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Gillis tells Canucks fans to have faith with Bernier

MATTHEW SEKERES

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 1:40 AM EDT 06/07/08

Vancouver sends a second- and third-round draft choice to Buffalo for big winger, Matthew Sekeres reports ...Read the full article

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  1. B.C. Expat from Ottawa-Hull, NCR, Canada writes: I like, I like.
  2. Michael Peters from Toronto, Canada writes: Progress?
  3. tim smith from Canada writes: Canucks fans looking over the lines yesterday probably noticed that we have two big wholes on the wings on our first and second. Bernier just filled one (presumably on the second line). If we don't re-sign Mo, we NEED a big pick-up or next year will be the same story: good defense, good goalie, good potential, good fans, no offense, no playoffs.
  4. Howard Young from Canada writes: What the heck are the Sabres doing these days?
  5. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Howard Young ask what the Sabres are doing....

    They are ensuring they are back to a have not team Howard. Icing an inferior product.

    Cheers
  6. Howard Young from Canada writes: Scot, if it's intentional, my sympathies to Miller. He may want to think about re-signing.

    Perhaps they are getting a head start on next year's lottery for 1st overall draft pick.

    I really wonder about Sabres management these days. They've been on a downward spiral with several top players exiting. I feel bad for sports fans in Buffalo.
  7. B.C. Expat from Ottawa-Hull, NCR, Canada writes: tim smith from Canada writes: Bernier just filled one (presumably on the second line).

    Going by Gillis' reference to his right-handed shot, I'm thinking the idea may be to make him the new Triplet.
  8. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Scot Loucks from Pickering,
    Scot could I please get your appraisal of Bernier?
  9. Michael Sharp from Victorious, Canada writes:

    Ya.

    We don't get to see these guys.

    Is he any good?
  10. Barclay Logan from Bewdley, Canada writes: I'm finding it almost impossible to share my views on this and other trades/ship-jumps/retirements in the NHL without the redoubtable Donald Cherry's bang-on insights into the world of the NHL to guide my hand and mind.

    It's been a month or so since Mr. Cherry graced my television with his patented "Now, lemme tll ya about this ( ) guy ... " or, "You talk about ... ". Why doesn't the CBC offer Donald a summer program, so that I can have an opinion handy when I'm getting wasted at the local sports bar? I drink a heck of a lot more when I see a bunch of guys running around forever, kicking a ball, running around forever again, kicking a ball -- you know what I'm talking about.

    Then he just pops up, on the cover of MacLean's, at Canadian Tire, and most recently, on the cover of a pamphlet promoting organ donation at the MTO! I was renewing my licence with about 300,000 others when I spotted it.

    I have friends who work there, so I asked them to find out what's up for grabs if the unthinkable happens. All I've gotten back so far is that he wants his eyes put into a woman, and, curiously, he wants his scrotum preserved. It's odd.
  11. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Hap Stokes;

    You probably saw him play more than I did.... although I saw him play against the Leafs twice. I remember thinking.... we could have picked him up for Kubina..... wtf????

    He was a top 6 forward with San Jose and he has tremendous upside. Skates, shoots, scores.... young.

    Buffalo dumped him because he is an RFA and they have turned into the cheapest team in the league. Not prepared to pay their stars. They are currently sitting at 45m.... don't expect them to add any more payroll.

    Cheers
  12. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Barclay Logan from Bewdley..... Grapes did have his own show.

    Don Cherry's Grapeline. Twas on CHCH TV out of Hamilton and on the Radio.

    As for you not knowing how to comment without the Don's input.... I think you just proved it.

    Cheers
  13. charles ANTHONY from Canada writes: Bernier is big and dominant along the boards. He fell out of favour with Wilson in San Jose and his stock went down a bit. He will be incredible with the Sedins. He can score!
  14. Barclay Logan from Bewdley, Canada writes: Oh, Scot, Scot ... you've insulted me. Not with the unbridled fury of Donald when commenting on a Swedish/Russian/Finnish/ not-North American sissy/dirty/commie robot player, but a pretty nasty remark regarding my writing nonetheless.

    Why, Scot? Why?

    Cheers,

    -- Barclay
  15. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Barclay Logan from Bewdley..... I am pretty sure you aren't that sensitive :)

    Cheers
  16. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Thanks for the Bernier report Scot.
    We almost never see the Sharks or Buffalo either.
    Haven't seen TBay, Carolina etc since Christ was in diapers.
    Was amazed last year at seeing BIG improvements in LA & Phoenix.
    Ours not to do or die, it only to be called:
    HNIC.
  17. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: No problem Hap... I thought you were being facetious. my bad.

    I said on another thread where they were criticizing Gillis... he has 16m in cap space. The UFA market this year sucked.... he is going to use trades and probably offer sheets to RFA's.

    He just grabbed a really good RFA.

    Cheers
  18. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Is this the same Bernier that comes with a pneumatic girlfriend? Could give the current BC born double zeppelin a run for the money.
  19. J K GALBRAITH from Canada writes: Scot and Howard: Actually Darcy Regier has indicated that their payroll will be around $48 million this year and they have since picked up Craig Rivet from San Jose. The following analysis of Buffalo is based on discussions heard on WGR 550 in Buffalo so you may or may not be reliable. According to some of the reporters, Buffalo came to the conclusion they could not afford to keep both Briere and Drury. Since they were having a good year on the ice, they obviously did not say this publicly. The Sabres made the decision they would try to keep Drury and apparently a deal could have been had but somehow Regier mismanaged or misjudged how to handle Drury and his agent and a deal was not finalized during the season. The Sabres were also blindsided by Kevin Lowe's offer sheet for Vanek. I doubt they would have paid him or offered him the salary that he is currently making and probably calculated they could resign him for $4 or $5 million a year. I also think that making the decision to keep Vanek impacted what they could offer Brian Campbell. Apparently at the trade deadline there last offer to Campbell was around $5 million a year for three years. (which led me to think on the deadline day that Cliff should have tried to trade McCabe to Buffalo) Based on the comments from Campbell's camp, he probably would have settled for $5 million a year but wanted a longer term contract of at least 5 years. The problem in losing both Drury and Briere is that it forced second tier players like Vanek and Afinigenov into trying to become first line players. However, Buffalo did not have the same depth on lines two and three and early in the year Vanek had lots of opportunities but could not score. Afinigenov couldn't handle top line checking and Buffalo will likely trade him before the summer is out. While saying that, Buffalo still scored a lot of goals this year but Miller was not as strong and with the offense not as consistent, it put more pressure on the defense.
  20. J K GALBRAITH from Canada writes: A couple of additional comments on Buffalo. They are a very small market team in an economic area that has little growth. They have been able to rely on a lot of Canadian fans who either can't get or don't want to pay the high ticket prices in Toronto. They do try to maximize their revenue through charging a much higher ticket price for high demand games such as Toronto or Pittsburgh. However, I am sure they are concerned about the recession in Ontario and the increase in the dollar impacting their potential revenue. They also still have quite a few young players who still have potential to develop into good quality players. Some like Derek Roy and Jason Pominville showed more of that potential this year but there are a few others where there is still uncertainty on whether they will become legitimate NHLers. Given all these circumstances, it is not that much of a surprise that they are being very judicious with their salary commitments both for the upcoming year and for the near future. They were prepared to get into the free agent market to upgrade their defence but I think the Campbell deal upped the price on everybody more than anticipated and beyond their range. If Brooks Orpik had not been so committed to returning to Pittsburgh, then they would have made a serious offer to sign him as I believe he is from the Buffalo area.
  21. Howard Young from Canada writes: J K, thanks for the synopsis. I'm still a little suspect of management, more so of Golisano. Some questionable things such as the decision to use video scouting as a cost cutting measure and the suspension of Numminen without pay when he had surgery for his heart condition.
  22. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Scot Loucks--you keep maintaining Gillis will use the trade route to pick up new and exciting bodies. Who does he have to trade that anybody wants besides Bieksa, and of course, Luongo?
  23. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: J K...

    That is certainly a logical response to what has happened down there. My worry would be how Miller is reading it?

    Assuming their analysis is correct.... that would mean the Bernier trade was in order to keep cap room to resign Miller.

    The only problem I have with their synopsis is that Reiger mis judged the situation... he has been too smart over the years for that.

    I agree that the Vanek offer sheet blind sided them.... but guess who their UFA's are next year... How about Miller, Afinogenov, Kotalik and Spacek. RFA's are... Pominville and Stafford.

    I also agree they have some awesome players in Roy and Vanek and Hecht signed for multiple years... but man they gave away some good players.

    Cheers
  24. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: DTR.... Don't know. Would he trade the Sedin twins? Would he trade one of them?

    What do they have in Winnipeg in terms of prospects? I know they finished 10 points behind the Marlies.... but as we all know the Marlies were stacked with JFJ players that will never play in the NHL.

    I am not really maintaining that he will take the trade route... I am maintaining he doesn't really have a choice. That or the offer sheets (more likely) to RFA's.

    Cheers
  25. Richie Rich from Sar Chasm, Canada writes: Bernier has always been an underachiever, he came into the last training camp out of shape and sucked all year. The Sabres had a sneak peak at him and obviously that short amount of time with them revealed that Bernier isn't worth keeping. Now Gillis thinks he'll be this awesome player?? Get a grip.

    Keep this in mind with the Sabres. After losing their two best players and ultimately their best defenseman last year, the Sabres still ended up with 90 points last year. I would argue they had a excellent year given those circumstances. They had a couple nasty losing streaks, without those they would have easily made the playoffs. How would most teams do if they lost their three best players? Tell me how Detroit would have done if they had lost Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Lidstrom last year? Penguins without Crosbey, Malkin and Gonchar? Get the point?

    Buffalo has an excellent farm system and they signed numerous young players to contracts in June before the deadline. Regier - who is arguably the worst GM in the league - is saving money to sign Miller and Pominville. I believe that compared to these other teams blowing the bank on whatever they can get, that the Sabres are playing it smart. Only next season will tell.
  26. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Richie Rich from Sar Chasm, Canada writes: Bernier has always been an underachiever, he came into the last training camp out of shape and sucked all year.

    ===============

    Obviously a Sabre fan.... Bull shite Richie rich.

    He was a top 6 forward under Wilson in San Jose.... nice try though.

    Buffalo isn't going to spend any money on him as an RFA because their owner wants to be in the "have not" part of the NHL.

    Worst post on this thread and if you have ever seen him play... and if you have seen him play... Hell I'm stuttering on this one.... Stay away from hockey threads.

    Cheers (sarcasm included).
  27. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Is this the same Bernier that comes with a pneumatic girlfriend? Could give the current BC born double zeppelin a run for the money.

    Belle knowing you--- that must be funny.
    But remember I'm just a dumb Bluenoser (like Miller)
    I DON'T GET IT??---Belle
    Decode Please and Thank You
  28. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Have to agree with Hap Mariposa.... except the dumb bluenoser part.... I'd have to be a dumb Ontario farm boy.

    Of course Hap there could have been a bottle of single malt involved.... in which case :)

    Cheers
  29. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Got'cha
  30. J K GALBRAITH from Canada writes: Scot: I think your right about how Miller is reading the situation in Buffalo. First of all, he can now likely obtain $7 to $8 million dollars a year in free agency next year. If Buffalo can sign him before then, it will probably cost them a minimum of $6 million a year. The bigger problem will be convincing Miller that they are serious enough about winning that they will also keep some of their other key players or get other free agents to have a chance. Here's something to consider. Ryan Miller is a Michigan boy. If Ken Holland had $7.5 million available at free agency next year (by only keeping Hossa for the year) and felt that Chris Osgood has slipped a lot and that prospect Jimmy Howard is not ready, would he make a similar offer to Miller that he did to Hossa this year?
  31. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Scot Loucks, let's say Gillis ships Bieksa to Ottawa for Vermette. And the Sedin twins, let's see...now why can't I think of a team that would want them? No, wait, why, there's Ottawa again! The twins for Andy Meszaros and a bottle of single malt. OK, two bottles and a case of Belle Gueule. Then Alfie has Swedish playmates. Gillis can drown his sorrows. And suddenly the Sens look like 'Wings Lite'. As all those Rideau Canal shinny players would say, have a beaver tail, eh.
  32. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Loucks, the offer to Gillis has been revised...the Sedin twins for Meszaros, two bottles of Laphroiag, a case of 24 Belle Gueule Blonde, and a pair of VIP backstage passes to the George Michael concert at GM Place. Bryan Murray drives a hard bargain, me boyo.
  33. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Dave The Rave from Ottawa
    I know your are just joking sarcastically Dave. But still think you have a few feelings that, lets term it 'Sedin Sister inadequacies'. Don't blame you Dave, it's fairly common thinking.--But it is WRONG!

    Most fans see the infamous Sedin cycle which 99% of the time doesn't even result in a shot. But they also control the puck endlessly. The Twins can just destroy the best D on the planet with that cycling. Have seen them control the puck on a PP for the entire 2 minutes. Often far over a minute. When the other teams PK leave for the bench they are drag-a$$ed bushed. A shift or two later the Canucks will just pepper a tired out defense and usually something big happens, if not a goal, then a tired out D penalty again.

    Dave these two twins frustrate the shiite out of me and I never thought I would be defending them, but honestly the twins are magical.

    They appear to have some kind of inter-mind communication, because they is no other way to explain the tricks and skills they can do with the puck. For example: they have so many tricks but this is my personal favorite: 3 or 4 times a year, one twin will 'FLIP' the puck across 30 feet of air and the other brother will swing baseball style and damned if it doesn't go in the net most of the time. Its AMAZING

    Blame those amateur (Tarrana wanna) be alike sports reporters in the VanKong latti set, for some of the mistakes you easterners have conjured up. Actually the Canucks are VERY solid on the backend. The problem is: The Sedins are all they have for scoring and one line is pretty easy for any team to stop.
  34. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Hap, no disrespect meant to the Sedin boys...my barbs are directed rather at Mr Gillis, who seems to be floundering as the other managers make decisive (albeit expensive) moves. Mr Gillis has shown so far that he talks big. But Steve Bernier and Darcy Hordichuk will not be sending waves of fear into the hearts of Canuck opponents.
  35. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Know you are KORRECT Dave
    Just praying you ain't.
  36. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Saw half hr interview with Gillis on Rodgers TV.
    Instead of blustery as reported by VanKong media experts
    Found Gillis low key, quite humble and obviously a deep thinker.
    My opinion based on wanna be reporters changed, I was impressed.

    There is nothing that Gillis hasn't done in hockey except be a GM.
    5th pick overall by Avs--Injured in rookie training camp (slow for 3 yrs)
    Dealt to Bruins just an average player, no super star.
    Played 7 yrs NHL--Seems very likable person (probably private guy).

    Father was pro baseball player for Toronto Maple Leafs
    Mother was a very high amateur athlete also
    Became a lawyer while still playing NHL hockey.
    An Agent by accident because requested by a former team mate
    After that it was 'Word of Mouth' and it was all unplanned expansion

    He gets a lot of BAD Press in Vanc.
    Maybe more than just a little bit undeserved.

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