last NHL game.
I can't even believe I'm getting this worked up over his death when I have only even seen less than half of his professional hockey games. But that's the whole point. I wanted so much to see more of his games.
Rest in Peace, Luc and I hope you're in a happier place.
Ever since I got more involved in keeping myself updated on the Canucks prospects, I have been looking forward into seeing Luc as the other half of a very formidable defensive pairing. It was fun watching him develop, struggle and then mature as a hockey player, and I am deeply saddened by the fact that I would never see him play again.
Show us a wave.
My parents can be cute sometimes. Cute hockey fans that is.
I caught them talking on the phone tonight about srz hockey business.
Like the GM situation in Vancouver.
Dave Nonis.
The contracts some players are receiving.
Like Dave Nonis...
The GM situation in other places.
I only heard that much since I had to use my mom's bathroom :PPPP and they were discussing this stuff srzly. XD!!!
(My dad works in San Francisco, that's why he and my mom talk for an hour or 2 on the phone everyday.)
Then again, my mom and I does the same when driving around places since she usually has the radio on Team 1040. She'll always be the first to let me know about hockey news and we'd be analyzing the details while we're driving or eating dinner.
My brother just rolls his eyes.
It is so refreshing watching playoff hockey where you feel neutrally for both teams playing.
After finally getting a bit of breathing room before my last final on Wednesday, I watched the last 2 periods of the Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins game.
I like both teams so it was pretty fun to watch, but later on, I got more into cheering for Boston.
It was probably their hardwork that got me all rabid by the middle of the 2nd. HAHA They came back and tied the game 3 times. They freaking deserved to win that game for that alone.
I also have a soft spot for the underdogs. :P
Anyway, I like Montreal, and I honestly thought the Bruins just outworked them in the last 2 periods (can't say anything about the first since I didn't watch) to win the game.
That was just so fun to watch. I don't know if I can watch game 7 though... u_u I have finals 2 days after that, and was planning to stay in school to study. Bleh.
Uhmm.. Goooooooooooo Bostreal Brunadiens! :DDDDDDDD!!!
First thought while listening to Francesco Aquilini's press conference: "Oh god it was a knee jerk reaction."
Second thought was: "Oh god, the Canucks are screwed."
Wow, I am just shocked. I was hoping for any sort of explanation as to why Dave Nonis was fired and he didn't come up with any except we didn't make the playoffs and he's accountable for the fans happiness, "'We felt a change in direction of this team and the leadership was necessary.'' Uhh, gee Aquilini, you sound like one of those CDC armchair GMs except you actually have the money to get what you want.
And seriously, I was just amazed (in disbelief, really) at his answers to the all the questions. For a guy who says they need a change in 'leadership', he can't even define what 'leadership' is to him. He fumbled with his answers and was just like "uhh.. someone with vision"... Exact quotes:
"Leadership is vision. You have to have a vision of where you want to go. You have to have the support group around you to get you there. You have to have the ability to execute. Leadership is a buzzword that a lot of people use, but at the end of the day, it’s about quality people who are committed to what they’re doing, people who serve the organization, people who care and people who can get the job. That’s what it comes down to – just getting the job done."
Hmm...
It seemed to me Nonis had a "vision" as to where he wants to go. He also had a great support group in Steve Tambellini who backs his decision. It also seems like Nonis has been able to execute on his vision. He has said all along that he will be building from the net out, and he has done that. The next step of his process was working with the offense. Nonis serves the organization, he obviously cares about our future by refusing to sacrifice a huge chunk of it for quick fixes...
Looks like Nonis pretty much fit your criteria, Aquilini? Maybe what you meant was a GM who has the same vision of where YOU want to go, not HIS vision on how he sees the team. Also maybe you should change that criteria of being able to execute to being able to execute ASAP.
Seriously I am just shaking my head throughout the whole press conference. My mother was also in shock.
Yesterday she thought the firing of Dave Nonis is good news because perhaps it might lead to some 'good changes', but both of us agreed that this turn of events is just horrible.
And that question about the ability of the team to hire a new GM when they might be hesitant to come to the team due to "job security" (after all 2 GMs fired in the span of 5 years)... His answer consisted of "we did this for the fans, we want to win" repeat x 10.
Wow, you sure gave the fans more confidence with your whole presscon Aquilini.
I just want to bitch about everything right now...
My thoughts are in a jumble since I was listening to this presscon on my way to a chem final at 12.
Ugh.
I'd be shock if there's a Canucks fan out there who felt more confident with the direction this ownership group is leading the team after that interview.
It didn't even seem like he had a plan. He hasn't even setup an advisory committee to look at potential candidates for the GM position. He didn't even know what "signed off" meant.
What. the. fuck.
The only time I had a boost of confidence was when Chris Zimmerman answered a couple questions in place of Francesco Aquilini. At least Chris was CONFIDENT with his answers and he actually gave us something more solid.
I am very scared.
Nonis has been CANNED like TUNA!
I have 2 finals coming up in the next two days so I can't discuss such huge news.
I fucking hate you Canucks for doing this to me. I want to be able to spend my time reading forums about this. gah.
