Most of those idiots were an excuse for Blueberry to fire Gillis. They've already been feuding for 1 year since Gillis wanted to rebuild after 2013 but Fredo wanted to squeeze more playoff revenue out of that core and pushed for the hire of Torts. Fredo also used his shills in the media to shift all the blame on Gillis who was going to get fired no matter what at that point. Suddenly he squandered the core and shit like that, a narrative that has been pushed here by some users during the Benning era. Some of them are still here gathering feedback
In the past but;
Gillis had a chance for a meaningful re-tooling as well.
The team would never be bad enough as long as Luongo was here, so gone.
Two bad years, go for the rumored Larkin in the first year
And the next be in the McDavid draft near the first, the last year of the unmodified draft. But a good pick coming regardless.
Still have the Sedins as mentors.
Still had most of the veteran defence
Could have signed a goalie or Markstrom in his second season with Clarke.
The third year could have been so different with Horvat , Larkin and a top 3 pick in the McD draft.
Then at worst, trade the Sedins as a pair at the TDL for a haul and re-sign them next season to retire or even play limited minutes. There was no trophy for playing for only one team and it certainly didn't do anything to help the team.
Every year Gillis's management group had cap space.
The Sedins really liked Torts and he is noted as getting the best and teaching the young players while starting in the NHL. Even his assistant went on to coach Pittsburgh to a cup and for multiple years.
It's in the past now but it does seem it was right there with almost no extra pain involved. But the local media really liked the freebee's Mr. Ego gave them, leaked news, inside stuff, beer, dinner, access so there was a media revolt and incensed the fanbase daily. That was before Rogers getting sole rights to the NHL as a partner.
Now any fan discontent need jersey's thrown during a national game, Booing louder than the piped in cheering or pre-recorded chants from past games, banners flown behind planes or lots of empty seats