Quagmire Gillis as GM?
He had an impressive run with the Canucks but he was fired 10 years ago and has not held a GM or any other executive position since. That’s a pretty big red flag.
You should do some homework instead of your usual cold aka bad take on things.
Gillis was far ahead of the curve in terms of his background and approach to the hockey management function. He still is. The point is the relationship between Jackson and Gillis who share a similar growth mindset pursuing new ways of cajoling old, establishment 'we've always done it this way of thinking.'
www.sportsnet.ca
"I’m really interested in analytics, sports science, human performance, and how to blend those things into a high-culture organization."
Gillis is inspired by the bigger picture: challenging the dimensions of the NHL rink and the time of day teams practice, suggesting a complete overhaul of traditional scouting processes, and imagining a future where a team dresses five forwards and a goalie (seriously).
"As a general manager of a team, you’re really myopic. You’re really focused on your team performance, on your individual player performance, on your coaching performance. I like that part of the job, but right now I’m more interested in how you build an organization, how you see results, how you measure results," said Gillis, who spoke to Sportsnet after delivering a wide-ranging hour-plus-long talk at Ryerson University for a lecture hall filled with coaches of all levels.
So… special advisor? President of hockey ops?
"Whatever title is not what turns my crank," Gillis said. "I think when you have a truly high-functioning, well-organized company or sports organization that titles become less relevant. It’s more productivity and how you work together."
Gillis, who appreciates the Premier League organizational chart, believes an NHL front office could maximize its effectiveness by hiring four assistant GMs, plus a behind-the-scenes cast of problem-solvers devoted to maximizing its individual players through the study of hard evidence and suggesting their ideal linemates and situational usage to the GM and coach.
Mike Gillis is a former player agent, lawyer, and most importantly around these parts, General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks, but it's what he's learned in his time away from the game that we're interested in these days. Mr. Gillis has spent the past few years touring sports performance powerhouses all over the globe - Switzerland, Spain, here on North American soil - you name it. What impact have those travels had on his desire to return to the national hockey league? What has he learned? What has he learned to avoid?
www.nhl.com
