Nonis Fired By Canucks

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Just reported on CBC by Ron MacLean. More to come...

EDIT: TSN confirms: Canucks Part Ways With General Manager

Edited April 15, 2008 by WhiteLightning91

[Kp-Wings 3]

So where does this put the Brunnstrom negotiations?

[puckbags 863]

The Canucks organization is so stupid that they will probably promote Tambellini to GM.... I would hope they would have learnt their lesson after they promoted Nonis to GM after Burke was canned!! I would hope that they would go outside the organization this time to find a GM!!!

[marcaractac 3,963]

So where does this put the Brunnstrom negotiations?

Well, according to Darren Dreger, he wanted to go to the Canucks because he liked what NONIS was doing with the team. With him gone now, Dreger said that its looking like the Wings now have the best shot at getting him.

My guess is maybe the Canucks may want to clean house and build a better team around what little they actually do have. If that happens, it would look very good for us. I'm not getting ym hopes up, but it would be really awesome to add that type of talent to our system. It would for sure help make up for losing Mathias last year I think.

[Reds4Life 51]

Good move by Canucks owners. Nonis was bad GM.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Good move by Canucks owners. Nonis was bad GM.

I agree totally, but they should have waited a little longer. This may cost them their shot at Brunnstrom....

[Guest ForeChecK]

El Oh El.

Nufsed

[wingslogo19 281]

Is this a surprised move no. But I really thought maybe they would give Nonis another year or at least till sometime next season

[Xitium 272]

So where does this put the Brunnstrom negotiations?

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/st...a7f&k=18592

VANCOUVER - From National Hockey League team to banana republic, the Vancouver Canucks fired general manager Dave Nonis today, one season after he orchestrated a record season for the National Hockey League franchise.

It was clear from his deafening silence the last nine days regarding Nonis and coach Alain Vigneault that owner Francesco Aquilini was considering drastic changes after the Canucks, undermined by injuries and a goaltending collapse, backed out of the Stanley Cup playoffs by losing six of seven games in the final two weeks of the season.

But Aquilini's decision to so quickly change management regimes is shocking, considering the Canucks are as few as two or three skilled forwards away from being able to compete with any NHL team. His firing of Nonis changes everything and will almost certainly lead to other major changes.

The job of Alain Vigneault, the reigning NHL coach-of-the-year, is also now in jeopardy as Nonis's successor will presumably want to hire his own coach.

"This was a very difficult decision," Aquilini said Monday night when reached on his cellphone. "We're going to have a press conference tomorrow, and anything I have to say on the record I want to save it until tomorrow."

It will be difficult for Aquilini to justify dismissing Nonis, the Burnaby boy who spent the last decade in the Canucks' organization and, during his three as GM, rebuilt the team on the fly. After the 2005-06 season, Nonis fired coach Marc Crawford, hired Vigneault and overnight transformed the Canuck organization by acquiring superstar goalie Roberto Luongo for Todd Bertuzzi.

Aware that the Canucks under Crawford had become talented but flighty underachievers, Nonis rebuilt the team from the goal out. He deepened and solidified the defence, began restocking the organization with skilled prospects and re-signed nearly all the key veteran players to contracts for considerably less than market value.

Nonis's chief failing this season was that his defence couldn't stay healthy - the Canucks' top six defencemen missed an NHL-leading 174 man-games due to injury - and the manager failed to improve the offensive depth.

He steadfastly refused at the trade deadline in March to sacrifice his best prospects and young players for short-term help up front, even though it appears now such a move might have pushed the Canucks into the playoffs and saved his job.

"I'm not building this team to be good for one year," he said. "I'm building it to be good for several years."

And Aquilini, apparently, endorsed Nonis's plan. As a local owner, the real-estate developer was in almost daily contact with his senior managers and was kept abreast of all hockey decisions.

During an informal conversation last season, Aquilini told The Vancouver Sun: "You've got to believe in Dave. Dave has a plan. Dave knows. You've got to believe in the plan."

Aquilini's apparent capitulation now raises troubling questions about the owner's commitment to the people he hires and how easily his support wavers for the plans he endorses. What should the next general manager expect? Miss the playoffs and you're fired? Hockey's best and brightest will hardly be lining up for that job.

The most immediate on-ice ramification for the Canucks is that they can probably say goodbye to elite prospect Fabian Brunnstrom, a high-scoring, 23-year-old Swedish free agent who had chosen to sign with the Canucks among 20 NHL suitors.

TSN reported Saturday that the Brunnstrom deal would fall through if Nonis were fired. And Brunnstrom's agent, J.P. Barry, made it clear Monday that Nonis was largely responsible for winning his client's trust by visiting him in Sweden and being the first to show serious interest in the winger.

There will be numerous other ramifications.

"I feel for Dave and his family," Canucks captain Markus Naslund told The Sun. "I'm sure it's a very tough day for him. I think Dave is a good man, and I've known him a few years now. I have a lot of respect for him.

"The trade he made for [Luongo], that might go down as one of the greatest trades in history. But it's a tough position to be a GM in the National Hockey League, and especially in a Canadian city."

There was constant braying during and after the season from a vocal minority of critics that Nonis's team was too dull for this market.

It seems a ridiculous, vapid complaint considering the Canucks, under Crawford, for years were terrifically entertaining until they made their annual first-round playoff exit.

Also, Nonis had little room under the NHL salary cap last summer to add a key player, let alone a coveted scorer. Besides, who would make major changes on the heels of a 49-win, 105-point season in 2006-07 that saw the Canucks match a 12-year high-water mark with a second-round playoff appearance?

The irony is Nonis hoarded his key assets and managed his payroll well enough this season that, for the first time, he had players to trade and money to spend on free agents this summer in order to pursue the two or three key forwards the Canucks needed.

That's all they needed. Until Monday. It may be awhile before they're again that close to being a complete team.

After Aquilini returned from a European business trip last Thursday and it became clear he was considering firing his general manager, Nonis refused to do formal interviews.

But he said Sunday he had no regrets, and that he'd never sacrifice the long-term competitiveness of the franchise for short-term gains.

"You can't operate out of fear or panic," he said. "I'm proud of the job I've done."

imacintyre@png.canwest.com

Looks to me like good news for Wings fans.

Edited April 15, 2008 by Xitium

[Opie 308]

Hey I am one of the biggest Sammy defenders on this board, but this kid on the third line more than likely means bye bye to Sammy, which I am definitely in support of due to the maturation of the Mule, I think next year will be a big year for Mule and then the year after will be his true career year.

Mule replacing Sammy on the 2nd line (Cleary, Flip, Mule), Brunnstrom/Abdelkader with Drapes and Huds on the third line

Sammy could then be used in combination with one of the younger D-men to attract hopefully a young, gritty, defense first centerman/enforcer to replace Drake on the fourth line. (Abdelkader/Maltby, Kopecky/new guy, Mac/ Haritgan/ Downey(if still around).

Or even if they just decide to go with Abdelkader in place of Sammy, I would rather have a young gun learning and developing for the future, in place of Sammy who I think we all have seen that his skill set is not going to increase that much.

I am not knocking Sammy or saying he sucks, just saying the wings look to now have a legit top 6 with ZDH, Cleary-Flip-Franzen/Huds. Therefore Sammy's role has become extinct, not that he would be the worst 3rd line option, but this team has a surplus of 3-4 th line players.

[T.Low 1,011]

Just reported on CBC by Ron MacLean. More to come...

EDIT: TSN confirms: Canucks Part Ways With General Manager

Driving around for work today, listening to Vancouver sports talk, 90% of the callers wanted Ken Holland (a British Columbia native) or Scotty Bowman, or Jim Nil to be the new GM in Cunuckville. Some wanted Holland to bring Yzerman, others wanted Bowman to bring Yzerman.

The radio guys say that Holland has won everything in Detroit, he must be getting bored and ready for a new challenge, and since he's a BC boy, and Jim Nil is ready to take over, and Yzerman is being groomed, it just makes sense that Holland comes to Vancouver.

[Majsheppard 203]

Apparently the best trade of the 21st century wasn't enough for him to keep his job....

Holland isn't going anywhere, nor is Jim or Yzerman.

From my understanding if any of them wants to go they would have to get permission from us. I hope we would stand in the way of all of them.

[T.Low 1,011]

Apparently the best trade of the 21st century wasn't enough for him to keep his job....

Holland isn't going anywhere, nor is Jim or Yzerman.

From my understanding if any of them wants to go they would have to get permission from us. I hope we would stand in the way of all of them.

According to Vancouver radio guys, the Florida GM had a major woody for Bertuzzi, so they aren't givin him much credit for that one.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

[/b]

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that you are the final word on playing time for future NHL players. How did he do at your fantasy training camp you invited him to? Did he do as well as all of the other qualified NHL scouts said he did in Sweden? Do you agree with some others assessment as he being the possible second coming of Crosby?

Personally, I think we should gamble with some prospects. If a player has certain qualities (as he does, seeing that the Wings are pushing hard for him) then a risk may be worth the possible reward. But to flat out say "No, I don't think so. He hasn't played with the organization and I would rather have a sub-par prospect that has spent time in the minors for a few years play than a hot shot up and comer with no ties to the Wings" is ignorant.

Reasons why Holland, Bowman, Nill, Yzerman will NOT leave Detroit this off-season:

1) Holland has 3 years to go on his current deal.

2) Bowman loves his situation with the Red Wings. I can see him going to Toronto if he is given total control and since TOR is closer than Vancouver.

3) Nill is already paid like a top GM

4) Yzerman is, well, Red Wings Hockey. No way he leaves here, at least not this year. I get the feeling he is going to be the next GM after Holland.

I really do not feel we have much to worry about Vancouver. Toronto is a possibility for Bowman, but since he interviewed for the job last summer and didn't end up getting it, I'm guessing MLSE wasn't willing to give him everything he was asking for.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Reasons why Holland, Bowman, Nill, Yzerman will NOT leave Detroit this off-season:

3) Nill is already paid like a top GM

It's not just about the money. I'm sure there's also a desire to prove to yourself that you can cut it in the NHL as "The Man" running the show.

Although Nill won't go to Vancouver because they want to hire a GM pronto and they can't approach Nill until the Wings are done in the playoffs.

Edited April 16, 2008 by MacK_Attack

[Turkey 0]

I really don't see why this guy was fired. He got Luongo for beans and has been incredibly frugal, leaving the Canucks in a position to make a big splash this summer if they see fit. He hasn't really been on the job long enough to prove himself one way or the other.

This team didn't lose because of Nonis. They lost because they were hammered by the injury bug all year and the players didn't show up at the end of the season. Nonis is a scapegoat.

[MacK_Attack 108]

I really don't see why this guy was fired. He got Luongo for beans and has been incredibly frugal, leaving the Canucks in a position to make a big splash this summer if they see fit. He hasn't really been on the job long enough to prove himself one way or the other.

This team didn't lose because of Nonis. They lost because they were hammered by the injury bug all year and the players didn't show up at the end of the season. Nonis is a scapegoat.

He also wasn't hired by the current owner, so I think basically Aquilini just needed a reason to can him and bring his own guy in.

[wingslogo19 281]

He also wasn't hired by the current owner, so I think basically Aquilini just needed a reason to can him and bring his own guy in.

Yeah im thinking that same thing. Yesterday in his press conference, Aquilini said we're watching the playoffs on tv just not our own team

[WhiteLightning91 105]

It's not just about the money. I'm sure there's also a desire to prove to yourself that you can cut it in the NHL as "The Man" running the show.

Although Nill won't go to Vancouver because they want to hire a GM pronto and they can't approach Nill until the Wings are done in the playoffs.

I've read they aren't looking to hire a GM until closer to the draft.

[MacK_Attack 108]

I've read they aren't looking to hire a GM until closer to the draft.

Bob McKenzie reported last night that Aquilini wanted a new GM hired "...in fairly short order." I doubt they'll wait close to two months.