bustaheims
Active member
hockeyfan1 said:
If we're just looking at next season, probably Thomas (if he hadn't, for all intents and purposes, retired). If we're looking a little longer term (say, 4 years or so), probably Luongo.
Luongo
- Thread starter slapshot
- Start date
If we're just looking at next season, probably Thomas (if he hadn't, for all intents and purposes, retired). If we're looking a little longer term (say, 4 years or so), probably Luongo.
Contract offer not out of the question for Canucks' Cory Schneider
The thing is, all indications at the moment are that the two teams most in need of a goaltender ? the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs ? are not particularly interested in taking on Luongo?s contract.
With Vokoun now out of the mix after being pursued by seven or eight teams over the last week, that leaves an unrestricted free agent class that is positively skeletal in terms of established veterans.
Mostly the options there are backup types: Dwayne Roloson, Chris Mason, Dan Ellis, Johan Hedberg, Scott Clemmensen, Jonas Gustavsson, Martin Biron, Josh Harding, etc.
What?s curious is that neither the Lightning or Leafs were particularly desperate to land Vokoun; their interest was believed to be relatively mild despite his track record and the modest $2-million a season on the two-year term he was looking for.
I think the bolded sentence is reassuring if true.
It's a speculative piece talking about offer sheets. I have significant doubts that will lead to anything but I'm sure the media will talk it up.
The thing is, all indications at the moment are that the two teams most in need of a goaltender ? the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs ? are not particularly interested in taking on Luongo?s contract.
With Vokoun now out of the mix after being pursued by seven or eight teams over the last week, that leaves an unrestricted free agent class that is positively skeletal in terms of established veterans.
Mostly the options there are backup types: Dwayne Roloson, Chris Mason, Dan Ellis, Johan Hedberg, Scott Clemmensen, Jonas Gustavsson, Martin Biron, Josh Harding, etc.
What?s curious is that neither the Lightning or Leafs were particularly desperate to land Vokoun; their interest was believed to be relatively mild despite his track record and the modest $2-million a season on the two-year term he was looking for.
I think the bolded sentence is reassuring if true.
It's a speculative piece talking about offer sheets. I have significant doubts that will lead to anything but I'm sure the media will talk it up.
maplesyrup
New member
Curious - Does the threat of a huge offer sheet on Schneider from Tampa or Toronto put Yzerman and Burke in a favorable position in trade discussions for Luongo?
Sarge said:
Not if the Canucks go ahead and sign Schneider.
I'm not sure Luongo's contract is all that tradeable. I wonder if the Canucks could improve themselves more by signing a UFA goalie like Harding/Biron/a proven NHL backup and peddling Schneider for a top flight young player or two that would also cure some cap issues.
I think the Canucks have some options though I'm sure they'd love to dump Luongo's contract. It wouldn't surprise me if they're having trouble finding a sucker to take it on.
bustaheims
Active member
Sarge said:
Hard to say. Gillis has to know going into all of this that dealing with Schneider needs to be priority #1. The issue might be that Schneider wants the situation resolved re: Luongo before he commits to anything, in which case, Gillis is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Corn Flake
New member
cw said:
The timing could make it really tricky though. If they sign Schneider before trading Luongo I don't think that helps their situation. Gillis' one bargaining stance... his flimsy attempt at making it sound like he might keep Luongo... would be done and gone, leaving him with probably $10-12 mil in cap hit for two goalies and maybe two teams out there who want them. If those two teams make other plans... say go get Bernier or Lindback.. then what is he left with?
If Gillis is using his head I almost guarantee he gets the Schneider deal legwork done in advance but trades Luongo before the contract extension is signed.
Now if he can't trade Luongo? He may have to let Schneider walk.
Etiam Vultus
New member
cw said:
Do the Canucks even need to sign a UFA as a backup if they keep Luongo? I was reading that they were going to go with Lack as their backup to Schneider; why not have him back up Luongo?
bustaheims
Active member
Corn Flake said:
He pretty much has to know the Schneider is going to commit to the Nyucks long-term before dealing Luongo, or he could very easily be left with neither of them after next season, and he can't risk Schneider signing a 1 year offer sheet, because that also destroys his bargaining position. Gillis is in a very tough situation, and it's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
bustaheims said:
If Schneider is a problem, just say "I hope you like Columbus or the Islanders" and move him. I don't see that as a terrible option for a contender like the Canucks. They'll be set in goal and will very likely get something young that can help them now.
LeafsInSeven
New member
Vancouver should have little problem dealing Luongo so long as they aren't under the false assumption that they'll get good assets in return.
All the worry over what's going to happen if the Leafs get Luongo and then if four years time he starts to suck, what's the alternative, another four years of terrible goaltending in the meantime? Not sure I can get passionate about an upcoming season featuring Biron or Clemmensen as the best option between the pipes.
Luongo's availability is Cujo becoming available, it's Belfour becoming available. I'm not expecting the Leafs to land Luongo, simply because it makes too much sense for a team desperate for goaltending to do so, but man, I'd be pumped if they did.
Luongo's availability is Cujo becoming available, it's Belfour becoming available. I'm not expecting the Leafs to land Luongo, simply because it makes too much sense for a team desperate for goaltending to do so, but man, I'd be pumped if they did.
bustaheims
Active member
Bonsixx said:
There are a few extremely significant differences between Cujo/Belfour and Luongo - neither Cujo nor Belfour came with any talent cost, under a salary cap or with a 10 year contract. Sure, adding Luongo is an improvement in the short-term, but, what if, 5 years from now, like many other 38 year old goalies, he's on the verge of being done and the new CBA removes the possibility of getting him off the cap by sending him to the AHL (a very real possibility for players over 35 - it's one of the ways the league will look at to discourage these retirement style contracts)? Suddenly, there's more than $5M in cap for another 5 seasons committed to a goalie that can't hack it anymore. In terms of long-term planning, Luongo comes with way too many risks - which is exactly why so many of us (and, if the latest reports are to be believe, those in charge of the Leafs) are so hesitant about trading anything of value for him.
bustaheims said:
Yep, there are certainly risks involved. Then again, the Leafs might be able to bury/buy out that contract just as easily then as they could now.
I'm just saying, eight years is enough for me. I want a real goalie on the team, I want to enjoy the now and not worry about what's going to happen in five years.
bustaheims
Active member
Bonsixx said:
Well, that's your luxury as a fan. Those that run the team, however, have to worry about what might happen in 5 years. That's part of their job, and some of us like to look at things that way as well.
bustaheims said:
I'll eat my hat if a rule like that goes in and it's not grandfathered.
Deebo said:
Good luck getting Donald Fehr to go along with that one. I think the only thing the NHL might be able to do is fiddle with the Kovalchuk rule, which I think actually already does a pretty good job of discouraging these retirement deals. The NHL was just late in implementing it.
bustaheims said:
I'm not advocating ignoring the future, trading away draft picks, etc... I'm just saying, five years of great Luongo goaltending would be worth the risk to me, at this point, of what happens after that when he _might_ be washed up and his contract _might_ be an issue.
Seems like there are at least a few other teams that don't fret too much about that sort of thing (ie. the Devils with Kovalchuk's contract and the Kings taking on the Carter/Richards never-ending deals) that do pretty well.
Hell, just do what Philly does, and once a player signed to a ridiculous deal is nearing the end, stick them on long-term IR and let them live with Mike Rathje on that island they shipped him off to.