Add the name Mike Gillis to the list of intriguing candidates in line for the vacant general manager’s job with the Canucks.
The extremely successful agent is being touted as one of the frontrunners for the gig, despite his lack of experience at the position. Gillis does have a history of tough contract negotiations for the likes of Pavel Bure, Bill Guerin, Bobby Holik and Markus Naslund to name a few, and he is well connected in the hockey world.
The scuttlebutt around his hometown of Kingston is that Gillis has already discussed the possibility with Canucks’ ownership, but that is nothing more than rumour at this point in time.
- Good decision by Detroit head coach Mike Babcock to start Chris Osgood in goal over Dominik Hasek tonight in a pivotal game 5 against the Predators.The Red Wings gave Hasek every assurance heading into the playoffs that he was the starter, but he hasn’t returned that vote of confidence by playing accordingly.Hasek has allowed two goals in 35 seconds or less in three straight games, and that type of goaltending just isn’t good enough in the postseason. Perhaps all of those goals weren’t his fault, but timely saves are as — or more — important than the volume of saves made throughout the course of a series. Osgood actually had better numbers than Hasek during the regular season, and he represents the best chance for the Red Wings to advance to the second round.
- The end of the Giants’ season means the end of Craig Bonner’s time in Vancouver. Barring something completely unforeseen, the assistant GM of the local junior team will remove that first adjective from his title when he assumes his new position with the Kamloops Blazers in coming days. Bonner is a Blazers alum who won a Memorial Cup as a player in the early 90s, and is an excellent fit for a franchise in much need of vision and leadership at the management level.
- If UFC 83 is successful in Montreal this weekend, it will be interesting to see if local organizers once again attempt to persuade City Council to sanction an event here. Currently, Vancouver does not allow such mixed martial arts events to occur within its pristine borders as they are viewed as being “blood sports.” However, mainstream opinions are changing, and one wonders if it is only a matter of time before an Octagon is featured at the centre of a packed GM Place. Want to weigh in?
E-mail me at scott.rintoul@metronews.ca
