Mike Gillis relieved of president & GM duties

scottcarter · Apr 8, 2014

Mike Gillis relieved of president & GM duties

Tuesday, 08.04.2014 / 2:45 PM / News
Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver, B.C. - Canucks Sports & Entertainment announced today that Mike Gillis has been relieved of his duties as President and General Manager.
"On behalf of my entire family, I would like to sincerely thank Mike Gillis for his hard work and the many contributions he made on and off the ice during his tenure,” said Francesco Aquilini, Chairman, Canucks Sports & Entertainment. "The Vancouver Canucks had success under Mike's leadership, and we nearly reached our ultimate goal; but I believe we have reached a point where a change in leadership and new voice is needed.”
"I also want to thank our fans for their support for the Vancouver Canucks through a difficult and frustrating season," continued Aquilini. "We haven’t met their expectations or ours. We are committed to bringing the Stanley Cup to Vancouver for our fans and we will continue to do everything possible to reach that goal."

scottcarter · Apr 8, 2014

Vancouver Canucks officially eliminated from playoff contention as fans chant for Mike Gillis to be fired

Joshua Clipperton, Canadian Press | April 8, 2014 9:24 AM ET
More from Canadian Press

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan HaywardVancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella looks at the scoreboard in the final second of the third period NHL action against the Anaheim Ducks in Vancouver, Monday, April 7, 2014.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks aren’t used to this feeling.
Cam Cole: Canucks are at a crossroads with John Tortorella, Mike Gillis

After five straight playoff appearances — including a Stanley Cup final Game 7 on home ice just three seasons ago — the club’s miserable 2013-14 campaign was finally taken off life support Monday.
It wasn’t pretty on the ice or in the stands.
John Gibson made just 18 saves to record a shutout in his first NHL game as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the listless Canucks 3-0 to officially eliminate Vancouver from post-season contention.

“Not a very good feeling,” said defenceman Kevin Bieksa. “Not too familiar. It’s been a while. We’re disappointed for sure. The last few weeks have been very disappointing.”
The Canucks played a decent opening 20 minutes on Monday, but couldn’t muster anything through the final two periods with their season on the line.
Once the hottest ticket in town, the lower bowl at Rogers Arena was dotted by hundreds of empty seats throughout the game, and many of the fans who did show up started heading to the exits long before the final buzzer sounded.

scottcarter · Apr 8, 2014

can't say I am surprised. Seen it coming for some time now.

goin4broke · Apr 8, 2014

ya vancooter is a mess crazy the way they have been bashed all year are they really that far away? being they are on west coast i don't really follow them that much but they were just in the finals what 5 years ago ? how does it get so bad so fast

goin4broke · Apr 8, 2014

3 years ago

MSUSpartans · Apr 9, 2014

[h=1]Canucks owners threaten legal action if you claim they hired John Tortorella[/h]

Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella, center, talks to Nicklas Jensen, right, of Denmark, after the team gave up a goal to the Anaheim Ducks during his shift, as Daniel Sedin, left, of Sweden, listens during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 29, 2014, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

Trevor Linden has been announced as Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations, which is a coup for ownership from a public relations standpoint. Maybe that’ll help balance out this PR disaster: Owner Francesco Aquilini and his family are threatening legal action against two newspapers that claimed they were responsible for John Tortorella’s hiring as head coach.

[h=2]Related Stories[/h]

Canucks owner threatens legal action after papers suggest he was behind Tortorella hire NBC Sports
Paying the price: Gillis fired by Canucks NBC Sports
Canucks fire general manager Mike Gillis SB Nation
Canucks to hold press conference today, as Linden, Nicholson reports fly NBC Sports
John Tortorella looks frustrated SB Nation

According to the Globe & Mail, both they and The Province in Vancouver were sent letters from the owners’ lawyers regarding those reports. From David Ebner of the Globe:

On Monday, Francesco Aquilini sent a Globe and Mail reporter a text message warning of legal action after the newspaper published a story discussing the family’s involvement in the hiring.
“I read your article today. You are a prick,” it said.
Two hours later, a legal letter from the family’s counsel arrived by e-mail. It alleged defamation, sought a retraction and an apology, and threatened further action.
“The facts are that while the Aquilinis supported the decision of the General Manager, the hiring decision was his and not theirs,” lawyer Howard Shapray of Vancouver-based Shapray Cramer Fitterman Lamer LLP wrote in the legal letter to The Globe.

Well, as the Globe & Mail notes, the facts are that the Aquilini family was involved in the hiring process, as former GM Mike Gillis noted when Tortorella was hired. But Gillis and the family have always claimed they weren’t the final call.
As Ebner writes:

The Aquilinis’ statements skirt how the hiring played out. Mr. Gillis last year had invited the Aquilinis into interviews with various coaches. The family, according to a person with direct knowledge of the events, was particularly taken with Mr. Tortorella, who had been fiery in the past. They saw a coach who could revive an underperforming hockey team. The Aquilinis wanted Mr. Tortorella, and Mr. Gillis and the other hockey executives came to the same conclusion.

So the folks who write the checks wanted something, and the people cashing them went along with it. Novel concept, that one.
Wonder who the Aquilinis will blame if Linden isn’t the answer …

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...aim-they-hired-john-tortorella-163548729.html

What fiasco this has become