Colton Gillies on Waivers

by BReynolds on Jan 13, 2012 12:42 PM CST in News

In the latest blow to come to the career of Colton Gillies, Russo is reporting that Gillies is on waivers. This is a completely un-shocking move, and one that, frankly, likely should have come much sooner. It is clear that players like Warren Peters and David McIntyre are outplaying Gillies, and that is simply unacceptable for guy with a fancy one way NHL contract. Especially a fancy one way, two year NHL contract.

The story of Gillies is one Wild fans are already familiar with. Drafted too high in a draft that was flat out not very good for anyone outside of the top 10, Gillies is the last remaining poster boy of the HWSRN era of draft and ruin. Gillies was put on the big squad too soon, had his confidence and development destroyed, and was eventually put in Houston to try to "fix" his game.

This season, Chuck Fletcher felt that Gillies deserved a reward for being a beast in Houston last season, much to the delight of many in Minnesota. However, his game has crashed again, and he simply no longer deserves the spot on the big club. There are too many guys in Houston willing to show the hunger and drive that Gillies has apparently lost.

If this is the last of Colton Gillies in the Wild organization, we wish him well. If he is headed for Houston, we hope he finds his game and the passion to be an NHLer that somehow was lost along the way.

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So who comes up?

Almond or Ortmeyer would be my guess.

by ThatGuy22 on Jan 13, 2012 12:45 PM CST reply actions

Almond ... ugh!

Please say it’s not Almond. I may be in the minority, but I don’t see anything special about the kid. He’s got the size, yes, but from what I’ve seen of him in the few games he’s been in, not impressed. How about Taffe? DiSalvatore?

Son-of-a-bitch is dug in like an Alabama tick!

by Mark It Zero! on Jan 13, 2012 12:54 PM CST reply actions

I agree with you

Almond hasn’t shown me anything good. Both Taffe and DiSalvatore would be good, but maybe they’ll want to keep DiSalvatore in Houston, as he’s the captain and they’ll need him. We can’t overestimate the value of AHL affiliate success.

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jan 13, 2012 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

You are far from the only one. I have been less than impressed with Almond. I like the kid. He’s good people, and a hard worker. He just doesn’t have it.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

Master of unsustainable passive regression.

by BReynolds on Jan 13, 2012 1:00 PM CST up reply actions

Not an NHLer

Much like Gillies is not an NHLer.

by cgp711 on Jan 13, 2012 1:34 PM CST up reply actions

The puppy

is back where he belongs. I like the decision to send some of the young guys back to the AHL and let them regain the confidence that has left this team like air from a burst balloon. If GMCF and Coach Yeo have decided that it is more important for these struggling young guys to go down and regain confidence I think it isn’t a moment too soon.

don't feed the trolls

by Hagendas on Jan 13, 2012 1:22 PM CST reply actions

Wild first rounders 2004-2009

AJ Thelen – Played 1 game for the Areos

Benoit Pouliot – Good player, just not when with the wild (After finding out Lats is a china doll kinda wish we could get that one back)

James Sheppard – YUCK, only thing he did was keep Skoula from being the worst player on the ice

Colton Gillies – Wild have now conceeded that he was a bust

Tyler Cuma – Really liked the guy but hes gotta stay healthy

Nick Leddy – Dont wanna talk about it

That has got to be one of the worst 6 year periods draft picks/ draft pick management.

Heres hoping the Savior stops the streak

by Burnsie4mvp on Jan 13, 2012 9:33 PM CST reply actions

I'd take Lats over Princess Pouliot any day.

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jan 14, 2012 10:10 AM CST up reply actions

Whos the Princess???

Gui’s picture in a Gay canadian magazine

by Burnsie4mvp on Jan 14, 2012 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

HA!

You do know, however that he has a kid with a former Miss Quebec and is now with a Quebec singer, right?

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jan 14, 2012 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

Yea

Couldnt pass up the oppertunity to get that picture up

by Burnsie4mvp on Jan 14, 2012 2:57 PM CST up reply actions

Outside the top ten... lots of options. The Gillies pick and subsequent mismanagement was just bad!!

I have to disagree that the 2007 draft was not very good for anyone outside of the top ten. Let me name a few exceptions:

11. Brandon Sutter
12. Ryan McDonagh
13. Lars Eller
14. Kevin Shattenkirk
18. Ian Cole
21. Riley Nash
22. Max Pacioretty
23. Jonathon Blum
24. Mikael Backlund
26. David Perron – steal of the first round
27. Brendan Smith

Do you notice the trend? Other than Sutter and Perron, all the other players didn’t start playing regularly in the NHL until last year and some of them are just starting to break in now (even then I’d still have any of them over #4 pick Thomas Hickey and #8 pick Zach Hamill). With Gillies being picked at 16, there is still a number of talented player that were picked below him. Gillies was pegged to be a stone handed, third line, energy guy by many people as evidenced by his highest point totals in the WHL of 47 points in 58 games and he seems to be living up to that billing.

The one thing I think we can all agree on is he was rushed to the NHL. He should have been sent back to junior for the 2008-09 season. Who knows what would have happened if Gillies got the chance to manhandle the WHL competition as a 19 year old. A big kid like him would have been a beast down low causing havoc and collecting garbage goals. That and a transition year in the AHL and I think Gillies would be a completely different player. Realistically, like most of the other players on the above list Gillies should have had his first cup of coffee last year with him transitioning to the NHL this year.

That being said, the Wild aren’t the only team that has ruined prospects by rushing them… Can anyone say Josh Bailey? Ouch!!

by Karbinkopy on Jan 14, 2012 9:36 AM CST reply actions

I'd take any of those players over Gillies.

by cgp711 on Jan 14, 2012 10:49 AM CST up reply actions

None of these guys, short of Perron, has made much of an impact. Without going through the list to figure out the D vs forwards, a forward should not need 5 years in the minors to develop. Especially not a first round forward pick. Shattenkirk is a great young D-man, and could still turn out to be something special. The rest of these guys seem to be muckers and grinders. Not what the first round is for.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Swarm Beat Writer:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

Master of unsustainable passive regression.

by BReynolds on Jan 14, 2012 10:58 AM CST up reply actions