Is keeping Schneider and trading Luongo the best approach for the Canucks?

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      This week, the Canucks resigned their backup goaltender, Cory Schneider, to a three-year, $12-million deal.

      As the rumours continue to swirl about the likely trade destination of Roberto Loungo, there’s one question worth pondering: is keeping Schneider and trading Luongo the best solution to the current goaltending problem in Vancouver?

      Certainly, Schneider is younger and cheaper (new contract included); however, it’s worth noting that Schneider has yet to play more than 30 games in a season for the Canucks.

      Yes, Schneider stole the starting duties away from Loungo in the playoffs last year, but really, the Canucks were no match for the Kings. They went on to win their first Stanley cup in franchise history, after steamrolling over the Canucks in the first round.

      On the other hand, if the Canucks decide to keep Loungo, they know what they get from the goalie each year: solid netminding throughout the regular season, but historically, shaky playoff performances.

      Of course, some fans and local sports pundits argue this is reason enough to trade the franchise’s all-time best goaltender. Still, Schneider has yet to feel the full wrath of the media and fickle fan base of Vancouver.

      It's one thing to be in the spotlight for a limited time as a backup goaltender, it’s another to feel the pressure night after night as the starting goalie, especially when the team doesn’t meet high expectations, year after year.

      So, as we draw closer to the free agent frenzy of July 1, the rumours continue to mount that Loungo’s most likely suitors are Toronto or Florida. In the meantime, the hockey fans of Vancouver wait to see how the Loungo saga unfolds.

      If the Canucks are successful in trading Loungo and what remains of his massive 12-year contract, one hopes it’s for the greater good of the team, and not just a salary dump. However, with Schneider’s new contract, it seems it’s not a matter of if they trade Loungo, but when.

      Comments

      12 Comments

      Pat

      Jun 30, 2012 at 9:30pm

      Is keeping Schneider the best approach?

      Yes.

      I'll say it again. Yes.

      Time will show that Schneider will become one of the league's stars.

      And that Vancouver management was prescient enough to move Luongo while it was still possible.

      Even if the Luongo mega-contract didn't exist and both goalies were free agents, other teams in the league would be more interested in acquiring Schneider.

      Roberto is a great guy, but this move makes sense.

      Jay Jones

      Jul 1, 2012 at 9:25am

      Of course, if winning the Cup anytime soon is in fact of interest to them.

      R2

      Jul 1, 2012 at 9:36am

      Fire the whole lot of underachievin aholes!

      Or maybe

      Jul 1, 2012 at 10:07am

      Who cares? Do I lose money if Luongo gets sent away? Do I care if Schneider develops into an allstar?

      What a fucking corny soap opera. These guys just play hockey. I don't know them. They're not local guys. They're corporate mercenaries.

      Here's an idea. Having been born and raised in Vancouver, I have a request for Mr.Aquilini: Could Surrey just take the fucking Canucks already?

      The Surrey Canucks, has a nice ring to it. Actually, it really does...

      No More

      Jul 1, 2012 at 10:15am

      Sell the whole damn team to Seattle and turn the arena into a public curling rink.

      Mark Alfred

      Jul 1, 2012 at 9:26pm

      The hockey gods are watching and karma applies to hockey too, treat Luongo badly, and see your Stanley Cup dreams dashed against the rocky shores. Beware!...This goalie has done nothing wrong and competes every night, which is what this so called "fat paycheck" was designed to compensate hime for. If Canuck fans received as much sweat and integrity from some of their other leaders they may have beat the Knigs more than once.

      Rain

      Jul 2, 2012 at 3:39pm

      The Loungo drama needs a theme song. How about "The Final Countdown"

      Andy R

      Jul 2, 2012 at 6:01pm

      This is getting too much attention. Wake me up when something happens.

      Jon Cranny

      Jul 3, 2012 at 2:26pm

      I think they should keep the tandem and wait one more year to shop Luo around. Both are good goaltenders and using them properly throughout the year and (hopefully) the playoffs will payoff like it did for Boston and Chicago. Losing Luongo means that if Schneider gets injured or needs a rest his back up would probably be Eddie Lack who has no NHL experience. To me, that is riskier than not having a good goaltender like Luongo. We have a good core and good defense so what we should be more concerned about is some more secondary scoring.

      ursa minor

      Jul 4, 2012 at 10:02am

      Mark Alfred has in right in a lot of a ways. Followers of Billy Beane's "Moneyball" will tell you that a General Manager can only influence any team as far as the regular season, the post-season playoffs are a crapshoot. Luongo is actually playing up to his contract by helping to establish the Canucks as a contender, but it doesn't dismiss the fact that he was psychologically broken by his catastrophic failures at the United Center and Boston Garden during the post-season.