The way it is...Tony G's take....

[Barry_Wilkins]

just because you disagree with his opinions doesn't make him an incoherent writer

Higgins is not an elite anything

pretty decent player for his role and money, though

An incoherent writer is a writer who has trouble composing a lucid English sentence. That description fits Gallagher for his mangled scribblings during his entire career. Clarity should be the elementary requirement for the job, even for a newspaper hack.

Aside from that, this is also typical Gallagher in that the article is hyperbolic (Higgins is a serious problem? The fans are OK with the product because they waited all year before the "Fire Gillis" chant?) as well as cheaply plotted (the early time-out was warranted since the score was still close even though the players had already checked out).

I agree with the general and rambling argument he's making -- fire Tortorella. But he can't even present that pedestrian opinion with any insight.

[nuck nit]

And a career 40 point player ....... is in fact elite.....

One of the better bang for your buck players in the NHL year after year.

Less than half a point per game career production is not an elite hockey player.

Spinning it like Tony there ,oldnews.

However,he is an above average player in terms of his consistency and compete level.

[oldnews]

Less than half a point per game career production is not an elite hockey player.

Spinning it like Tony there ,oldnews.

However,he is an above average player in terms of his consistency and compete level.

irony: you edit like a yellow journalist.

[Me_]

Could Burrows being banished to the 4th have anything to do with the comments he made last week?

Still not sure when those things were said, but it was a clear shot over Tortarella's bow.

Again. Tortorella has been total class, praising his GM and bailing him out of some serious trouble; the Calgary incident and the Heritage Classic.

Gillis, could not defend his coach for both those events, and then goes on a radio show saying my way or the highway.

Gillis is also a crybaby; Hodgson was a bad apple, the NHL front office sucks, the officiating sucks, and now he couldn't go to bat for his coach.

Tortorella is no angel to say the least. But he goes to bat for this organization like no one else has done. He's embraced the experience of being a Canucks entirely and can do some serious good with rookies and young players.

Tortorella discusses with the media, at length, about team philosophy without giving any team fundamentals out, but he's right there and talking about it in a straight face demeanor. Of course that angers the fans who are illusioned by the Canucks' success but do not understand how can all of this happen; not making the playoffs.

Fact is, this team is stale and done as of yesterday.

I believe that a culmination of various events has led to Gillis' firing over Tortorella:

Tortorella's first year, so he should be safe,

1 playoff game win since the Boston Final,

Trading Schneider AND Luongo not one year apart,

Failing to trade Kesler,

Failing to trade Edler, (Refused to waive ntc)

Failing to bring in offense,

Giving NTC's like candy (player agent)

Failing to keep prized players,

Bringing in plugs,

Mismanagement (trading for Ballard and the signing Hamhuis)

Mismanagement of goaltending controversy

Mismanagement of young players such as Hodgson (who saw an injured Kesler play, hampering the team)

Mismanagement of older players; Alberts, Torres, Lapierre, Ehrhoff, Salo

And believe it or not, those are but a few things to note.

The biggest thing for me is that Gillis is a whiner. He whined about everything; the NHL front office, the referees, and so on.