 Entering into the free agent market as a general manager for the first time in July 2008, Gillis made immediate changes.He chose not to re-sign former client and longtime Canucks captain Markus Näslund, nor forward Brendan Morrison.He then made an aggressive pitch for unrestricted free agent center Mats Sundin with a two-year, $20 million offer; the deal would have made him the highest paid player in the NHL.