Luongo

[Deebo]

One of the top teams didn't want Mike Richards around this time last year, now he's a key cog in a stanley cup finalist.

 

[Redleaf]

Regardless of his contract, why would we want a guy who one of the top teams thinks isn't good enough to play for them?

Luongo is not the answer.

Schneider.

 

[rdowdall]

Anyone know what the rumoured deal between the Leafs and Canucks has as principles from the Leafs?

You're moving dangerously into Eklund territory now.

It was posted on the front page of this site that there was a rumoured deal that was done.  I was wondering what was involved in this rumoured deal that was done.

;D ;D Didn't even realize that, I never go to the front page, I have the forum index bookmarked.

Well you should be more careful.  You invoked the name of Eklund in comparison to me.  That really hurts.

Let's hug it out bro.  :-*

...it's cool...we're good.

 

[Zee]

Regardless of his contract, why would we want a guy who one of the top teams thinks isn't good enough to play for them?

Luongo is not the answer.

This doesn't really mean much.  So Vancouver has given up on him, that means they're right?  There have been instances of teams giving up on players who then went on to great things on other teams.  Luongo got within 1 win of a Stanley Cup, that's gotta count for something.

 

[Kin]

Or, and someone stop me if this starts sounding crazy, maybe a player's play is a combination of his talent and the situation he's in(coaching, teammates, personal stuff). Because all situations are mutable, a player who played fantastically well one season can play really well in one year and poorly the next and vice versa.

Now, and here's where it gets really outside the box, what if the Leafs look at a player who's got a lot of talent but not living up to expectations in his current situation and say "Maybe a change of his situation will result in better play"?

I know, I know, we're in uncharted waters here. But let's dream.

 

[Bender]

One of the top teams didn't want Mike Richards around this time last year, now he's a key cog in a stanley cup finalist.

Yeah, I mean this kind of thing happens all the time. Who wouldn't have wanted Steve Sullivan after we traded him for next to nothing?

I think the whole "this guy isn't wanted in one place, we shouldn't take him on" can't be used in every case. Luongo's had a better SV% than .913 going back to 2000. He'd be a valuable player if it weren't for

A) Contract
B) Playoffs in 2011/2012
C) Asking to be traded

It seems to be the perfect storm to get him on the cheap.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Yeah, I mean this kind of thing happens all the time. Who wouldn't have wanted Steve Sullivan after we traded him for next to nothing?

Didn't we indeed get nothing for him, he was on waivers wasn't he?

 

[Kin]

Didn't we indeed get nothing for him, he was on waivers wasn't he?

Yeah. In fairness though...Dmitri Kristich...mumble mumble...other teams...playoffs...gol darnit.

 

[Corn Flake]

Didn't we indeed get nothing for him, he was on waivers wasn't he?

Yeah. In fairness though...Dmitri Kristich...mumble mumble...other teams...playoffs...gol darnit.

And another well suppressed memory is unearthed.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Anyone know what the rumoured deal between the Leafs and Canucks has as principles from the Leafs?

We've heard piles of rumor and speculation but nothing even close to resembling what it really could be.  Just piles of things.

My main concern is that 5th overall pick going to the Canucks.  If that goes as part of a package for Luongo, then I will have reservations about the deal.

Don't worry about that, it won't be anything close to that.

 

[TML fan]

Regardless of his contract, why would we want a guy who one of the top teams thinks isn't good enough to play for them?

Luongo is not the answer.

This doesn't really mean much.  So Vancouver has given up on him, that means they're right?  There have been instances of teams giving up on players who then went on to great things on other teams.  Luongo got within 1 win of a Stanley Cup, that's gotta count for something.

There's nothing to say they're wrong...

 

[Kin]

Aside from the vast wealth of evidence we have that Roberto Luongo is a good goalie? Including his numbers this year?

Yeah.

 

[TML fan]

Aside from the vast wealth of evidence we have that Roberto Luongo is a good goalie? Including his numbers this year?

Yeah.

He's not very good at getting bad teams to the playoffs.

There's more to hockey than numbers.

 

[Tigger]

Anyone know what the rumoured deal between the Leafs and Canucks has as principles from the Leafs?

We've heard piles of rumor and speculation but nothing even close to resembling what it really could be.  Just piles of things.

My main concern is that 5th overall pick going to the Canucks.  If that goes as part of a package for Luongo, then I will have reservations about the deal.

Don't worry about that, it won't be anything close to that.

Yeah, I don't think the cost would be anywhere near that, nor do I think the Leafs would have much of a problem down the line with the contract ( well, it's not my money and I think the Leafs will have a fair ability to deal with his contract cap wise ) ... really I just don't see him wanting to come to Toronto.

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

I get that, but the problem there is that older goaltenders do that very thing all the time.. they just sign new contracts to make it happen vs. continue on a back sliding one.  Sure it's not a motivator but lots of these goalies want to hang on and keep on playing. 

Vokoun just came off a deal that was around $1 mil.  He isn't 40 but he's up there. Cujo came back for a last gasp or two at an uber-cheap rate at 40. Hasek I believe did it as well, and may do it again.  That is only a few examples.

I get he will *probably* retire and *probably* won't play but with a contract in hand you really can't take this unwritten agreement he supposedly has that he won't play as gospel. 

All I'm saying is if you take him on you have to assume it's a possibility you could be stuck with him in those final years and you need to make plans to deal with that if it happens.  Or maybe Burke won't give a care in the end because he knows he's not going to be here in 10 years, so screw it... but I doubt that.

To be honest, I don't think that will be much of an issue. Whether he wants to continue to play or not, the team may not see him as a starter at that time.

If he's good enough, then he can be the starter and continue to play. If he gets beat out for the job, I don't think he'd stay around as the backup earning $1M at 40+.

I'm inclined to believe he's more willing to move on than ride the pine, especially at that age earning what would likely be slightly above league minimum 10 years from now.

 

[Kin]

He's not very good at getting bad teams to the playoffs.

Marcel Dionne wasn't very good at winning the Stanley Cup.

There's more to hockey than numbers.

We'll work tomorrow on what "including" means.

 

[TML fan]

He's not very good at getting bad teams to the playoffs.

Marcel Dionne wasn't very good at winning the Stanley Cup.

Neither is Luongo.

 

[Kin]

Neither is Luongo.

Nobody is before they are.

 

[dappleganger]

He's not very good at getting bad teams to the playoffs.

Marcel Dionne wasn't very good at winning the Stanley Cup.

Neither is Luongo.

Neither was Sundin.

Both Mats and Luongo were good at winning best-on-best tournaments.

 

[Kin]

Neither was Sundin.

Both were good at winning best-on-best tournaments.

Hold on. So even though a player hasn't single-handedly won a Stanley Cup he...might provide value to a team that doesn't have a better option?

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