Luongo

[Tigger]

He's been to the final like once? 

Someone posted his stats recently from that final round, they were pretty good IIRC.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

He's been to the final like once? 

Someone posted his stats recently from that final round, they were pretty good IIRC.

W-L-OTL 31-14-8 SV% .919 GAA 2.41 SO 5

That isn't exactly a bad regular season either.

 

[bustaheims]

W-L-OTL 31-14-8 SV% .919 GAA 2.41 SO 5

That isn't exactly a bad regular season either.

If the Leafs had a Sv% of .919 last season, they would have allowed 54 less goals. I've said it before and I'll say it again - the problem with Luongo is not his play, it's his contract.

 

[bustaheims]

Someone posted his stats recently from that final round, they were pretty good IIRC.

I don't know if I'd go that far. His numbers for the playoffs that year aren't bad - 15-10, 2.56, .914 - but his numbers in the Final - 3-4, 3.41, .891 - are not good at all.

 

[Redleaf]

Well Leaf fans, would you be happy with that?

Luongo is a short-term solution and a long-term anchor. If he becomes anything less than an elite goalie his contract will simply not be worth it, and it will be Komisarek all over again.

Luongo doesn't seem to handle the spotlight well. Perhaps his career would be best served by a trade to a small market team.

So cup finals, Vezina nominee and in the conn smythe talk a year ago...consistently solid numbers every year in Van....

He can't handle the spotlight?

It's a personal observation on my part, he doesn't seem to deal with the media well, and he is coming off a disappointing season. I don't think the Toronto pressure cooker will help him.

To my knowledge he has never played well in a championship final, where the pressure is highest.

If he comes here and plays well, and makes his 5 million + cap hit worth it, it would be great. I doubt that happens, particularly since he is nearing the end of his prime years.

While I'm not totally in love with the idea of attaining Luongo, I think your comments are a bit off base here.

It's a personal observation on my part, he doesn't seem to deal with the media well, and he is coming off a disappointing season.

Hmm... last thing I remember, the Canucks finished 1st overall in the league.  Did he have a bad couple of games in the playoffs?  Sure, but what goalie hasn't had bad stretches in their career?

To my knowledge he has never played well in a championship final, where the pressure is highest.

Ummm... what?  He's been to the final like once?  And oh that thing about the Olympics and gold or something or other.

Again, I'm not in love with getting him because of one reason and that is the contract.  But as an athlete and a talent, I will give him top marks.  Did he lose it mentally a bit in the finals?  Yeah, I think so, but he showed he can regain it and come back with a full season and help the team finish 1st overall in the league in the regular season.  Maybe a new team and a new culture will help him regain the playoff form.

I don't know how a goalie can be in a more pressure filled environment than when he is playing against the USA in Canada, in the NHL city where he plays, in the Olympic gold medal game, in the most-watched television broadcast ever in Canadian history, heading into OT with fans shouting.... Lou......Lou.....Lou!!

I know how... if he had a bad bowl of chili before the game. 

Yeah. That wouldn't help. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Someone posted his stats recently from that final round, they were pretty good IIRC.

I don't know if I'd go that far. His numbers for the playoffs that year aren't bad - 15-10, 2.51, .914 - but his numbers in the Final - 3-4, 3.41, .891 - are not good at all.

It was an interesting series though for him. He was fantastic in the 3 wins (2 shutouts, 2 goal allowed), but was just brutal in the 4 loses (pulled twice, allowed 8 goals in first loss).

 

[bustaheims]

It was an interesting series though for him. He was fantastic in the 3 wins (2 shutouts, 2 goal allowed), but was just brutal in the 4 loses (pulled twice, allowed 8 goals in first loss).

Yeah, but it also added a lot of weight to the whole "not a big game goalie" argument. His two worst performances came in what may have been the 2 most important games of the series - games 3 and 6.

 

[jonlleafs]

It was an interesting series though for him. He was fantastic in the 3 wins (2 shutouts, 2 goal allowed), but was just brutal in the 4 loses (pulled twice, allowed 8 goals in first loss).

Yeah, but it also added a lot of weight to the whole "not a big game goalie" argument. His two worst performances came in what may have been the 2 most important games of the series - games 3 and 6.

Sure, but the team didn't play well either.  They went from possibly sweeping the Bruins to clamming up like a shell.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

It was an interesting series though for him. He was fantastic in the 3 wins (2 shutouts, 2 goal allowed), but was just brutal in the 4 loses (pulled twice, allowed 8 goals in first loss).

Yeah, but it also added a lot of weight to the whole "not a big game goalie" argument. His two worst performances came in what may have been the 2 most important games of the series - games 3 and 6.

I think you could just as easily say that his two best performances were in arguably the two most important games of the series (getting the 1st win in game 1 and rebounding in game 5 to re-take the series lead).

With that said, I think in this instance we're both a little guilty of twisting the stats to our advantage. If anything, game 7 was the most important game of that series and his performance there wasn't his best or his worst.

As for the big-game goalie theory, Luongo is 3-0 for Team Canada in goal-medal games. I think that has to count for something in that regard.

 

[bustaheims]

As for the big-game goalie theory, Luongo is 3-0 for Team Canada in goal-medal games. I think that has to count for something in that regard.

3-1 - he lost in the gold medal game at his 2nd WJHC. And, I think those of us that watched the gold medal Olympic game would all agree that Luongo was only good enough in that game, not "big game goalie" dominant. At best, Luongo's a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to big games.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

As for the big-game goalie theory, Luongo is 3-0 for Team Canada in goal-medal games. I think that has to count for something in that regard.

3-1 - he lost in the gold medal game at his 2nd WJHC. And, I think those of us that watched the gold medal Olympic game would all agree that Luongo was only good enough in that game, not "big game goalie" dominant. At best, Luongo's a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to big games.

Sorry, I meant to clarify I was talking about senior tournaments. I'll agree with that last sentence though, but I think this whole "big game goalie" thing is being completely over-blown. How many "big game goalies" are there really in the NHL? It seems like it's only one a season, the goalie who wins the Stanley Cup. And even that's only been true for the past two seasons.

Prior to this season, Lundvqvist, Rinne, and Price all haven't been able to get their teams into the 3rd round of the playoffs. All 3 are top-10 goalies in the NHL, and 2 of them are arguably the best. Lundqvist broke that streak this season but gave up 10 goals in the last 3 games of the Conference finals (all loses).

 

[jdh1]

If Thomas could be pryed out of Boston ...he's the reason Bruins won the cup last year..played way better than Lu..if we can't go with Reimer/ Scrivens ..must get Thomas..he's got tons of confidence...just what the Leafs need.

 

[bustaheims]

If Thomas could be pryed out of Boston ...he's the reason Bruins won the cup last year..played way better than Lu..if we can't go with Reimer/ Scrivens ..must get Thomas..he's got tons of confidence...just what the Leafs need.

He also all but announced his retirement a couple weeks ago.

 

[Tigger]

Someone posted his stats recently from that final round, they were pretty good IIRC.

I don't know if I'd go that far. His numbers for the playoffs that year aren't bad - 15-10, 2.56, .914 - but his numbers in the Final - 3-4, 3.41, .891 - are not good at all.

Yeah, those aren't great but not the ones I was thinking of. It was more the two shutouts and 2 goals allowed in 3 games but the other side of that is kind of ugly.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Nick Kypreos ‏@RealKyper

#Canucks telling few #NHL interested teams they have multi offers on Luongo. Gillis still looking for a hockey trade rather than dump salary

 

[bustaheims]

Nick Kypreos ‏@RealKyper

#Canucks telling few #NHL interested teams they have multi offers on Luongo. Gillis still looking for a hockey trade rather than dump salary

Oh, I'm sure they have a number of offers. I'm equally sure they're based around cap dumps and mid-range value assets and/or from teams Luongo won't waive his NTC for.

 

[princedpw]

As for the big-game goalie theory, Luongo is 3-0 for Team Canada in goal-medal games. I think that has to count for something in that regard.

3-1 - he lost in the gold medal game at his 2nd WJHC. And, I think those of us that watched the gold medal Olympic game would all agree that Luongo was only good enough in that game, not "big game goalie" dominant. At best, Luongo's a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to big games.

Sorry, I meant to clarify I was talking about senior tournaments. I'll agree with that last sentence though, but I think this whole "big game goalie" thing is being completely over-blown. How many "big game goalies" are there really in the NHL? It seems like it's only one a season, the goalie who wins the Stanley Cup. And even that's only been true for the past two seasons.

Prior to this season, Lundvqvist, Rinne, and Price all haven't been able to get their teams into the 3rd round of the playoffs. All 3 are top-10 goalies in the NHL, and 2 of them are arguably the best. Lundqvist broke that streak this season but gave up 10 goals in the last 3 games of the Conference finals (all loses).

+1

I'm not a fan of even considering Lou until after I see the new CBA contract rules ... But it isn't a good idea to evaluate a goalie on just a handful of games played in a single series or even two or three.  There just isn't enough data to be able predict with any certainty how that goalie will perform going forward.  It just doesn't matter what Lou's cup finals save percentage is -- there isn't enough info there to tell you reliably what will happen the next time he gets there.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Nick Kypreos ‏@RealKyper

#Canucks telling few #NHL interested teams they have multi offers on Luongo. Gillis still looking for a hockey trade rather than dump salary

Oh, I'm sure they have a number of offers. I'm equally sure they're based around cap dumps and mid-range value assets and/or from teams Luongo won't waive his NTC for.

I agree, this is the " I have lots of interest, so if you want him, bring your best offer" stuff, because at this point, there is nothing that he'll accept. I'm sure there are a few GM's out their laughing.

 

[Corn Flake]

Nick Kypreos ‏@RealKyper

#Canucks telling few #NHL interested teams they have multi offers on Luongo. Gillis still looking for a hockey trade rather than dump salary

Oh, I'm sure they have a number of offers. I'm equally sure they're based around cap dumps and mid-range value assets and/or from teams Luongo won't waive his NTC for.

I agree, this is the " I have lots of interest, so if you want him, bring your best offer" stuff, because at this point, there is nothing that he'll accept. I'm sure there are a few GM's out their laughing.

Gillis probably has two offers from NYI on his desk, both inclue DiPietro and 6 cases of Mamwich.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Gillis probably has two offers from NYI on his desk, both inclue DiPietro and 6 cases of Mamwich.

Exactly...