Entries with the tag: dave+nonis

Toronto Sports Network

by Alanah McGinley on 05/09/08 at 10:44 AM
Comments (3)

An FYI to TSN and their heartfelt commitment to the source who tells them the Leafs have actually spoken to Dave Nonis, a note from Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun:

Nonis denied early Thursday in an interview that anyone from the Leafs had even contacted him.

“I haven’t talked to anyone from Toronto at this time,” Nonis told TEAM 1040 radio in the morning. “Right now, Toronto is not one of the teams I’ve spoken to and we’ll see if they do contact me. I don’t really have any intentions of rushing into something unless it looks like something I have to do. I’d prefer to sit and wait. It’s still very early.”

TSN—who almost certainly listened to that same interview—still managed to come up with this:

Continue Reading »

Report: Canucks Name New GM—Mike Gillis

by Alanah McGinley on 04/22/08 at 08:45 PM
Comments (6)

Update April 23, 11:10am PT: Canucks owner formally named new GM Mike Gillis in this morning’s press conference.  More info here.

_____________

After the first period of the Washington/Philadelphia game tonight on TSN, Bob McKenzie stated the new Canucks General Manager was very-nearly 100% decided as Mike Gillis. He also stated this was likely to be announced by the end of the week.

Now, Global TV’s website reports:

Player agent Mike Gillis will be named general manager of the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, Global BC reported today.

Update 5:55pm PT: On TSN, James Duthie has now stated that this GM appointment is “confirmed” (though Bob McKenzie came short of backing this up as a certainty). There is a Vancouver press conference scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Asked by Global TV, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini “would neither confirm nor deny the hiring.” (Which I figure is pretty much code for: “Yeah. Gillis is the new GM. But don’t steal my thunder. I’ll tell you more tomorrow.")

More updates and links:

Continue Reading »

Help Wanted: Superheroes Please Apply

by Alanah McGinley on 04/16/08 at 12:27 PM
Comments (25)

From Cam Cole in the Vancouver Sun:

Yes, the explanation for firing Nonis would be easier to swallow (a media wag pointed out Tuesday) if the owner hadn’t borrowed his rationale from Spider-Man. “With great power,” Peter Parker’s dying Uncle Ben told Spidey’s alter-ego, “comes great responsibility.” Aquilini—or his speechwriter—didn’t even credit the source.

Alas, turns out Uncle Ben was very disappointed and offed Spidey, so Vancouver needs a new patsy superhero. 

Vote in the poll at the bottom of the post.  6 choices are provided, and there’s a brief summary for each candidate…

[Update 12:06pm PT: Updated above the poll with quotes from Dave Nonis today.]

Continue Reading »

Fallout of Nonis Firing

by Alanah McGinley on 04/15/08 at 01:11 PM
Comments (21)

The Vancouver Canucks have a press conference scheduled later this morning—I’ll update this post as soon as it happens. (11:10am PT: Updates now below)

Meanwhile, Spector summed up the msm reaction to the Dave Nonis execution firing earlier today:

The firing caught many hockey observers by surprise and some were quick to offer their opinions. TSN’s Bob McKenzie believes it’s the wrong move, citing the good work Nonis had done over the last three seasons in building the Canucks roster and that he couldn’t be held at fault for the rash of injuries to key players that hampered the club this season. Iain MacIntyre also suggested the team ownership had jumped the gun, while Ed Willes of the Province considered it a panic move and a farce.

Nonis must really be a nice guy, because I can’t remember a time in Canucks history where so much hockey media actually thought a Canucks GM should not be fired. 

Anyway, some idle speculation before the press conference starts…

Continue Reading »

Dave Nonis Fired

by Alanah McGinley on 04/14/08 at 09:54 PM
Comments (23)

From CBC.ca:

The Vancouver Canucks fired general manager Dave Nonis on Monday.

The decision to fire Nonis, who was promoted to the post in May 2004, comes after the Canucks finished ninth in the Western Conference this season and failed to make the playoffs for the second time in three years.

“The decision to relieve Dave of his duties was difficult,” said Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini in a statement. “We want to thank Dave for the many contributions he has made helping to build our organization during his tenure. However, I think this important change in leadership is critical to the future of the team and the direction we need to take. It’s not acceptable to our fans or to us as owners that our team isn’t in the playoffs.”

Have to wonder if Alain Vigneault is next.

Note: April 15th updates and press conference

Darwinism in Vancouver

by Alanah McGinley on 02/28/08 at 12:15 AM
Comments (5)

From TSN,

In just 24 seconds, 35-year old Darwin Head went from being a sawmill worker to Canada’s newest millionaire, as the Prince Albert, SK, resident scored the $1 million grand prize tonight in TSN’s second annual, international award-winning million-dollar giveaway, the Chevrolet Malibu Million Dollar Shootout.

I’ll put up the video as soon as someone else Youtubes it (sorry, I was busy DVRing “Law & Order” for some idiotic reason).  However—if you’re lucky—the video link on the TSN page will work for you. (Didn’t for me, but TSN hates Firefox as a rule.)

It should be said that Darwin Head was as cool as anything shooting from the point, AND—now that he’s got his first million bucks—I’m pretty sure he’ll play for cheap! How’d you miss this guy, Nonis?

(Oh yeah, right… blinded by dreams of Pettinger...)

Updated 10:37pm PT: Video now added below…

Continue Reading »

“Glorified Beer League” to NHL YoungStars

by Alanah McGinley on 01/26/08 at 01:19 PM
Comments (4)

It’s the Edler Hour or something this week, as Alexander Edler’s trip to the YoungStars Game has caught the attention of various reporters seeking to profile the latest Swedish Canuck.  Sportnet.ca dropped some comments today, following broadcaster Jim Hughson’s remarks on the player’s unexpected rise on the NHL Network yesterday.

But it’s Iain MacIntyre who tells the full story of how Vancouver snatched Edler—a sleeper pick at #91—from under the nose of Detroit (via the National Post). Here are some of the details…

Continue Reading »

Nothing Good Ever Came From Michigan

by Alanah McGinley on 09/05/07 at 01:22 PM
Comments (8)