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Official Francesco Aquilini Thread

Bubbles said:
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I said earlier that the minute things go south, Aqua gets right back into the meddling. Sends a message via his proxy Gary Mason, and boom!
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I highly doubt it. The last thing star-struck Aquilini wants is to broadcast to the world an intent to trade stars away.

Plus Mason contacted both Brough and Sekeres in advance for ideas what to ask Rutherford. Not something a man on a mission from ownership would be doing.
 
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I guess if there's a 'positive' to come out of this Pettersson-Miller mess, it's that we've heard nary a peep from Aquilini. Thank Gawd. At the end of the day, it's still a hockey operations matter.
 
Jyrki21 said:
I highly doubt it. The last thing star-struck Aquilini wants is to broadcast to the world an intent to trade stars away.

Plus Mason contacted both Brough and Sekeres in advance for ideas what to ask Rutherford. Not something a man on a mission from ownership would be doing.
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Mason is Aquilini's mouthpiece. Nothing goes out without his explicit approval.

Just ask yourself why the national affairs reporter suddenly has a hockey scoop?
 
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Bubbles said:
Mason is Aquilini's mouthpiece. Nothing goes out without his explicit approval.

Just ask yourself why the national affairs reporter suddenly has a hockey scoop?
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Mason is an occasional sports reporter and clearly the team doesn't like / doesn't trust the rest of the local sports media and probably feels that the editorial oversight of the G&M might provide some structure.

That their 2nd go to is IMac is just kind of sad and funny, but I guess the fact he's employed by Sportsnet means he's going to be neutered.

Patterson probably would have filled this role but he's been blacklisted since he associated himself with Sekeres and Price. He doesn't really have a platform. Tough break for a guy who is just trying to earn a pay check, but you can be judged by the company you keep.

If they were smart they would have reached out to LeBrun though. He's got credibility but isn't known for pushing hard or making waves.
 
I read that the PNE is renovating the Agrodome for use as a practice facility by Vancouver's new PWHL entry.

So the local professional women's hockey team will have a dedicated practice facility--but the NHL team won't. Does Aquilini ever get embarrassed about anything, when it comes to the ownership of this Vancouver Canucks team?

Where do I sign up for the 'Sell the Team' Go-Fund-Me page?
 
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Bubbles said:
"I've only hired 1 coach here, remember" - Rutherford takes a shot at Aqua
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You get the sense there's immense frustration boiling up behind the scenes and you wonder how long JR will be here.

Working under Aquilini must be so incredibly taxing. You have to deal with a guy who has zero knowledge about hockey operations veto or limit the scope of management. To me, the nixed Boeser deal was a glaringly obvious sign that Francesco Aquilini has once again overstepped his boundaries again.
 
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SeawaterOnIce said:
You get the sense there's immense frustration boiling up behind the scenes and you wonder how long JR will be here.

Working under Aquilini must be so incredibly taxing. You have to deal with a guy who has zero knowledge about hockey operations veto or limit the scope of management. To me, the nixed Boeser deal was a glaringly obvious sign that Francesco Aquilini has once again overstepped his boundaries again.
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Oh definitely. Has looked tired every interview. If things go really south next year, I expect JR to leave for "personal reasons", in the same mysterious way he left Pittsburgh.

Aquilini might go full Kraken and promote Allvin to President, who knows.

JR has taken multiple shots about the practice facility which is not really in his realm. Also, still seems to remember that he was unaware of Boudreau's extra year with that coach comment.
 
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Bubbles said:
Oh definitely. Has looked tired every interview. If things go really south next year, I expect JR to leave for "personal reasons", in the same mysterious way he left Pittsburgh.

Aquilini might go full Kraken and promote Allvin to President, who knows.

JR has taken multiple shots about the practice facility which is not really in his realm. Also, still seems to remember that he was unaware of Boudreau's extra year with that coach comment.
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I'm sure if the NHL did an NFLPA scorecard that the Canucks would score low in a few areas. Even the KC Chiefs scored low since their ownership group hasn't invested into the practice facility as the players were promised. Players in the NFL spend just 10 games in the stadium with a Sat (day before) walk through. But, Monday to Friday is all at the practice facility getting treatment, watching film, lifting, eating, practicing.

NHL is different in that you spend days into weeks on the road so not at the facility as much. And not there the whole day during. Probably down to within 3 hour by the time they arrive for practice and then leave (after meetings/meals) and or a lift session.
 
Bubbles said:
Oh definitely. Has looked tired every interview. If things go really south next year, I expect JR to leave for "personal reasons", in the same mysterious way he left Pittsburgh.
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Aside from last season's success Rutherford has dealt with issues after issues. E.g. Pearson's injury, Boudreau not being fired, Miller/Petey situation, and now Tocchet stringing him along. I'm not sure Rutherford in his long career has had to deal with these type of issues so openly.
 
Bubbles said:
Mason is Aquilini's mouthpiece. Nothing goes out without his explicit approval.

Just ask yourself why the national affairs reporter suddenly has a hockey scoop?
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Gary Mason has often dipped his toes into sports reporting. He provides a way for the organization to bypass local media.
 
Evan’s avenue was right there

Right frigan there awhile ago with that BMW storage lot that was for sale and they went into the process but backed off

Why are they sooooooooooo cheap
All the players are right there that they could ride their bike
 
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SeawaterOnIce said:
You get the sense there's immense frustration boiling up behind the scenes and you wonder how long JR will be here.
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I give it 12-18 months.
SeawaterOnIce said:
Working under Aquilini must be so incredibly taxing. You have to deal with a guy who has zero knowledge about hockey operations veto or limit the scope of management. To me, the nixed Boeser deal was a glaringly obvious sign that Francesco Aquilini has once again overstepped his boundaries again.
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Frank is the eldest at 65 this year. Roberto and Paolo would likely be what late 50's to early 60's?

Likely to have kids anywhere from late teens as the youngest to up to 30's.

I would guess for their family, they have to ask, is the Grandchildren level of the family interested in running the Canucks?

Frank is pretty much estranged from his kids. So, would fall on Roberto's and Paolo's kids. If they were interested in operating the Canucks, they should be part of the organization now (if they are done school).

Plenty of built up equity from the team.
 
Bubbles said:
Oh definitely. Has looked tired every interview. If things go really south next year, I expect JR to leave for "personal reasons", in the same mysterious way he left Pittsburgh.

Aquilini might go full Kraken and promote Allvin to President, who knows.

JR has taken multiple shots about the practice facility which is not really in his realm. Also, still seems to remember that he was unaware of Boudreau's extra year with that coach comment.
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This is what Bruce had to say about his option year.
 
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Bruce was like the estranged son, and JR was very public about not wanting him here. I am sure the conversation between Tocchet and JR is more amicable. All their plans was based on Tocchet being here to execute it. I dont know if I blame Aqualini for this one this being the Frank thread, he should sell the team for sure if hes still meddling.

They built a team tailored to Tocchet's coaching style. To me this is on Tocchet turning his back on the organisation, either because he truly missed the east, or some other damning reason on the structure of the team/org and its ability to compete long term, Franky meddling, Franky cheap whatever.
 
When the Griffiths owned it playoff revenue was paramount to the finances of the team,they just were not that rich.
McCaw was only interested in making money, he didn't even bother to show up and was going to move the team to Seattle or Portland.

Now the Aqulini's have an opportunity to sell the team for a few billion and keep the arena and land around it to new owners out of Houston where they might want to move the team.
Everyone knows Bettman, if a US city wants a team and they are big enough they get one.
Houston fits so well for travel, instant rivalry and time zone, it makes other team's road trips easier too.

So let's really dump on the owner's eh?

Raistlin said:
Bruce was like the estranged son, and JR was very public about not wanting him here. I am sure the conversation between Tocchet and JR is more amicable. All their plans was based on Tocchet being here to execute it. I dont know if I blame Aqualini for this one this being the Frank thread, he should sell the team for sure if hes still meddling.

They built a team tailored to Tocchet's coaching style. To me this is on Tocchet turning his back on the organisation, either because he truly missed the east, or some other damning reason on the structure of the team/org and its ability to compete long term, Franky meddling, Franky cheap whatever.
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I really think JR was sincere about how he felt about Bruce, a long term friend.
IMO JR was doing his job, taking the heat for one Allvin's biggest mistakes. Think of how it would look if Allvin was exposed as not knowing what contracts were?

Didn't anyone question the narrative of disorganization and lack of structure with the team before they had three practices?And how specific those words were used to describe Tocchet's system that hadn't worked anywhere before.

Allvin was a Rutherford pick so he has or had to support him, that is his job, the shit stops with him in the end but some he takes the heat so Allvin doesn't.

Allvin in Texas to watch what? Don't they have scouts? Or some other reason? Sort of like when Tocchet didn't appear with Allvin and Rutherford and Rutherford answered most of the questions while Allvin would just do another breakdown of the season rather than answer a specific question.

Hopefully Allvin's terms of reference have changed and Rutherford will take the heat for the inevitable rebuild coming. That is mostly outside of the team's ability to stop now especially this and next year.
 
Not everything is a giant conspiracy. There's a u18 iihf hockey tournament happening right now in Texas, lots of draft eligible players are involved. GMs still go watch players their scouts are recommending.

And the Gary Bettman won't allow a team to be moved out of a successful market. Don't be ridiculous.
 
Bubbles said:
Taken from Kypreos' twitter, so bear in mind his scrambled brain:

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I just heard this on the podcast too. It makes sense that the other brothers are tired of Franciscos vanity project.

It also makes sense that they'd want to sell the team and not the building. There is arrangements like this in pro sports.
 
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