Quote Originally Posted by Doot View Post
I read a interview with Gillis and he was saying he has 20 million to spend and wants to build around Luongo. He also says he is looking for the BEST players available to buy and wants more grit and more offensive pressure.
so it sounds like he isnt looking for 3rd and 4th liners he is looking for a top line it seems.
I like all that lets just see what he actually does though.
The problem is that no one really good is available. Hossa is the best UFA out there, but he'll end up getting 7.5M+ on a long-term deal. It'll turn into another Naslund-like contract. Also, there will be 20+ teams, some of whom have more cap-space than the 'Nuck competing for the services of Hossa and other UFA's. The Canucks are in a bad position. Aside from Hossa, there are no elite talents available (I wouldn't even consider Hossa elite), so what good does that 20M do? Unless you want more defensemen, there's just not much out there. I can't think of a single UFA who has grit and top 6 talent who isn't well past their prime and looking for a sweet, long-term deal.
Gillis is going to have to try and trade for talent, and other GMs, in addition to having a low opinion of Gillis, know he will desperate for scoring and they can, and will, take advantage of that.
Nonis would've had the same cap-room to play with as well. Apparently he had a few draft-day deals almost ready which would have improved the Canucks offense.