Music: {allcanada} GILLIS SUPPORTS CANUCKS' AHL AUTONOMY

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

{allcanada} GILLIS SUPPORTS CANUCKS' AHL AUTONOMY

The Vancouver Sun passes along that regardless of where the Canucks move the newly-purchased Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League, Canucks GM Mike Gillis feels the autonomy of owning and operating a minor-league franchise will produce more NHL players for Vancouver.

The Canucks' two-year player-development agreement with the Chicago Wolves expires after this season.

"It allows our organization to focus on what we think is really important," Gillis said before the Canucks' game here against the San Jose Sharks. "Sometimes what we think is important is divergent from what an independent owner thinks is important for his minor-league team.

"We get to make the decisions now. It allows us to plan and make decisions … to stock the team as we see fit to help our players."

Abbotsford Heat President Ryan Walter admitted to The Vancouver Province there's been "lots of speculation" about the Canucks possibly moving an AHL farm club into the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, but "nothing solidified has come our way."

"There are lots of rumours," said Walter. "At one point, in the next bit, we're going to know one way or the other."