Mike Gillis is a former professional ice hockey player and executive who had a successful career in the sport. He played as a forward for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1980s, including the Colorado Rockies, Boston Bruins, and Vancouver Canucks. Gillis was known for his speed, skill, and defensive abilities on the ice.
After retiring from playing, Gillis transitioned into a career as a sports agent, representing several NHL players. He eventually became a player agent for the Vancouver Canucks, and in 2008, he was hired as the team's general manager. During his tenure as GM, Gillis helped lead the Canucks to their best season in franchise history in 2010-2011, when they won the Presidents' Trophy for having the best regular season record in the NHL.
Gillis was also known for his innovative approach to managing the team, which included using advanced statistics and analytics to evaluate players and make strategic decisions. He was one of the first NHL executives to embrace this approach, which has since become more common in the league.
However, Gillis's time as GM was not without controversy. The Canucks made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011, but ultimately lost to the Boston Bruins in a seven-game series. The following season, the team struggled and missed the playoffs for the first time in five years. Gillis was criticized for some of his personnel decisions, including trading away popular players and signing expensive free agents who did not perform well.
In 2014, Gillis was fired by the Canucks after the team missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. He has since returned to his career as a sports agent, representing several NHL players and working as a consultant for various teams.
Overall, Mike Gillis had a successful career in hockey as both a player and executive. He was known for his innovative approach to managing teams and his commitment to using advanced statistics to make strategic decisions. While his time as GM of the Canucks was not without controversy, he helped lead the team to some of its most successful seasons in franchise history.
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