Who Will It Be??

No one will really know the reason, but one has to say it has to do with the fact that the Canucks have missed the playoffs for the first time in the last six years.

He did guide the Canucks to five straight Northwest Division titles and after losing Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, they have won only one playoff game in the two following postseasons of play.

Strange that the team announced this on the team’s official Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon.

This year saw the team miss the playoffs this season for the first time in the last six years of play, which did not sit well with fans, ownership and players alike.

Canucks chairman and governor Francesco Aquilini will discuss the move further in a news conference that can be seen live on TSN2, TSN.ca and TSN GO on Wednesday at 1:30pm et/10:30am pt.

“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 Aquilini in a statement on Tuesday.

“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. 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.”

Everyone might question the hiring of John Tortorella and regardless of who wanted to bring him in for a five year contract, he’s here and his past proven track record speaks for itself.

The 2013 playoff exit led to the firing of head coach Alain Vigneault and the signing of former New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella to a five-year contract, which shocked many fans.

Not to mention the situation he handled both previous goaltenders Cory Schneider who was named to the number one role, then was traded to the New Jersey Devils at the 2013 NHL Draft, putting Luongo back in the starter’s role for the 2013-14 season.

The Canucks were unable to trade Luongo and his long-term contract and finally moved him out just after the NHL Heritage Classic played in Vancouver, where several questions arose about this.

The March 5th trade deadline, sent Luongo back to the Panthers and leaving an unproven rookie Eddie Lack in the role as starter for the Canucks.

Gillis received the General Manager of the Year Award in 2011 after the team set a franchise record with 117 points in the regular season and also won the Clarence Campbell Bowl as the Western Conference Champions.

After a 2011-12 season that saw the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Canucks upset by the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Gillis was signed to a contract extension.

It’s been a rough ride for Mike Gillis and the loss to Anaheim where the fans were chanting “Fire Gillis” could not have helped the situation with ownership.

Several questions arise and there are far too many to name or state, but who is probably the number one with everyone.

John Tortorella has a history with Jay Feaster and winning a Stanley Cup together might help for Feaster or it might simply be someone else.

Rumor has it that Trevor Linden is the front runner and if so, could this be the return of Markus Naslund?

The next chapter is yet to be written, so let’s all wait it out and see, but it’ll be a great ride!!!