Confirmed with Link: Canucks announce HC Rick Tocchet will Not Return

[bossram]

I never watched Loui Erikkson play a game. I stopped watching hockey all together for those years.

As I said, you really are a Devils fan. And not a Canucks fan. What do you think would happen if I went to the Devils board and insulted Devils fans ?

Go ahead man. I don't really care. I post mostly on HFCanucks and primarily am a Canucks fan, as pretty much every regular HFCanucks user would attest to.

All I did was make a statement that was largely true. If you disagree, alright. The "Devils fan" bit is pretty hilarious though. Like this is somehow the biggest dig you have, lmao.

 

[racerjoe]

Well...I can speak only for myself, I loved Gillis until the 2012 trade deadline, then the shine started wearing off for me...but when it became clear he was leading us down a path of no hope I was ok with firing him, only because it was untenable. I wasn't chanting it or anything, but I was ok with change...little did I know what was on the horizon. If I knew we'd have 8 years of Jim Benning I would have gladly kept Gillis because at least he was intelligent.

I wouldn't say there was a "lot" of supporters, but there definitely was a small contingent of Benning Bro's who were pretty confident he was playing 5D Chess, instead of the reality that he was actually eating the checkers pieces he was playing with.

We should have kept gillis... we would 100% have been better off and better now with him.

the only reason we had a good season after he was fired was because the guys he brought in had bounce back years.

he also was 100% right to look at retooling.

People chanting fire Gillis were wrong and not just because Benning was a disaster, but also because his vision was the correct path.

 

[bossram]

Well...I can speak only for myself, I loved Gillis until the 2012 trade deadline, then the shine started wearing off for me...but when it became clear he was leading us down a path of no hope I was ok with firing him, only because it was untenable. I wasn't chanting it or anything, but I was ok with change...little did I know what was on the horizon. If I knew we'd have 8 years of Jim Benning I would have gladly kept Gillis because at least he was intelligent.

I wouldn't say there was a "lot" of supporters, but there definitely was a small contingent of Benning Bro's who were pretty confident he was playing 5D Chess, instead of the reality that he was actually eating the checkers pieces he was playing with.

I think that is retconning a lot of history. It is absolutely the case that the majority of fans supported Benning for most of his tenure, up until near the end. Even on HFCanucks (where posters are ostensibly a lot more informed than a casual), the split was like 50/50 pro-Benning during the first half of his tenure. There's a reason "But Gillis!" became somewhat of a meme, and it was because the BenningBros kept claiming that the reason Benning had not turned around the team was because of what Gillis left him. I caught a ton of flak on HFCanucks for criticizing Benning early in his tenure.

 

[Canucker]

We should have kept gillis... we would 100% have been better off and better now with him.

the only reason we had a good season after he was fired was because the guys he brought in had bounce back years.

he also was 100% right to look at retooling.

People chanting fire Gillis were wrong and not just because Benning was a disaster, but also because his vision was the correct path.

Gillis was pretty much doomed to fail no matter what though...its nearly impossible to make chicken salad out of chicken shit in the NHL and that's how Aquilini wanted Gillis to steer his ship...but anyone in that position was doomed to fail, unfortunately for us Aquilini and Linden chose the dumbest option available to them. In hindsight, I do agree that Gillis was still likely the best option in a no-win situation.

 

[Canucker]

I think that is retconning a lot of history. It is absolutely the case that the majority of fans supported Benning for most of his tenure, up until near the end. Even on HFCanucks (where posters are ostensibly a lot more informed than a casual), the split was like 50/50 pro-Benning during the first half of his tenure. There's a reason "But Gillis!" became somewhat of a meme, and it was because the BenningBros kept claiming that the reason Benning had not turned around the team was because of what Gillis left him. I caught a ton of flak on HFCanucks for criticizing Benning early in his tenure.

For the first half? Sure, there were more supporters than there were at the end obviously... I don't know that it was 50/50, but thats splitting hairs and a matter of perspective I suppose. I was anti-Jim Benning from the get go as well...I never understood how he could have impressed anyone in an interview situation....boggled my mind...I just don't recall getting lambasted for it, but I've slept since then and tried to erase many of those years from my memory through therapy and illicit drug use. lol

 

[racerjoe]

Gillis was pretty much doomed to fail no matter what though...its nearly impossible to make chicken salad out of chicken shit in the NHL and that's how Aquilini wanted Gillis to steer his ship...but anyone in that position was doomed to fail, unfortunately for us Aquilini and Linden chose the dumbest option available to them. In hindsight, I do agree that Gillis was still likely the best option in a no-win situation.

What was chicken shit?

Team still had productive Twins, two good goalies, a solid defence and a young Tanev and a Youn Horvat with a great trade chip in kesler and a very high first.

They were in a really good spot to do exactly what Gillis wanted to do.

 

[Hodgy]

Fans eventually, and publically, called out Benning and yet Blueberries refused to act. The final straw seemed to be after eight years of abject failure (in totality), and the hiring of a plane flying a fire Benning sign.

To me this shows that Franky used fan behaviour as an excuse for doing whatever he wanted. I don't think it was the motivation.

Gillis wanted a rebuild and Ownership didn't, so they set him up to fail and then fired him when convenient. That's how it seemed to me. I'm not questioning your recall of the events or how bad the fan base is. I'm somewhat of an example of knee jerk responses myself, although that's usually due to in game reaction.

I think this is right. Fans absolutely got what they deserved in Benning after chanting "Fire Gillis". What an incredibly dumb thing to do. This franchise has been generally shit and we finally got good management in Gillis and Gilman and the fans turn on them during one down year which was largely caused by Frankie Berries signing fellow Italian John Tortorella. With all that said, I absolutely agree that Frankie didn't fire Gillis because of the chants. Benning was really getting heat for quite some time, including the plane banner, and he held off on firing him for sometime. I agree that what really got Gillis fired was Gillis advocating for a retool/rebuild and Frankie not willing to greenlight that.

 

[Canucker]

What was chicken shit?

Team still had productive Twins, two good goalies, a solid defence and a young Tanev and a Youn Horvat with a great trade chip in kesler and a very high first.

They were in a really good spot to do exactly what Gillis wanted to do.

Well...Gillis' did a lot of great things, but drafting was not one of them. They really didn't have much of a pipeline, and their last couple seasons under Gillis they were already beginning to implode...not that I think it was all Gillis' fault, its hard to run a team the way you want when your boss is meddling, but he had a hand in it.

 

[dwarf]

Any ideas on who will be our new coach? Gallant is probably the most likely imo.

 

[Jyrki21]

Don't wish this to seem like an attack, but you got Green's resume wrong. He was never on Long Island. He left Vancouver to become an assistant coach for the NJ Devils under Ruff for the '23-24 season.

He became the interim head coach of the New Jersey Devils in the latter part of that same season after Lindy Ruff was fired. He was not hired for the head caching job in NJ after sucking as the interim.

During the off season he was then signed as the head coach of the Ottawa Senators for '24-25 and led them to the Playoffs this season. His first success as an NHL head coach after flopping with the Canucks and Devils..

A @Bad Goalie cameo!!

 

[Hughes Clues]

Well...Gillis' did a lot of great things, but drafting was not one of them. They really didn't have much of a pipeline, and their last couple seasons under Gillis they were already beginning to implode...not that I think it was all Gillis' fault, its hard to run a team the way you want when your boss is meddling, but he had a hand in it.

I haven't followed your entire discussion but I want to butt in here. I do not like Gillis. His inability to draft has set this franchise back just as much as Benning and the current regime.

In 6 drafts (37) players. He drafted 2, yes TWO sure fire NHL players. Those players were no Horvat and Ben Hutton (yes I even allowed Ben hutton.

 

[I am toxic]

For the first half? Sure, there were more supporters than there were at the end obviously... I don't know that it was 50/50, but thats splitting hairs and a matter of perspective I suppose. I was anti-Jim Benning from the get go as well...I never understood how he could have impressed anyone in an interview situation....boggled my mind...I just don't recall getting lambasted for it, but I've slept since then and tried to erase many of those years from my memory through therapy and illicit drug use. lol

Well . . . uhhhh, like . . . I mean . . . uhhh . . . see, it's, you know what I mean . . . uhh . . . .like, uhhh, I would . . . uhh . . . would like to have . . . uhh . . . a beer with him . . . uhhh, so like . . . uhhh . . . I think . . . uhhh . . . he's like, like a better . . . uhhh . . . GM than Gillis

 

[I am toxic]

I haven't followed your entire discussion but I want to butt in here. I do not like Gillis. His inability to draft has set this franchise back just as much as Benning and the current regime.

In 6 drafts (37) players. He drafted 2, yes TWO sure fire NHL players. Those players were no Horvat and Ben Hutton (yes I even allowed Ben hutton.

Bourdon and Hodgson

 

[Quinton Byfield]

Kinda gross to run him down now that he's moved on. He made this team more prepared accountable and structured than we had seen in a long time. He just couldn't align himself with the upstairs and players going forward.

As far as his past we all make mistakes in life.

Good grief our governments are happy to plead ignorance and collect money from worse things everyday. In fact they run their own gambling rings now at Casinos paid for by tax dollars. Washing known drug dealers money. Handing out drugs and providing places to do them. 10k grants for 18yr olds to have sex change operations and offer services for known gang affiliated people from outside countries to live here on the dimes of working people trying to purchase homes which prices skyrocketed due to yet more criminals and persons with overseas numbered companies snapping up real estate as safe havens to wash and secure their money.

But yes Rick Tocchet he's a bad dude its a good thing the police force got him for doing their plans

Get out of here with your whataboutism and inane rant railing about rampant corruption in governance. That’s like saying at least a rapist doesn murder people, one has nothing to do with the other.

Read some of the shit that he has liked on social media.

Yeah Tocchet is not a good dude. We should no longer normalize conspiracy nuts, homophobia, transphobia, or dehumanizing women in our society. Those are not salient talking points and should not hold equal weight in our society.

The way you talk about trans people and immigrants is disgusting, and I hold your opinion and every single person that liked your post with zero value.

It’s no wonder you defend Tocchet, you are like him.

This is not a holier than thou response. This is a response to your transphobic, odious rhetoric. It has no place in society, and it certainly has no place here. Maybe mods should have done something, but if not, I will.

 

[racerjoe]

Well...Gillis' did a lot of great things, but drafting was not one of them. They really didn't have much of a pipeline, and their last couple seasons under Gillis they were already beginning to implode...not that I think it was all Gillis' fault, its hard to run a team the way you want when your boss is meddling, but he had a hand in it.

When you are trying to compete like we were you generally don't have great pipelines as they get used up... just ask tampa now.

Plus what gets mentioned but ignored he had just turned over the scouts and we had looked much improved. Our two previous heads of scouts are doing really well.

 

[quat]

I think that is retconning a lot of history. It is absolutely the case that the majority of fans supported Benning for most of his tenure, up until near the end. Even on HFCanucks (where posters are ostensibly a lot more informed than a casual), the split was like 50/50 pro-Benning during the first half of his tenure. There's a reason "But Gillis!" became somewhat of a meme, and it was because the BenningBros kept claiming that the reason Benning had not turned around the team was because of what Gillis left him. I caught a ton of flak on HFCanucks for criticizing Benning early in his tenure.

I stopped posting when Benning got his second contract. I was too hostile and there were very few sensible arguments happening. True Canuck fans and all that Malarky. I'm still impressed by those who kept posting critiques of the org during those dark times.

 

[quat]

I haven't followed your entire discussion but I want to butt in here. I do not like Gillis. His inability to draft has set this franchise back just as much as Benning and the current regime.

In 6 drafts (37) players. He drafted 2, yes TWO sure fire NHL players. Those players were no Horvat and Ben Hutton (yes I even allowed Ben hutton.

His drafting was poor and he said as much himself, as he was too slow in making changes to the scouts and the system in place. Benning's first draft, aside from Virtanen, was all from Gillis and it was decent.

Gillis was intelligent and looked for ways to improve, and that's a hard quality to find in leadership groups.

 

[ddawg1950]

When the going got tough, the tough left town.

 

[VanJack]

So many wild, unsubstantiated reasons why Tocchet spurned the Canucks. They range from: he didn't like the roster construction; knew in advance that Quinn Hughes would be leaving; and wasn't offered enough money or term on his contract.

In reality, he wanted to be closer to his family and had an 'under-the-table, handshake agreement' that he'd be coaching the Flyers. That's basically 'a period, end of story'.

 

[rypper]

Any ideas on who will be our new coach? Gallant is probably the most likely imo.

What makes you think that?

 

[I am toxic]

Get out of here with your whataboutism and inane rant railing about rampant corruption in governance. That’s like saying at least a rapist doesn murder people, one has nothing to do with the other.

Read some of the shit that he has liked on social media.

Yeah Tocchet is not a good dude. We should no longer normalize conspiracy nuts, homophobia, transphobia, or dehumanizing women in our society. Those are not salient talking points and should not hold equal weight in our society.

The way you talk about trans people and immigrants is disgusting, and I hold your opinion and every single person that liked your post with zero value.

It’s no wonder you defend Tocchet, you are like him.

This is not a holier than thou response. This is a response to your transphobic, odious rhetoric. It has no place in society, and it certainly has no place here. Maybe mods should have done something, but if not, I will.

Well said.

I "liked" his post, given the timing of people badmouthing Toccs now on the way out, while previously singing his praises. Even though I did not appreciate his tone towards transgendered people, and hence my "like" for the post beneath it.

Agree completely with your comment about what should no longer be normalized.

 

[Hughes Clues]

Bourdon and Hodgson

Bourdon was drafted like 3 years before gillis took over. Hodgson was unfortunate but we're not counting almost NHLers here. I can do a count for bennings draft picks if you like and include players like tryamkin and Virtanen to make Gillis look even more pathetic.

 

[Bubbles]

I haven't followed your entire discussion but I want to butt in here. I do not like Gillis. His inability to draft has set this franchise back just as much as Benning and the current regime.

In 6 drafts (37) players. He drafted 2, yes TWO sure fire NHL players. Those players were no Horvat and Ben Hutton (yes I even allowed Ben hutton.

Kevin Connauton played 360 NHL games.

Also, people here or just in general give way too much credit to GMs and drafting. Brian Burke said that a GM has sway over the 1st rounder usually, and lets the scouting staff determine the rest.

 

[HairyKneel]

The GM's hire the scouting staff.

 

[Hughes Clues]

Kevin Connauton played 360 NHL games.

Also, people here or just in general give way too much credit to GMs and drafting. Brian Burke said that a GM has sway over the 1st rounder usually, and lets the scouting staff determine the rest.

Yeah as a fringe NHLer the entire time. Gaunce almost played 200...

Are you just arguing to argue or are you putting up Gillis draft resume to bennings because if so...