Sanj Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Shea Weber. Shane Doan. Roberto Luongo. In an interview with The Globe and Mail on Monday morning, Mike Gillis, president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, weighed in on three of the bigger names in hockey, central figures in the flux of the hockey team’s off-season roster. On Doan Vancouver remains in the hunt, according to Gillis, who in general disdains multiyear contracts for players 35 or older. But such rules are not set in stone and Gillis chases Doan alongside other teams such as the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. “We’re one of the teams that are active in trying to pursue him and see if he’d like to play here in Vancouver,” said Gillis in an interview in his office at Rogers Arena on Monday morning. “Not sure of a timeline yet but we’re hopeful we have a chance to convince him to play here.” Doan turns 36 in October and has played his whole career for the Phoenix Coyotes. In the past three seasons, he has had an average of 55 points, compared with an average of 69 the three seasons before that. A Doan signing will be expensive, and demand a multiyear deal. Despite Vancouver’s aversion to such contracts for older players, Gillis said Doan’s availability as a free agent is a rare occurrence. “There are specific situations that cause you, not to reconsider the guidelines, but present a different set of a facts, a difference set of circumstances, that take you outside of those guidelines.” On Weber The Sicamous, British Columbia-born defenceman, a restricted free agent, has accepted a $110-million, 14-year offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers, a deal many in hockey expect the Nashville Predators to match, with a deadline of Wednesday night to decide. Gillis, earlier in July, spent three hours with Weber and his agent, at Weber’s offseason home in Kelowna, near Sicamous. Gillis believed he would not be able to snag Weber with a long-term offer sheet, concluding that the Nashville Predators would match any proposed contract. He said the 26-year-old defenceman was focused on a big-money, long-term deal, under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement rules. “Our issue was how do you get the player,” said Gillis. “Our issue wasn’t the money. It’s how do you actually get the player on your team. Our feeling was that a contract with term probably wouldn’t allow that to happen.” Asked why he didn’t take a flier like Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren, Gillis measured his answer. “Well.” He paused, took a breath. “I guess that’s one school of thought. To me I’d rather be trying to accomplish things rather than, ‘Okay, throw something up in the air and hope that it sticks.’ “We threw around trade possibilities. We threw around every possible scenario. I spoke to him [Weber] about every possible scenario, and his agent. At the end of the day, I guess Philadelphia was prepared to take that chance.” On the B.C. connection, Gillis said, “We hear constantly, people want to tweet and blog, every player who has been born in British Columbia wants to play for the Vancouver Canucks.” Gillis, the former player agent, said the factors that influence a decision for a player, especially in free agency, are myriad, particularly because players have only rare opportunities to truly test their market value as a professional. In the end, with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement coming, possibly with contract term limits, Weber went for the money. “It was quite clear, at the end of the day, what the objectives were,” said Gillis. “To take advantage of the current system, and to maximize his economic return, which is absolutely fair, which he’s completely entitled to.” On Luongo Gillis hasn’t spoken with his former starting goaltender in a while and stated, in general, “there’s nothing new to report.” He suggested more activity could percolate in mid-August. “As you get closer to the season, things begin to pick up as teams see their needs.” On the market for Luongo, there have been real deals on the table. Gillis hasn’t been motivated to move, though he suggested that could evolve with time. “We’ve been given solid offers. Nothing we would do today. We’re going to continue the process with the teams that are interested.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zigmund.Palffy Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Hmm Weber went for the money eh.. now what does that say about him ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 True enough, but maybe we just plain could not offer him enough, and Gillis knew it. I mean, Nashville might even match Philly's offer.. what happens then? Weber is there for likely the rest of his career, not just for one more year. He'd really be screwed then, if he can't stand to even go back for one more year. I have a suspicion that maybe Gillis was hoping to get Weber into UFA status and sign him then and maybe let Edler go? Edler is UFA next year, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Line Juggler Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Keep in mind that Gillis is also handcuffed by other issues. He wants to see where his team stands in the Doan sweepstakes and get an idea of how much of the cap he will need to commit to him if he did indeed sign with the Canucks. There's also the Luongo situation. At this point, it sounds like Gillis has no clue if Luongo will be on the team once the season starts, hence whether that $5.333M cap hit will be on the books or not. There are a lot of money questions right now and things need to fall into place one at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cucumber Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Hes going to wait to see if Doan signs, and then pick the deal that fits around him. If Doan doesn't sign hes going to pick the deal that would include a player to fill what Doan was going to be doing for us. Thats my take Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hafizzle Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Honestly, you're probably right about us not being able to get him because of Philly's ridiculous offer. But to not even make a serious attempt is kind of disheartening. They clearly had strong interest in him, but weren't willing to back it up with anything substantial. I'm not saying they should have offered tthat kind of money, but something in the ballpark of that would have at least given us a chance. I mean, if they can offer Luongo 64 million over 12 years, can they not offer Weber something like 90 million over 12? It's not like the owners don't have that kind of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiun Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Well I mean I assume he knew that other teams had multi year deals on the table, since that would have been his agents bargaining chip. So I just don't understand how he thought that he could get him on a 1 year deal and get him next summer. Does he not realize he would have had to compete with the same kinds of ridiculous offers next summer too. What then? I don't think Nashville can afford this entire contract. So if anything it will be for 1 year and then they would likely trade him next summer. Problem is, now next summer we would have to offer up half our team for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnInconvenienceBrah Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 someone should ask Gillis if he feels the injuries this core seems to run into season after season after season will prevent us from winning a cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviewonder20 Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Here is some more detail from an interview he gave with the Globe & Mail and should (hopefully) quell some of the second-guessing from would-be GMs on CDC. Shea Weber. Shane Doan. Roberto Luongo. In an interview with The Globe and Mail on Monday morning, Mike Gillis, president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, weighed in on three of the bigger names in hockey, central figures in the flux of the hockey team’s off-season roster. On Doan Vancouver remains in the hunt, according to Gillis, who in general disdains multiyear contracts for players 35 or older. But such rules are not set in stone and Gillis chases Doan alongside other teams such as the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. “We’re one of the teams that are active in trying to pursue him and see if he’d like to play here in Vancouver,” said Gillis in an interview in his office at Rogers Arena on Monday morning. “Not sure of a timeline yet but we’re hopeful we have a chance to convince him to play here.” Doan turns 36 in October and has played his whole career for the Phoenix Coyotes. In the past three seasons, he has had an average of 55 points, compared with an average of 69 the three seasons before that. A Doan signing will be expensive, and demand a multiyear deal. Despite Vancouver’s aversion to such contracts for older players, Gillis said Doan’s availability as a free agent is a rare occurrence. “There are specific situations that cause you, not to reconsider the guidelines, but present a different set of a facts, a difference set of circumstances, that take you outside of those guidelines.” On Weber The Sicamous, British Columbia-born defenceman, a restricted free agent, has accepted a $110-million, 14-year offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers, a deal many in hockey expect the Nashville Predators to match, with a deadline of Wednesday night to decide. Gillis, earlier in July, spent three hours with Weber and his agent, at Weber’s offseason home in Kelowna, near Sicamous. Gillis believed he would not be able to snag Weber with a long-term offer sheet, concluding that the Nashville Predators would match any proposed contract. He said the 26-year-old defenceman was focused on a big-money, long-term deal, under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement rules. “Our issue was how do you get the player,” said Gillis. “Our issue wasn’t the money. It’s how do you actually get the player on your team. Our feeling was that a contract with term probably wouldn’t allow that to happen.” Asked why he didn’t take a flier like Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren, Gillis measured his answer. “Well.” He paused, took a breath. “I guess that’s one school of thought. To me I’d rather be trying to accomplish things rather than, ‘Okay, throw something up in the air and hope that it sticks.’ “We threw around trade possibilities. We threw around every possible scenario. I spoke to him [Weber] about every possible scenario, and his agent. At the end of the day, I guess Philadelphia was prepared to take that chance.” On the B.C. connection, Gillis said, “We hear constantly, people want to tweet and blog, every player who has been born in British Columbia wants to play for the Vancouver Canucks.” Gillis, the former player agent, said the factors that influence a decision for a player, especially in free agency, are myriad, particularly because players have only rare opportunities to truly test their market value as a professional. In the end, with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement coming, possibly with contract term limits, Weber went for the money. “It was quite clear, at the end of the day, what the objectives were,” said Gillis. “To take advantage of the current system, and to maximize his economic return, which is absolutely fair, which he’s completely entitled to.” On Luongo Gillis hasn’t spoken with his former starting goaltender in a while and stated, in general, “there’s nothing new to report.” He suggested more activity could percolate in mid-August. “As you get closer to the season, things begin to pick up as teams see their needs.” On the market for Luongo, there have been real deals on the table. Gillis hasn’t been motivated to move, though he suggested that could evolve with time. “We’ve been given solid offers. Nothing we would do today. We’re going to continue the process with the teams that are interested.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Suter got 98 mil so there was no way any GM could offer less than that for Weber without it being insulting. Philly got it right with the amount they're offering even though it's a crazy offer. Also when it came down to it, I think Weber's actions proved that he wouldn't mind staying in Nashville for his career. It clearly isn't the optimal situation for him, but he would never have signed an offer sheet for that term if he wasn't willing to stay. Everyone knows that Nashville is going to match it because they have no choice. The front loaded signing bonus is the only worry but I think their ownership will bite the bullet for it because they've got the money and more importantly, they still need to get to the cap floor. They're not going to let their 1 franchise player walk for draft picks. If Weber TRULY wanted to leave Nashville, he would have signed a 1 year sheet so Gillis played it smart. But when news got out that the owners didn't want any long term deals in the new CBA, Weber along with Quick, Suter, Parise, Crosby all cashed in. I think if the new CBA wasn't kicking in and there wasn't a risk of no more long term deals, Weber would have taken a 1 year deal. But clearly money and security trumps destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kesler's Nose Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Now if only Doan can come here, followed by a Luongo trade.. Followed by a Semin signing, (Else where) the NHL will be all wrapped up in a nice little package. EDIT: I would definitely have went the UFA route for Weber, but seeing as the new CBA was set to change contract negotiations I would then have adjusted my strategy and sent him a substantial offer sheet valued at around at least a 100 mil. Things don't always work out though, I'm happy with Garrison for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdubuya Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 And how would we fit that into the cap, exactly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedinry Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 TEAM Radio @TEAM1040 per @GMMikeGillis- on Doan "definitely looking at a deal" Been in contact with Doan and his agent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hafizzle Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 The funny thing is, Suter is every bit as good as Weber. He only had 3 less points and is much better defensively. Suter makes Weber better. I think Weber has inside knowledge that Nashville can't afford that contract. He probably took them to their max in the negotiations, so he knows exactly what their breaking point was. And Philly probably came in with an offer a bit above that knowing that there's no way they can afford it. Sometimes a team is just handcuffed. If matching the offer means bankrupting the team, there's no way they do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedinry Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Now if only Doan come here, followed by a Luongo trade.. Followed by a Semin signing, the NHL will be all wrapped up in a nice little package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NuxFan09 Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Also, we would not be able to keep Edler next year if we matched Philley's offer for Weber. Edler should give us a hometown discount and obviously Weber didn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raiun Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 The fact that you want Semin means your on crack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arsenalian Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 Well all in all it was a pretty interesting couple of hours, I'd tune in to hear him in a segment on a regular basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadiangunner Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Nucks need to get tougher and Kassian is not the guy who is gonna do it on his own. Nucks need someone in the Matt Martin mould, suprised nobody hit on the toughness issue when Gillis was fielding questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keslerian one Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Can anyone provide a link of the interview? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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