Here we are, more than four years later, and the idea is just as intriguing.<\/p>\n
Could the Vancouver Canucks finally bring back Mike Gillis? (Anne-Marie Sorvin\/USA TODAY Sports)<\/p>\n Gillis and Gilman helped usher in the most successful era in Canucks franchise history, using all of the tools at their disposal to offer a first-class atmosphere for players, along with forward-thinking ideas like internal salary caps. It culminated in them building a team that won back-to-back Presidents\u2019 Trophies and came within one win of the Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n Of course, it wasn\u2019t all perfect. Just look at their drafting record, or the Roberto Luongo captaincy choice.<\/p>\n But of all the candidates out there for the Canucks, it\u2019s hard to argue that there\u2019s a duo more qualified for the job than Gillis and Gilman.<\/p>\n Why Gillis and Gilman could return to Canucks<\/p>\n Again, this is a scenario that seems unlikely for the Canucks, but there are a couple of reasons to believe that this could happen.<\/p>\n The goal has changed<\/p>\n Since he was sacked by the Canucks in 2014, Gillis has gone on the record<\/a> saying he wanted to make trades earlier that season that would have signalled a clear rebuild for the Canucks, something that never occurred due to an organizational decision.<\/p>\n While the organization wasn\u2019t keen on a rebuild at the time, clearly, the goal has changed.<\/p>\n It took multiple star players requesting trades from the team in J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes, but the Canucks are now undoubtedly in a rebuild.<\/p>\n Now that they\u2019re finally here, 12 years after Gillis suggested the idea, it does make you wonder if this ideological difference between Gillis and the Canucks could be put to bed.<\/p>\n Interest in similar jobs<\/p>\n We wouldn\u2019t be talking about Gillis or Gilman joining the Canucks if neither had interest in the roles.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s not as if either person is retired.<\/p>\n Gillis was reportedly in the running for a management position with the Toronto Maple Leafs. As of Friday, Sportsnet\u2019s Elliotte Friedman reported<\/a> that Gillis is still in the running; however, it seems less likely now that he\u2019ll take a job with the Leafs. Of course, things could always change.<\/p>\n Laurence Gilman has been working in the NHL ever since leaving the Canucks. Back in January, he joined the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> as VP of hockey operations.<\/p>\n As The Province\u2018s Patrick Johnston laid out recently<\/a>, Gilman has a plethora of expertise that he could bring to a management role. With Gillis stating before that he would prefer the president of hockey operations gig, it would make Gilman a perfect candidate to be general manager, whether in Vancouver or elsewhere.<\/p>\n Time heals wounds<\/p>\n The big question in all of this is: could the Canucks, Gillis, and Gilman let bygones be bygones and work together again?<\/p>\n Back in 2019, Gillis\u2019 name was floating around as a replacement after Trevor Linden mutually parted ways with the club. That prompted Francesco Aquilini to respond to the rumours<\/a>, saying he hadn\u2019t contacted Gillis and he had \u201cno plans to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n That was seven years ago now. Has time healed wounds since then?<\/p>\n![\"naslund](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/naslund-mike-gillis-canucks.jpg\"\/ "\\"\\"")
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