Hampreacher
New member
Problem is offense. Was Mediocre with Lupal at best now it is weak. Need that # 1 center.
Luongo
- Thread starter slapshot
- Start date
Not sure if this was brought up already, but everything else aside, I'm impressed with how professional Luongo has been through this whole ordeal. It's an absolute crime this guy is wasting away in a back-up role right now, but he's handling it very well and not letting it become any more of a distraction to the team than it was inevitably going to be anyway.
mjmgrand said:
While he arrived in Vancouver with a healthy ego, he has yes toned it down. I strongly suspect though that it's due more to the fact that he has some $40 mil+ and 10 years left on a guaranteed contract. Yes he wants to play but it's real easy to be patient - plus he has control over where he goes too. He's not exiled in Siberia either. He has all the cards right now and he's happy.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
I never got the impression he ever had a big ego.
hockeyfan1
New member
Bender said:Significantly Insignificant said:
He's Italian
+1
Do you honestly think that this is about a 26 year old vs a 33 year old? Let's remember what we are consistently being told; Roberto Luongo is one of, if not the greatest goalie in hockey today. Bobby Lu is still in his prime and has shown exactly no signs of decline. He has always lacked confidence, mental toughness and the ability to thrive when the pressure is on and his team needs him most.Zee said:
The Canucks are not in a rebuilding mode, they are President's trophy winners the last two years and have to be considered one of the top contenders to win the Stanley Cup. They would rather run with a very much unproven AHL goalie. What does that tell you? They apparently have no use for one of the best goalies in the world, while they make a run at the Cup. Let's also keep in mind that this is their franchise player, team leader, fan favourite and the guy they have built their entire team around.
If we were talking about Brodeur, would the Devils be looking to move him at 33, just in time for a run at the Cup, to instead go with a guy who has Schneider's resume? (ie has never been a starter in the NHL and has limited experience as a backup).
Champ Kind
New member
darcy16 said:
Welcome to the Board, Darcy.
I'm not sure what you're getting at with your post.
Highlander
Active member
with Riemers good play I think we can put the Luongo thing to rest. What we are giving up Frattin or Gardner, picks for that... and the huge lumbering contract...lets get through this year and I believe we will see a battle for starter between Rynass and Reimer next year.
Champ Kind said:
If both goalies are the same skill level, in an ideal situation, you'd naturally keep the younger one.
BUT the Sedins are 32. Kesler is wearing down. Gillis was brought in to have this team participate in a parade. The window for winning with the Sedins as your key players and this group is closing.
GMs of contending teams trade picks, prospects and young players all the time at the deadline trying to get that missing piece that will take them over the top.
It's debatable that Luongo can return much in a trade because of his contract. But Schneider, because goaltending is the position of most impact, could bring a bunch of talent back in a trade. If the two goalies are really as close as Gillis maintains they are in their ability to play the position, Schneider could bring back the pieces the Canucks need to take them over the top during what is left of the window of opportunity with the Sedins - a heck of a lot better than Luongo in my opinion.
That reasoning starts to fall apart to some degree if Schneider is better than Luongo. And the extent it falls apart depends on how much better Schneider is than Luongo and how they think that will develop in the next couple of years.
If you're in Gillis' boots a number years down the road and he hasn't won a Cup with this group, and that was the primary mandate when he was brought in to manage such a talented roster, I don't like his chances of surviving if they fall short. He needs to win fairly soon to keep his job.
Gillis maintains Luongo is a very good asset - closely comparable to Schneider. He has to as he's trying to trade Luongo. But the fact moving Schneider isn't a consideration makes me wonder about how sincere Gillis is about Luongo's ability relative to Schneider. Because if they want to win soon and Luongo is as good as Gillis makes him out to be, the assets Schneider could return in a trade could put them over the top.
Champ Kind
New member
cw said:
I agree with you, CW. Darcy's argument wasn't as clear in that it seemed to suggest there was something else at play (actually, I unclear at what was being suggested). I think it's clear Gillis' has assessed Luongo to be a lesser goalie than Schneider, hence the 'need' to move him.
As well, it would come as zero surprise to me if we found out that the GMs calling Gillis having been making a similar pitch. Think of what Schneider could do to help a small market team that's rebuilding = money in the bank. But there's no way small market teams could take on Luongo's deal because the folks financing those teams would freak out at the $45 mil financial risk on a nearly 34 year old goalie.
OldTimeHockey
Active member
If Reimer returns to form and is able to play well into the spring, do the Leafs still make a push for a goalie come UFA time?
Would there be an interest in Backstrom?
Would there be an interest in Backstrom?
