Mike Gillis
Encyclopedia
Michael David Gillis is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
player and current president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks
.
of the OMJHL from 1975–1978, playing in 111 games, and scoring 132 points (39 goals-93 assists). He added on 18 points (4G-14A) in 12 playoff games. Gillis missed most of the 1976–77 season due to a leg injury. He was drafted in the 1st round, 5th overall by the Colorado Rockies
in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft.
In 1978-79, Gillis played 2 games with the Philadelphia Firebirds of the AHL
, getting no points, and spent 30 games with the Rockies, getting 8 points (1G-7A). He split the 1979–80 season with the Rockies, getting 9 points (4G-5A) in 40 games, and the Fort Worth Texans
of the CHL
, with 22 points (9G-13A) in 29 games. Gillis started the 1980–81 season with Colorado, and had 18 points (11G-7A) in 51 games before being sent to the Boston Bruins
for Bob Miller
. Gillis then had 6 points (2G-4A) in 17 games, for a total of 24 points (13G-11A), which would be his career high. Gillis also appeared in a playoff game, going pointless.
In 1981–82, Gillis then registered 17 points (9G-8A) in 53 games, and earned 3 points (1G-2A) in 11 playoff games. He spent the majority of the 1982–83 season with the Baltimore Skipjacks
of the AHL
, getting 113 points (32G-81A) in 74 games, good for 4th in AHL league scoring. He also played 5 games with Boston, earning an assist, then played 12 playoff games for the Bruins, earning 4 points (1G-3A). Gillis split the 1983–84 season with the Bruins, getting 17 points (6G-11A) in 50 games, and with the Hershey Bears
of the AHL
, getting 29 points (8G-21A) in 26 games. He played 3 playoff games with Boston, getting no points.
Gillis retired from hockey in the summer of 1984.
Golden Gaels hockey team in 1985–86. He earned a law degree from Queen's University in 1990, and became a player agent. His clientele over the years included Pavel Bure
, Markus Näslund
, Bobby Holík
, and Mike Richter
among others.
general manager Dave Nonis
at the end of the 2007–08 season, Gillis was introduced by the organization as Nonis' successor on April 23, 2008. Entering into the free agent
market as a general manager for the first time in July 2008, Gillis made immediate changes. He chose not to re-sign former client and longtime Canucks captain Markus Naslund, nor forward Brendan Morrison
. He made an aggressive pitch for unrestricted free agent center Mats Sundin
with a two-year, $20 million offer. The deal would have made him the highest paid player in the league. Sundin decided against signing with any team until midway through the subsequent season, but eventually accepted a one-year, pro-rated $8.6 million offer on December 18, 2008. Several months later, before the 2008–09
NHL trade deadline
, Gillis re-signed emerging forward Alexandre Burrows
to a four-year, $8 million contract on March 3, 2009, substantially raising his $525,000 salary. Burrows was in the midst of a career-season and ended the campaign with what was a personal best 28 goals and 51 points.
After winning a Northwest Division
title and making it as far as game six of the second round in 2009
, Gillis continued to re-sign key players. With the Canucks' leading scorers Daniel
and Henrik Sedin
set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, 2009, Gillis flew to Sweden
to negotiate with the twins, signing them to identical five-year, $30.5 million deals hours before free agency period was set to begin. Soon thereafter, negotiations began with star goaltender Roberto Luongo
, who was entering the final year of his original four-year deal with the Canucks, signed with Gillis' predecessor, Nonis. Several days after Luongo gave the Canucks a September 13 deadline to come to an agreement before ceasing negotiations for the upcoming season, Gillis signed him to a 12-year, $64 million contract extension on September 2. Other significant signings in the 2009 off-season included unrestricted free agent Mikael Samuelsson
from the Detroit Red Wings
and Canucks prospect Sergei Shirokov
from the Kontinental Hockey League
. His first noteworthy trade occurred on August 28, 2009, when he sent prospect forwards Patrick White
and Daniel Rahimi
to the San Jose Sharks
in exchange for defencemn Christian Ehrhoff
and Brad Lukowich
. Of the two defencemen acquired, the younger Ehrhoff proved to be the centerpiece of the deal. San Jose's primary motivation to send him away was to clear salary cap
space in anticipation of the their acquisition of star forward Dany Heatley
from the Ottawa Senators
. For the Canucks, Ehrhoff's acquisition addressed the need for a puck-moving defenceman to move play out of the defensive zone. Ehrhoff went on to lead the Canucks defencemen in scoring that season.
In the midst of Gillis' off-season transactions, the Canucks were involved in a pair of tampering incidents with Toronto Maple Leafs
management. The first incident occurred in late June 2009 when Leafs head coach Ron Wilson
publicized the club's intentions to pursue the Sedin twins if Gillis could not re-sign them before the free agency period began. Several months later in September, a Leafs TV
documentary covering June's 2009 NHL Entry Draft
featured Leafs general manager Brian Burke indicating that Gillis had pursued the Tampa Bay Lightning
's second overall pick for a package consisting defenceman Kevin Bieksa
, forward Alex Burrows and their first-round selection. Although the segment was eventually pulled off the air, Gillis filed tampering charges against the Leafs near the beginning of the 2009–10 season
for both incidents. The NHL fined Wilson US$10,000 for his part in tampering with the Sedins, while Burke and the Leafs management were given a warning for the draft incident.
The Canucks went on to win the Northwest Division title, but lost in the second round to the Blackhawks in 2009–10
, both for the second consecutive year under Gillis. In the off-season, Gillis made significant defensive acquisitions, trading for Keith Ballard
from the Florida Panthers
(in exchange for a first-round draft pick, Michael Grabner
and Steve Bernier
), and signing Dan Hamhuis
($27 million over six years). Gillis also signed third-line centre Manny Malhotra
. While Hamhuis and Malhotra became integral parts of the Canucks' successful season in 2010–11
, Ballard struggled to remain in the lineup with injuries and numerous bouts of healthy scratches. Meanwhile, Grabner became a Calder Memorial Trophy
nominee that season as the league's top rookie. In goal, Gillis had re-signed prosect Cory Schneider
in the off-season, as well. Backing up Luongo as a rookie, the duo won the William M. Jennings Trophy
as the goaltending tandem with the least goals against in the league. Gillis' transactions were instrumental in the Canucks' first Presidents' Trophy
, leading the NHL with the best regular season record in 2010–11. He was awarded with the league's inaugural NHL General Manager of the Year Award
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player and current president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
.
Playing career
Mike Gillis spent his junior hockey career with the Kingston CanadiansKingston Canadians
The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
of the OMJHL from 1975–1978, playing in 111 games, and scoring 132 points (39 goals-93 assists). He added on 18 points (4G-14A) in 12 playoff games. Gillis missed most of the 1976–77 season due to a leg injury. He was drafted in the 1st round, 5th overall by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft.
In 1978-79, Gillis played 2 games with the Philadelphia Firebirds of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, getting no points, and spent 30 games with the Rockies, getting 8 points (1G-7A). He split the 1979–80 season with the Rockies, getting 9 points (4G-5A) in 40 games, and the Fort Worth Texans
Fort Worth Texans
The Fort Worth Texans were a professional ice hockey team based in Fort Worth, Texas. They started play in 1967 as the Fort Worth Wings, a minor league affiliate for the Detroit Red Wings. They were part of the Central Hockey League and played their home games at Will Rogers Coliseum...
of the CHL
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
, with 22 points (9G-13A) in 29 games. Gillis started the 1980–81 season with Colorado, and had 18 points (11G-7A) in 51 games before being sent to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
for Bob Miller
Bob Miller (ice hockey)
Robert Michael Miller, Jr. Robert Michael Miller, Jr. Robert Michael Miller, Jr. (born September 28, 1956 in Medford, Massachusetts and grew up in Billerica, Massachusetts. Miller is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 404 games in the National Hockey League between 1977 and 1985...
. Gillis then had 6 points (2G-4A) in 17 games, for a total of 24 points (13G-11A), which would be his career high. Gillis also appeared in a playoff game, going pointless.
In 1981–82, Gillis then registered 17 points (9G-8A) in 53 games, and earned 3 points (1G-2A) in 11 playoff games. He spent the majority of the 1982–83 season with the Baltimore Skipjacks
Baltimore Skipjacks
The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor professional ice hockey team in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena.-History:...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, getting 113 points (32G-81A) in 74 games, good for 4th in AHL league scoring. He also played 5 games with Boston, earning an assist, then played 12 playoff games for the Bruins, earning 4 points (1G-3A). Gillis split the 1983–84 season with the Bruins, getting 17 points (6G-11A) in 50 games, and with the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, getting 29 points (8G-21A) in 26 games. He played 3 playoff games with Boston, getting no points.
Gillis retired from hockey in the summer of 1984.
Agent
Upon retiring from playing hockey, Mike Gillis coached the Queen's UniversityQueen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
Golden Gaels hockey team in 1985–86. He earned a law degree from Queen's University in 1990, and became a player agent. His clientele over the years included Pavel Bure
Pavel Bure
Pavel Vladimirovich Bure is a retired Russian professional ice hockey right winger. Nicknamed "The Russian Rocket" for his speed, Bure played for 12 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers...
, Markus Näslund
Markus Näslund
Sten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
, Bobby Holík
Bobby Holik
Robert Holík is a retired Czech-American professional ice hockey center who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League...
, and Mike Richter
Mike Richter
Michael Thomas Richter is a former ice hockey goaltender. One of the most successful American-born goaltenders in history, he is best known for having led the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup title in 1994 and for repeatedly representing the United States in international play. Due to his...
among others.
General manager
With the firing of Vancouver CanucksVancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
general manager Dave Nonis
Dave Nonis
David M. Nonis is a former Canadian ice hockey defenceman, former general manager and executive of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and current general manager of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:Growing up in Burnaby, B.C., Nonis played junior...
at the end of the 2007–08 season, Gillis was introduced by the organization as Nonis' successor on April 23, 2008. Entering into the free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
market as a general manager for the first time in July 2008, Gillis made immediate changes. He chose not to re-sign former client and longtime Canucks captain Markus Naslund, nor forward Brendan Morrison
Brendan Morrison
Brendan Morrison is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League...
. He made an aggressive pitch for unrestricted free agent center Mats Sundin
Mats Sundin
Mats Johan Sundin is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. Originally drafted first overall in 1989, Sundin played his first four seasons in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1994, where he played the majority of his career, serving 11...
with a two-year, $20 million offer. The deal would have made him the highest paid player in the league. Sundin decided against signing with any team until midway through the subsequent season, but eventually accepted a one-year, pro-rated $8.6 million offer on December 18, 2008. Several months later, before the 2008–09
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
NHL trade deadline
NHL trade deadline
The National Hockey League's trade deadline is a date set by the NHL league office after which no trades are allowed for the remainder of the season. The deadline for the 2011–12 NHL season is set for February 27, 2012 at 3 pm EST. Prior to the current CBA, the trade deadline date had been in...
, Gillis re-signed emerging forward Alexandre Burrows
Alexandre Burrows
Alexandre Ménard-Burrows is a French-Canadian professional ice hockey winger with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He is known for playing in the style of an agitator and for his ascension to the NHL from being an undrafted player in the ECHL...
to a four-year, $8 million contract on March 3, 2009, substantially raising his $525,000 salary. Burrows was in the midst of a career-season and ended the campaign with what was a personal best 28 goals and 51 points.
After winning a Northwest Division
Northwest Division (NHL)
The NHL's Northwest Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Western Conference due to expansion. Like the Pacific Division, the Northwest Division is also a descendant of the former Smythe Division, as three of its Canadian teams played in that division from 1981–1993...
title and making it as far as game six of the second round in 2009
2009 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and...
, Gillis continued to re-sign key players. With the Canucks' leading scorers Daniel
Daniel Sedin
Daniel Sedin is a Swedish professional ice hockey winger with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League , and serves as an alternate captain for the Canucks during home games. His identical twin brother Henrik also plays for the Canucks, and is the team captain...
and Henrik Sedin
Henrik Sedin
Henrik Sedin is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . His identical twin brother Daniel also plays for the Canucks. Having played together throughout their careers, the pair are known for their effectiveness playing off one...
set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, 2009, Gillis flew to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
to negotiate with the twins, signing them to identical five-year, $30.5 million deals hours before free agency period was set to begin. Soon thereafter, negotiations began with star goaltender Roberto Luongo
Roberto Luongo
Roberto Luongo is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . Born in Montreal, Quebec, he is of Italian and Irish ancestry. He employs the butterfly style of goaltending...
, who was entering the final year of his original four-year deal with the Canucks, signed with Gillis' predecessor, Nonis. Several days after Luongo gave the Canucks a September 13 deadline to come to an agreement before ceasing negotiations for the upcoming season, Gillis signed him to a 12-year, $64 million contract extension on September 2. Other significant signings in the 2009 off-season included unrestricted free agent Mikael Samuelsson
Mikael Samuelsson
Mikael Samuelsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League ....
from the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
and Canucks prospect Sergei Shirokov
Sergei Shirokov
Sergei Sergeyevich Shirokov is a Russian professional ice hockey winger currently with HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League . Drafted 163rd overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, he is a prospect for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League...
from the Kontinental Hockey League
Kontinental Hockey League
The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
. His first noteworthy trade occurred on August 28, 2009, when he sent prospect forwards Patrick White
Patrick White
Patrick Victor Martindale White , an Australian author, is widely regarded as an important English-language novelist of the 20th century. From 1935 until his death, he published 12 novels, two short-story collections and eight plays.White's fiction employs humour, florid prose, shifting narrative...
and Daniel Rahimi
Daniel Rahimi
Daniel Rahimi is a Swedish-Iranian professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for HV71 of the Swedish Elitserien. He has previously been a prospect for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
to the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in exchange for defencemn Christian Ehrhoff
Christian Ehrhoff
Christian Ehrhoff is a German professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League...
and Brad Lukowich
Brad Lukowich
Brad Lukowich is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League. He has won the Stanley Cup once in his career, with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. He was on the roster of the Dallas Stars when they won the cup in 1998–99 but did not...
. Of the two defencemen acquired, the younger Ehrhoff proved to be the centerpiece of the deal. San Jose's primary motivation to send him away was to clear salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
space in anticipation of the their acquisition of star forward Dany Heatley
Dany Heatley
Daniel James Heatley is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger, and alternate captain for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League . Originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers second overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top NHL rookie in 2002...
from the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. For the Canucks, Ehrhoff's acquisition addressed the need for a puck-moving defenceman to move play out of the defensive zone. Ehrhoff went on to lead the Canucks defencemen in scoring that season.
In the midst of Gillis' off-season transactions, the Canucks were involved in a pair of tampering incidents with Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
management. The first incident occurred in late June 2009 when Leafs head coach Ron Wilson
Ron Wilson
Ronald Lawrence Wilson is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League and the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He is also the former head coach of the San Jose...
publicized the club's intentions to pursue the Sedin twins if Gillis could not re-sign them before the free agency period began. Several months later in September, a Leafs TV
Leafs TV
Leafs TV is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. It was launched in September 2001. The channel presents programming revolving around the Toronto Maple Leafs National Hockey League club and their American Hockey League affiliate,...
documentary covering June's 2009 NHL Entry Draft
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
featured Leafs general manager Brian Burke indicating that Gillis had pursued the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
's second overall pick for a package consisting defenceman Kevin Bieksa
Kevin Bieksa
Kevin Christopher Bieksa is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League , serving as an alternate captain for the Canucks during away games...
, forward Alex Burrows and their first-round selection. Although the segment was eventually pulled off the air, Gillis filed tampering charges against the Leafs near the beginning of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
for both incidents. The NHL fined Wilson US$10,000 for his part in tampering with the Sedins, while Burke and the Leafs management were given a warning for the draft incident.
The Canucks went on to win the Northwest Division title, but lost in the second round to the Blackhawks in 2009–10
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
, both for the second consecutive year under Gillis. In the off-season, Gillis made significant defensive acquisitions, trading for Keith Ballard
Keith Ballard
Keith Ballard is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a member of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for three seasons...
from the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
(in exchange for a first-round draft pick, Michael Grabner
Michael Grabner
Michael René Grabner is an Austrian professional ice hockey player playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League . Grabner grew up playing for the local team in Villach, EC VSV. He moved to North America at the age of 17 and joined the Spokane Chiefs of the major junior Western...
and Steve Bernier
Steve Bernier
Steve Bernier is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger with the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League...
), and signing Dan Hamhuis
Dan Hamhuis
Daniel Hamhuis is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League ....
($27 million over six years). Gillis also signed third-line centre Manny Malhotra
Manny Malhotra
Emmanuel Noveen Malhotra is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League , serving as an alternate captain. During his NHL career he has additionally played for the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks and New...
. While Hamhuis and Malhotra became integral parts of the Canucks' successful season in 2010–11
2010–11 NHL season
The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech...
, Ballard struggled to remain in the lineup with injuries and numerous bouts of healthy scratches. Meanwhile, Grabner became a Calder Memorial Trophy
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season...
nominee that season as the league's top rookie. In goal, Gillis had re-signed prosect Cory Schneider
Cory Schneider
Cory Franklin Schneider is an American professional ice hockey goaltender with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League .Schneider was selected in the first round, 26th overall, by the Canucks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft...
in the off-season, as well. Backing up Luongo as a rookie, the duo won the William M. Jennings Trophy
William M. Jennings Trophy
The William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League award given to "the goalkeeper having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded...
as the goaltending tandem with the least goals against in the league. Gillis' transactions were instrumental in the Canucks' first Presidents' Trophy
Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins. The winning team is also awarded C$350,000...
, leading the NHL with the best regular season record in 2010–11. He was awarded with the league's inaugural NHL General Manager of the Year Award
NHL General Manager of the Year Award
The General Manager of the Year Award is awarded annually to the top National Hockey League general manager as voted by "a 40-member panel that included all 30 general managers, five NHL executives and five media members." The current title holder is Mike Gillis of the Vancouver Canucks.-History:In...
.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1975–76 | Kingston Canadians Kingston Canadians The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.-History:... |
OMJHL | 64 | 16 | 45 | 61 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | ||
| 1976–77 | Kingston Canadians | OMJHL | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Kingston Canadians | OMJHL | 43 | 21 | 46 | 67 | 86 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 1978–79 | Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies (NHL) The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
30 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 1978–79 AHL season The 1978–79 AHL season was the 43rd season of the American Hockey League. The league inaugurates the Ken McKenzie Award, for the most outstanding marketing executive, showing its commitment to marketing and public relations.... |
Philadelphia Firebirds | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 40 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Fort Worth Texans Fort Worth Texans The Fort Worth Texans were a professional ice hockey team based in Fort Worth, Texas. They started play in 1967 as the Fort Worth Wings, a minor league affiliate for the Detroit Red Wings. They were part of the Central Hockey League and played their home games at Will Rogers Coliseum... |
CHL | 29 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 51 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
NHL | 17 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1981–82 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 53 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 54 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 1982–83 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1982–83 1982–83 AHL season The 1982–83 AHL season was the 47th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season, and won their fourth Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:... |
Baltimore Skipjacks Baltimore Skipjacks The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor professional ice hockey team in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and the American Hockey League. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena.-History:... |
AHL | 74 | 32 | 81 | 113 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 50 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1983–84 1983–84 AHL season The 1983–84 AHL season was the 48th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league initiates two new awards. The Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award is first awarded to the league's "best goaltender." The Jack A... |
Hershey Bears Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... |
AHL | 26 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| OMJHL totals | 111 | 39 | 93 | 132 | 124 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 11 | ||||
| CHL totals | 29 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| AHL totals | 102 | 40 | 102 | 142 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 246 | 33 | 43 | 76 | 186 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | ||||