Luongo will Waive NTC If Asked To

[Farhan Lalji]

Farhan,

I was curious after reading through this thread what your opinion is on trading of Luongo and whether you feel a player, say like Lecavalier, might be a good fit on the Canucks? Do you think he is what the Canucks need? Do you think we could make the cap work?

Haven't heard from you in a while so I am just curious.

Thanks

Hey Hockey Widow,

My mind keeps changing back and forth, lol. My biggest concern with moving Luongo is the following:

1) With Thomas and Kipper also on the market (rumored), it might make it more difficult to get the type of return that we want with Luongo.

2) At this point in time of the Canucks' "window" (i.e. I believe we have 1 more year tops to win the cup......maybe 2), I am not a fan of simply trading Luongo for prospects/draft picks.....and then risk not doing anything with our freed up cap space. At this point in time, I truly feel that we need to do what Anaheim did in the summer of 2006 (added Pronger) or what Chicago did in 2009 (added Hossa). I would rather see the Canucks attempt to be like the Chicago Blackhawks rather than risk being like the San Jose Sharks.

3) Originally - my idea was to move Corey Schneider (as of yesterday) because I felt that the Canucks would be able to get much more in return for Corey than they would Luongo (I still feel that way)......but I'm starting to change my mind on this. Getting a guy like Rick Nash would be sweet, but the idea of packaging Edler along with Schneider does seem a bit too risky (in terms of having a quick ability to replace that depth on the back-end)....and so I'm having second thoughts on that.

And that's where I come back to Luongo.

Obviously - I don't like the idea of taking on a stinky contract in return for Luongo.........but I dislike the idea of trading Luongo for a prospect/draft pick even more.........because it doesn't help us NOW......during our very small window.......when we should be going "balls out" to get the cup.

This is why my current stance, is that we trade Luongo for a stinky contract in return (i.e. Lecavlier, Phaneuf) for the simple fact that we'd essentially be adding a pretty damned good player regardless, and would essentially be giving up NOTHING since Schneider has already taken the reigns as our #1 goalie.

Having Luongo and Raymond off the books, essentially puts us in the exact same cap situation even if we DID add an absolutely shitty contract like Lecavlier or even Phaneuf. However - it makes our team better NOW as opposed to 18-24 months from now......when our window might be closed.

Anyway - that was my thought on that. I know it's an extremely "unorthodox" and different opinion.......maybe even very misguided.......but it is my opinion.

The only way I support the Canucks trading Luongo for a prospect/draft pick, is if we IMMEDIATELY use that cap space to sign an extremely prominent player (Zack Parise). If this doesn't happen, then I'm afraid that the Canucks will just end up following a similar path to the San Jose Sharks.

[Farhan Lalji]

Vinny is not going to expedite anything. I think you might have missed my point. Schroeder and Kassian make less than Mason and Manny for a reason. They aren't proven, nor have the skill set and/or experience the previous have.

Replacing those two will cost more than just slotting in Schroeder and keeping Lappy. Nevemind resigning Pahlsson.

I don't think I missed your point.

The point I was trying to make was that Malhottra and Raymond are spare parts (Malhottra is if we can sign Pahlsson). We only need to re-sign one of Pahlsson or Manny. Raymond isn't needed on the top 6 since both Higgins and Booth are better options. Raymond also isn't needed on the bottom 6 since we have guys down there that can play with more grit.

Having Raymond for more depth would be nice but I don't think signing him would be an absolute must.

Kassian, if he gets his butt into shape, could be a significantly better player next year. After all, that's why Gillis got him right?
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Anyway - I have said my piece. My opinions are quite different than most I'm sure, but it's how I feel. Our window to win is "now", and adding prospects/draft picks in a hypothetical Luongo deal does absolutely nothing to address that (unless there's an extremely large guarantee that Gillis will immediately use that freed up cap space to immediately sign a player like Zack Parise right away......which I highly doubt would happen). Luongo for Lecavlier or Luongo for Phaneuf are our two best options in my (misguided?) opinion.

[CFP!]

Luongo for Phaneuf are our two best options in my (misguided?) opinion.

Farhan, You cant end a post where I *almost* saw where you were going with this gem. *

[Farhan Lalji]

Luongo for Phaneuf are our two best options in my (misguided?) opinion.

Farhan, You cant end a post where I *almost* saw where you were going with this gem. *

.

p.s.____________If we're thinking Florida, then Brian Campbell is another guy I'd pick.

I'd prefer a forward over a defenseman, but I'd prefer a defenseman than some guy that "might" pan out 18-24 months around the same time that our current core "might" decline simultaneously.

Remember back during the 05/06 season when it became obvious that the Sedin twins had taken their game to another level.........and at the same time, it became obvious that the WCE were no longer the players that they once were?

That is my biggest fear, and that is my biggest fear with this group. I believe that this current core might be at the same juncture that our previous core was in back in 2004 after they were eliminated by the Calgary Flames.

Now obviously - we don't know how THAT team would have done in 2004/05 since there was no season, but I just don't want us to get a bunch of gay prospects and picks that pan out 18 months from now, while our current core goes into decline at that time. It's risky, and it's ultimately a zero sum game.

Ok - I'm done. I'm sure a lot of you will be relieved to hear this.

[Strangelove]

Farhan you are misguided.

Canucks wouldn't hafta give up Schneids AND Edler for Nash.

I would personally do wotever is necesary to keep Lecavlier or Phaneuf from ever playing a game in a Canuck jersey.

All options are on the table.

Hey how bout this.... Luongo+ for Nash!

Remember goaltending coach Ian Clark, who Lou insisted be hired by Canucks?

Well he's in Columbus now!!

As a matter of fact, last I heard Lou retains Clark as his personal summer trainer.

Lou would have messiah status coming into Columbus to save them!

Plus it is only 962.7 miles from Columbus to Lou's house in Florida.

THINK ABOUT IT.

[Farhan Lalji]

Farhan you are misguided.

Canucks wouldn't hafta give up Schneids AND Edler for Nash.

I would personally do wotever is necesary to keep Lecavlier or Phaneuf from ever playing a game in a Canuck jersey.

All options are on the table.

Hey how bout this.... Luongo+ for Nash!

That would be great obviously if we could do that (Lou for Nash), but would CBJ really go for that? I can't see them doing it, but maybe I've been listening to 960 "The Fan" way too long (i.e. Alberta's version of Team 1040).

According to "the fan", a Luongo trade will be slightly above the level of "salary dump"......where we get one "Zack Kassian like" prospect in return.

[Strangelove]

You are being misguided by 960 "The Fan".

And I said Luongo+.

Let me be your guide.

[Farhan Lalji]

You are being misguided by 960 "The Fan".

And I said Luongo+.

Let me be your guide.

Ahhhh......I missed the '+'. I've been in front of the computer a little too much these past few days (writing up reports for work while making shitty ideas on here ) and so my eyes are giving out on me I guess, lol.

Any ideas as to what the '+' would entail?

p.s.___________The last time I let you be my guide in the summer of 2004, the Sick Bunny developed a cyber-crush/obsession for me and was on my nuts for the better part of 2 and a half years, haha.

[Strangelove]

Any ideas as to what the '+' would entail?

Unknown. I'd start with the usual suspects: Ballard & Raymond.

p.s.___________The last time I let you be my guide in the summer of 2004, the Sick Bunny developed a cyber-crush/obsession for me and was on my nuts for the better part of 2 and a half years, haha.

Your nuts eh, not surprised.

Most guys hafta lose a bet before they'll go by the handle "Sick Bunny".

But hey, live and let live eh wot?

[Farhan Lalji]

Any ideas as to what the '+' would entail?

Unknown. I'd start with the usual suspects: Ballard & Raymond.

p.s.___________The last time I let you be my guide in the summer of 2004, the Sick Bunny developed a cyber-crush/obsession for me and was on my nuts for the better part of 2 and a half years, haha.

Your nuts eh, not surprised.

Most guys hafta lose a bet before they'll go by the handle "Sick Bunny".

But hey, live and let live eh wot?

Isn't Raymond a UFA this summer?

p.s.________________Think the Bunny will ever make a post on the hockey talk forum?

[Strangelove]

Why do I keep getting this feeling that Luke Schenn would be one of the pieces coming back IF Lou is traded there?

Luongo + 30th overall... FOR... Schenn + 5th overall.

[Strangelove]

Isn't Raymond a UFA this summer?

p.s.________________Think the Bunny will ever make a post on the hockey talk forum?

Nah, he's an RFA (but we could let him walk).

SB actually did put a one-sentence post up in this forum after you & I called him on it (yet again) recently.

[Hockey Widow]

Why do I keep getting this feeling that Luke Schenn would be one of the pieces coming back IF Lou is traded there?

Luongo + 30th overall... FOR... Schenn + 5th overall.

Throw in Ashton Carter and you have a deal, to make it fair we'll throw in Raymond, but wait he is a roster player so we want a 2nd as well, but then Toronto will want...

[Strangelove]

.... actually I like this pundit's idea even better:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1165 ... his-summer

Projected Deal (plus Raymond): first-round pick (No. 5, 2012), D Luke Schenn, F Nikolai Kulemin.

Verdict: The Toronto Maple Leafs desperately need (insert word: must) to win next season. The goal is to to make the Eastern Conference playoff for the first time since the last Collective Bargaining Agreement came to existence.

It has been seven years since the Leafs made it, and the team must give the fans some glimmer of hope in 2013. Therefore, the move to acquire a definitive No. 1 work-horse goaltender in the offseason is a major step forward.

If they can also persuade Mike Gillis to send Mason Raymond to Toronto, the Leafs will have enough depth offensively next season to win some games with Luongo.

Luongo + Raymond.... FOR.... 5th overall + Schenn + Kulemin

(then we let Kulemin walk)

[Farhan Lalji]

[

SB actually did put a one-sentence post up in this forum after you & I called him on it (yet again) recently.

Probably out of insecurity of having his hockey talk contribution status read 0.00%. I guess 0.01% is a little better.