Luongo

[maplesyrup]

Take it for what it's worth, but Kypreos suggested that Brian Burke turned down Vokoun for that same contract (on HockeyCentral at Noon on the FAN).

I would have jumped at that deal but only after checking thoroughly into his health. He had a pretty nasty groin injury that eliminated his services from the playoffs. Maybe Burke didn't feel he'd be sound enough as a starter ... ??

If Burke and co. want a proven #1 goalie then Vokoun at this stage of his career wasn't the way to go.  Like you said that groin injury may or may not play a huge factor with him, why take the risk of him getting re-injured and then having your unproven goalies holding the fort again?  Better to set sites on Luongo who's had a pretty good injury-free career overall.

Maybe Burke & co. are just holding back every nickel for July 1? 

 

[ZBBM]

To me, this slightly increases the chances Luongo comes here.  The wildcard here is what Burke really really thinks about Reimer.  Does he honestly think Reimer is a starter down the road?  That he needs mentoring a la Rask?  If so, then maybe a Biron and Reimer tandem makes sense?

But the temptation of a Luongo may be too much for Burke to resist.

 

[Etiam Vultus]

TSN radio stated (or speculated, not sure), that Washington gave Vokoum and his agent permission to talk to other teams prior to July 1.  Assume for the moment that Pittsburgh and Toronto offered similar deals, which team would you choose if you were advising Vokoum?

In Pittsburgh, Vokoum knows he will be a backup on a Stanley Cup contender.  One where the starter, Fleury, stank the joint out in this year's playoffs and a reliable backup would likely have seen significant playing time in the playoffs. 

Or, a rebuilding team where Vokoum was likely told he could compete with Reimer for the starting position?

I suspect that I would recommend Pittsburgh. 

 

[cw]

Take it for what it's worth, but Kypreos suggested that Brian Burke turned down Vokoun for that same contract (on HockeyCentral at Noon on the FAN).

I would have jumped at that deal but only after checking thoroughly into his health. He had a pretty nasty groin injury that eliminated his services from the playoffs. Maybe Burke didn't feel he'd be sound enough as a starter ... ??

If Burke and co. want a proven #1 goalie then Vokoun at this stage of his career wasn't the way to go.  Like you said that groin injury may or may not play a huge factor with him, why take the risk of him getting re-injured and then having your unproven goalies holding the fort again?  Better to set sites on Luongo who's had a pretty good injury-free career overall.

In a couple or three years, Luongo is the same age with 7-8 years left on his $5 mil+/yr deal. Luongo has played nearly 100 more NHL games than Vokoun and 150 more over his career since junior. And the difference isn't so much due to health as it is how much he played in a given season. Lots of wear and tear.

I'm very leery of Luongo's contract.

 

[maplesyrup]

It's also possible PIT was the only team to give Vokoun him two years.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

TSN radio stated (or speculated, not sure), that Washington gave Vokoum and his agent permission to talk to other teams prior to July 1.  Assume for the moment that Pittsburgh and Toronto offered similar deals, which team would you choose if you were advising Vokoum?
In Pittsburgh, Vokoum knows he will be a backup on a Stanley Cup contender.  One where the starter, Fleury, stank the joint out in this year's playoffs and a reliable backup would likely have seen significant playing time in the playoffs. 

Or, a rebuilding team where Vokoum was likely told he could compete with Reimer for the starting position?

I suspect that I would recommend Pittsburgh.

Leafs!!!!! 

 

[maplesyrup]

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie
WSH had given Vokoun permission to shop around before July 1. PIT made an offer that others, including TOR, wouldn't.

 

[cw]

TSN radio stated (or speculated, not sure), that Washington gave Vokoum and his agent permission to talk to other teams prior to July 1.  Assume for the moment that Pittsburgh and Toronto offered similar deals, which team would you choose if you were advising Vokoum?

In Pittsburgh, Vokoum knows he will be a backup on a Stanley Cup contender.  One where the starter, Fleury, stank the joint out in this year's playoffs and a reliable backup would likely have seen significant playing time in the playoffs. 

Or, a rebuilding team where Vokoum was likely told he could compete with Reimer for the starting position?

I suspect that I would recommend Pittsburgh.

Vokoun could have got much better money last season and in my opinion, this upcoming season. He took a discount in signing with the Caps to give himself a better chance to win a Cup. I strongly suspect that's what has gone on with his deal with the Pens - though not as dramatic a discount. Toronto's a work in progress that may well not gel for more than a couple of seasons ... when Vokoun is ready to retire.

 

[Etiam Vultus]

The ideal candidate for the Leafs to acquire would be:

1)  An established and experienced goal tender who is still able to play at a high level. 

2)  On a one-year contract to give the Leafs more time to assess Reimer and Scrivens.

3)  With a couple of Vezinas and a Stanley Cup on his resume.

4)  And one that can be acquired for little or no cost. 

Ironically, there is such a candidate in Tim Thomas.  Burke should know him fairly well because of his involvement with the US Olympic team. 

 

[maplesyrup]

Yeah, I can't wait to hear Thomas' opinion on softwood lumber.  :

 

[bustaheims]

Yeah, I can't wait to hear Thomas' opinion on softwood lumber.  :

If only he hadn't essentially announced his retirement over the weekend . . .

 

[maplesyrup]

Yeah, I can't wait to hear Thomas' opinion on softwood lumber.  :

If only he hadn't essentially announced his retirement over the weekend . . .

Yup. Too bad. I was also curious what he thought about the F-35 thing too.

 

[Corn Flake]

To me, this slightly increases the chances Luongo comes here.  The wildcard here is what Burke really really thinks about Reimer.  Does he honestly think Reimer is a starter down the road?  That he needs mentoring a la Rask?  If so, then maybe a Biron and Reimer tandem makes sense?

This is/was my preferred scenario up until the Luongo idea started to grow on me.  Biron + Reimer/Scrivens to me gives you room for the kids to grow but a veteran who has been around long enough to deal with tough times, but is also a guy who probably can live with being the #2 if Reimer regains his form or Scrivens comes in and continues on with his dominant play.

But you go get Luongo and you pretty much just shut the door on thinking about being good enough to make the playoffs in net for at least 2-3 years. After that, who knows.

 

[Kin]

Maybe Burke & co. are just holding back every nickel for July 1?

That's their draft day!

 

[maplesyrup]

Maybe Burke & co. are just holding back every nickel for July 1?

That's their draft day!

Indeed! Who knows, maybe we'll find another gem like Dupuis.

 

[Kin]

Ironically, there is such a candidate in Tim Thomas. 

...if anyone needs me I'll be drinking.

 

[ZBBM]

Ironically, there is such a candidate in Tim Thomas. 

...if anyone needs me I'll be drinking.

That's just it, exactly what we don't need are more people who care about what words actually mean.  That's why God invented Twitter.

 

[ZBBM]

To me, this slightly increases the chances Luongo comes here.  The wildcard here is what Burke really really thinks about Reimer.  Does he honestly think Reimer is a starter down the road?  That he needs mentoring a la Rask?  If so, then maybe a Biron and Reimer tandem makes sense?

This is/was my preferred scenario up until the Luongo idea started to grow on me.  Biron + Reimer/Scrivens to me gives you room for the kids to grow but a veteran who has been around long enough to deal with tough times, but is also a guy who probably can live with being the #2 if Reimer regains his form or Scrivens comes in and continues on with his dominant play.

But you go get Luongo and you pretty much just shut the door on thinking about being good enough to make the playoffs in net for at least 2-3 years. After that, who knows.

Yes to the bolded.  It's all a matter of what BB thinks of Reimer/Scrivens long term.

 

[Corn Flake]

To me, this slightly increases the chances Luongo comes here.  The wildcard here is what Burke really really thinks about Reimer.  Does he honestly think Reimer is a starter down the road?  That he needs mentoring a la Rask?  If so, then maybe a Biron and Reimer tandem makes sense?

This is/was my preferred scenario up until the Luongo idea started to grow on me.  Biron + Reimer/Scrivens to me gives you room for the kids to grow but a veteran who has been around long enough to deal with tough times, but is also a guy who probably can live with being the #2 if Reimer regains his form or Scrivens comes in and continues on with his dominant play.

But you go get Luongo and you pretty much just shut the door on thinking about being good enough to make the playoffs in net for at least 2-3 years. After that, who knows.

Yes to the bolded.  It's all a matter of what BB thinks of Reimer/Scrivens long term.

I think he thinks a lot of them but for at least next year it's a matter of being willing to miss the playoffs again by going with two kids who could struggle at times and not be able to dig out, as we saw last year.  And on top of that, what a disaster season again would do to their collective confidence and the rest of the team's.

 

[Kin]

This is/was my preferred scenario up until the Luongo idea started to grow on me.  Biron + Reimer/Scrivens to me gives you room for the kids to grow but a veteran who has been around long enough to deal with tough times, but is also a guy who probably can live with being the #2 if Reimer regains his form or Scrivens comes in and continues on with his dominant play.

I think my issue with the idea of adding Biron is that I'm not entirely sure that a goaltending tandem of Biron/Reimer or Biron/Scrivens is much more likely to make the playoffs than Reimer/Scrivens would be. In both cases I think the determining factor in whether or not the team makes the playoffs is whether Reimer or Scrivens emerges as a #1. If both guys struggle and Biron is the #1 goalie I'd still say the Leafs are a longshot to make the playoffs.

Making the playoffs next year may save Burke's job but, long run, I think the team is better off with a disastrous Scrivens/Reimer tandem than a season where Biron helps them scratch out a few points and they draft 8-14.