Controversial former NHL GM confirms he’s had discussions with Seattle expansion group

With news coming out of NHL head offices last week that the league’s top brass has officially endorsed The Oak View Group’s Seattle expansion bid, it seems only a matter of time until there’s an NHL team in the city of Seattle. Formally, the NHL’s board of governors must approve the group’s expansion bid, but again that seems like a formality. NHL hockey in Seattle is a foregone conclusion.

The arena deal is a go. NHL approval appears to be a go. Now it’s time to get to work. Very quietly the group hired longtime NHL head coach Dave Tippett to work behind the scenes and put together a potential game plan. They’ve also lured high profile sports executive Todd Leiweke away from his position with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks to serve as the Seattle NHL team’s first president. So, if we can pencil in Tippett as head coach and Leiweke as president… who takes the GM spot? 

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has been rumored to be in the mix, as has former Toronto Maple Leafs GM and current Boston Bruins director of hockey operations John Ferguson Jr. But another candidate with ties to Leiweke and to the Pacific Northwest has emerged: former Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis.

Gillis made a rare public appearance earlier today on TSN 1040 and let his guard down for the first time since being relieved from his position(s) with the organization back in 2014. When pressed about his interest in potentially being a part of an NHL team in Seattle, Gillis replied that he’s “most definitely interested.”

Gillis on Seattle: I think it's going to be a terrific market. It's a natural fit to put a team on the West Coast. It's a great sports market now, how they support teams. I know Tod (Leiweke) well, and I think he's an unreal sports executive. I think they're going to do well

More Gillis on @NHLSeattle_: I really like being in the Pacific Northwest, and if they flattered me enough by asking if I'd be interested, I'd be most definitely interested.

If things continue to evolve, I'm hopeful to have a discussion with them

Gillis was then asked by radio host Matt Sekeres, “So… you haven’t been asked?” Gillis replied with, “I haven’t said that.”

Ooooooh… so you’re telling me there’s a chance!

To be fair, Gillis hasn’t really said anything and his background as a lawyer and as an NHL player agent has made him an absolute expert in terms of picking and choosing his words. But his refusal to answer directly speaks volumes.