Canucks clear cluttered crease, but did they get enough for Cory Schneider?

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      The fact the Canucks dealt Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils wasn’t a huge surprise. It was obvious to everyone in the hockey world that Roberto Luongo’s hefty contract was proving to be problematic to move. And with an ownership group that clearly didn’t like the idea of writing a massive cheque to buy out the remaining nine years on Luongo’s 12-year, $64-million deal, the Canucks were forced into Plan B: dealing Schneider to get something in return for one of their netminders.

      But the return for Schneider was underwhelming at best. Perhaps years from now, forward Bo Horvat will develop into a cornerstone of the Canucks franchise. But it just seems that a 27-year-old goalie—seemingly on the verge of stardom in the NHL—should have been able to fetch more than simply the ninth overall pick in the draft.

      Could the Canucks not have leveraged more out of Philadelphia, a team always looking for stability in goal? There was talk that Edmonton had offered a more attractive package in exchange for Schneider and that the Canucks balked at the idea of having to face their former teammate up to six times a year as a divisional rival.

      A week ago, the Los Angeles Kings received goalie Ben Scrivens, forward Matt Frattin, and a 2nd round selection from Toronto in exchange for young goalie Jonathan Bernier, who doesn’t have nearly the resumé of Schneider at the NHL level. Using that as a barometer, it seems the Canucks should have been able to land the pick they did and a warm body or two for a player of Schneider’s calibre.

      With John Tortorella recently installed as the team’s new head coach, the Canucks still feel their core group is capable of challenging for the Stanley Cup right now. However, Horvat is unlikely to help the team right away. This group needed a player who could step into the lineup and contribute now and for years to come.

      The best news for the organization is that it has settled its crease conundrum and alleviated some of the drama that has dogged the club for 15 months since Schneider took Luongo’s starting job in the 2011 playoffs. Like it or not, the Canucks will move forward with the 34-year-old Luongo and will have to find a backup to take Schneider’s spot on the roster. Now it’s up to Luongo to put the past year behind him, continue collecting those massive paycheques, and return to the job he once held as the undisputed starting goalie with the Canucks.

      Jeff Paterson is a talk-show host on Vancouver’s all-sports radio Team 1040. Follow him on Twitter at @patersonjeff.

      Comments

      19 Comments

      Jay

      Jun 30, 2013 at 11:31pm

      Not happy about the trade. Bo is good but the team needed someone who could help now. Sometime ago Gillis said that he wasn't a dummy...but actions over the last couple of years hasn't impressed anyone. Terrible GM

      dip

      Jun 30, 2013 at 11:59pm

      Gillis has clearly 'made a deal with the devil' . The 'goalie controversy ' is now apparently over in Vancouver, but the Aqulini-Gillis partnership continues to concern, to say the very least. This works out very well for Corey and for New Jersey. Vancouver? Not so much.

      kegler

      Jul 1, 2013 at 6:41am

      Fact is that Gillis didn't want to deal within the division. And was desparate to open salary cap room space. In short, he wasn't dealing from a strong position. Everyone at the draft knew this, and thus the best deal available was the 9th overall pick. It opens up some salary cap space that Gillis can look at the free agent market now and be a bit of a player where prior to the trade there was no room there. Edler is still on the block. Had the thinking been use Schneider instead of Luongo around the trading deadline the price paid would have been higher. Everyone puts it on Gillis with regards to Luongo. Fact is ownership had a huge hand in the deal, as evidenced by Aquilini being at Lui's house 2 mins before the trade was announced. Lui is a very good goalie, who probably needs some therapy. I will say that the organization mishandled the entire goalie situation from day 1. But when you're bargaining from a weak position, you don't have much leverage to deal with. Everyone knew that the compliance buyout on Luongo was off the table (no assets in return), that waiving Luongo wasn't an option (no assets in return). So when Schneider was offered up and the price set high within the division, neither Calgary nor Edmonton were willing to pay. And the Canucks weren't willing to deal within the division. So that left the only deal that there was and Gillis took it.

      Btw Canuck Nation....

      Jul 1, 2013 at 9:29am

      ...ticket, beer, food, and parking prices are going up.

      Ah, the bitter pleasure of over-priced mediocre entertainment.

      Dave Harper

      Jul 1, 2013 at 9:54am

      It is hard to come out on top when you must trade someone and the other party is only interested if it works for him. It had to be done. No one wants Luongo and his contract.

      DavidH

      Jul 1, 2013 at 11:19am

      According to another Straight article: "Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo has told TSN host James Duthie that he has to "figure out what I'm going to do" in the wake of the trade of Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils."

      Interesting, eh? Wouldn't it be amusing if Luongo had already decided to get out of Vancouver, still wants out of Vancouver, and will do whatever it takes to get out of Vancouver? He goes from highly expendable to our ace starter ... and he's expected to take that in good spirits?

      So, lemme see: We fire one of the best coaches in the game; then we trade "Schneids", touted as the future of the Canucks; then we surprise and insult "Lou", who Gillis regarded as the gold-standard of goalies.

      And our gain is a 9th round junior prospect and a coach who has a mediocre resume and a mouth as big as Don Cherry?

      And we keep Gillis?

      Hello??

      Cup Dream Down

      Jul 1, 2013 at 1:35pm

      What a waste...what a shocker.

      Gillis acquires yet another no-namer. There was some talk that the team salary cap was a big factor. SALARY CAP?? Really? They're hitting the cap with a collection of such weak-willed players that couldn't win a single game against the Sharks?

      Something is definitely wrong with the GM and Gillis has to go.

      DavidH

      Jul 1, 2013 at 2:07pm

      @ Kegler -- I don't know if you gamble much, but if you do, can we play poker sometime? Thanks! :)

      Not a decent gambler in the world would ever, ever, ever play a hand like Gillis did. He is not only a complete amateur, but he's as dumb as a post (like his boss).

      Gillis has clearly ruined the Canucks for goaltending. Schneider is gone (lucky him) and Luongo will fill in for a while until he can get the hell outta Dodge ASAP. From two stars to zero stars.

      Worse, there is no player on the Canucks who can trust Gillis now. Every player on the team is highly vulnerable. Any GM who can pull a 180 for no reason can't be trusted.

      V12

      Jul 1, 2013 at 7:26pm

      Who cares! I think the hot humid weather is more entertaining than the Canucks!

      Most of us are in summer mode right now so it's all tennis & beach volleyball for the next two months!

      R2

      Jul 2, 2013 at 9:08am

      The Canucks situation reminds me of a Fun Boy 3 song from the 80's, 'The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Assylum'