Luongo

[bustaheims]

With all this talk about "multiple offers," I thought we should probably take a serious look at who might be in the Luongo market. So, here's my take on it:

Teams that likely don't see Luongo as an upgrade

NYR
LA
Nashville
Buffalo
Carolina
Calgary

Teams that probably don't see Luongo as worth the cost to upgrade

Montreal
St Louis
Detroit
Minnesota
Phoenix
Anaheim
Dallas

Teams not involved for cap reasons, financial reasons, have already gone another direction, etc

Philadelphia
Boston
Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay
Colorado

Wild cards (teams with goaltending in flux, may be on the fence, general unpredictability, etc)

Florida
Washington
New Jersey
Winnipeg
Ottawa
NYI
Chicago
San Jose

Teams likely to have definite interest in Luongo

Toronto
Edmonton
Columbus

 

[Redleaf]

With all this talk about "multiple offers," I thought we should probably take a serious look at who might be in the Luongo market. So, here's my take on it:

Teams that likely don't see Luongo as an upgrade

NYR
LA
Nashville
Buffalo
Carolina
Calgary

Teams that probably don't see Luongo as worth the cost to upgrade

Montreal
St Louis
Detroit
Minnesota
Phoenix
Anaheim
Dallas

Teams not involved for cap reasons, financial reasons, have already gone another direction, etc

Philadelphia
Boston
Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay
Colorado

Wild cards (teams with goaltending in flux, may be on the fence, general unpredictability, etc)

Florida
Washington
New Jersey
Winnipeg
Ottawa
NYI
Chicago
San Jose

Teams likely to have definite interest in Luongo

Toronto
Edmonton
Columbus

You forgot to include teams Luongo would be willing to waive his NTC for. 8)

 

[bustaheims]

You forgot to include teams Luongo would be willing to go to. 8)

Well, that's a more nebulous concept. I have my doubts about him being willing to waive his NTC for places like Edmonton, Columbus or the Islanders, but, I mean, who knows? Stranger things have happened.

 

[jonlleafs]

With all this talk about "multiple offers," I thought we should probably take a serious look at who might be in the Luongo market. So, here's my take on it:

Teams that likely don't see Luongo as an upgrade

NYR
LA
Nashville
Buffalo
Carolina
Calgary

Teams that probably don't see Luongo as worth the cost to upgrade

Montreal
St Louis
Detroit
Minnesota
Phoenix
Anaheim
Dallas

Teams not involved for cap reasons, financial reasons, have already gone another direction, etc

Philadelphia
Boston
Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay
Colorado

Wild cards (teams with goaltending in flux, may be on the fence, general unpredictability, etc)

Florida
Washington
New Jersey
Winnipeg
Ottawa
NYI
Chicago
San Jose

Teams likely to have definite interest in Luongo

Toronto
Edmonton
Columbus

You forgot to include teams Luongo would be willing to waive his NTC for. 8)

Teams most likely on Luongo's List
Toronto

And there, we hold all the cards. 

 

[Redleaf]

You forgot to include teams Luongo would be willing to go to. 8)

Well, that's a more nebulous concept. I have my doubts about him being willing to waive his NTC for places like Edmonton, Columbus or the Islanders, but, I mean, who knows? Stranger things have happened.

The teams that worry me (and I say that because I do want Luongo in Toronto now) are..

EDM- a young, exciting, talented team ready to break out

FLA - his former team where his wife is from, and lots of friends reside. Also, the hockey media is a lot more laid back in FLA compared to VAN, TOR or even EDM for that matter.

 

[bustaheims]

The teams that worry me (and I say that because I do want Luongo in Toronto now) are..

EDM- a young, exciting, talented team ready to break out

FLA - his former team where his wife is from, and lots of friends reside. Also, the hockey media is a lot more laid back in FLA compared to VAN, TOR or even EDM for that matter.

I have my doubts about how serious Florida's level of interest really is. Tallon knows his team is still early in the rebuilding process despite their relative success this season. He probably won't be willing to give up big value for Luongo. As for Edmonton, I have a hard time seeing Vancouver keeping Luongo in the division without significant value coming back, so, I'm not sure they're a serious potential destination either.

 

[jonlleafs]

The teams that worry me (and I say that because I do want Luongo in Toronto now) are..

EDM- a young, exciting, talented team ready to break out

FLA - his former team where his wife is from, and lots of friends reside. Also, the hockey media is a lot more laid back in FLA compared to VAN, TOR or even EDM for that matter.

I have my doubts about how serious Florida's level of interest really is. Tallon knows his team is still early in the rebuilding process despite their relative success this season. He probably won't be willing to give up big value for Luongo. As for Edmonton, I have a hard time seeing Vancouver keeping Luongo in the division without significant value coming back, so, I'm not sure they're a serious potential destination either.

Agreed on EDM and didn't Luongo want out of FLA?  I know he wanted out because of playoff futility but I mean, FLA could easily be out of the playoffs next year.  I see their team as an on-the-fence team.

 

[Erndog]

I'm with you busta... I think there are 3-4 teams max who might have an interest in Luongo and you laid them out.

Couple that with the fact that Luongo can nix a deal (i.e., say to CLB) and Vancouver probably not wanting to see him 6 times a year (i.e. Edm) I think the likely suitors are basically Toronto and Florida.

 

[Redleaf]

It sounds to me like the offer on the table from the Leafs looks more like a salary dump for Vancouver and less like a hockey trade. Gillis will probably hold out until July 1st or later and see if anyone steps up with a better offer. When that  strategy has run its course (if it hasnt already), he'll turn his attention back to the Toronto and try and hash out and finalize a deal that looks somewhere in between a salary dump and a trade.

 

[jonlleafs]

It sounds to me like the offer on the table from the Leafs looks more like a salary dump for Vancouver and less like a hockey trade. Gillis will probably hold out until July 1st or later and see if anyone steps up with a better offer. When that  strategy has run its course (if it hasnt already), he'll turn his attention back to the Toronto and try and hash out and finalize a deal that looks somewhere in between a salary dump and a trade.

Well, as long as we don't already pick up someone by July 1.  Gillis is playing on a tight rope if you ask me because he could be stuck with 2 starts with big contracts or having to deal Schneider who is their future.

 

[bustaheims]

It sounds to me like the offer on the table from the Leafs looks more like a salary dump for Vancouver and less like a hockey trade. Gillis will probably hold out until July 1st or later and see if anyone steps up with a better offer. When that  strategy has run its course (if it hasnt already), he'll turn his attention back to the Toronto and try and hash out and finalize a deal that looks somewhere in between a salary dump and a trade.

My guess is Gillis wants this dealt with sooner rather than later. That's why he's letting things leak out. I'll actually be surprised if the Luongo/Schneider situation isn't settled before free agency begins. The longer he waits, the more limited his options are going to become and the more teams are going to need to dump salary on him to make a deal work.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

It sounds to me like the offer on the table from the Leafs looks more like a salary dump for Vancouver and less like a hockey trade. Gillis will probably hold out until July 1st or later and see if anyone steps up with a better offer. When that  strategy has run its course (if it hasnt already), he'll turn his attention back to the Toronto and try and hash out and finalize a deal that looks somewhere in between a salary dump and a trade.

My guess is Gillis wants this dealt with sooner rather than later. That's why he's letting things leak out. I'll actually be surprised if the Luongo/Schneider situation isn't settled before free agency begins. The longer he waits, the more limited his options are going to become and the more teams are going to need to dump salary on him to make a deal work.

Harding re-signs, 3 years 5.7 million.  Another option off the market FWIW.

 

[jonlleafs]

It sounds to me like the offer on the table from the Leafs looks more like a salary dump for Vancouver and less like a hockey trade. Gillis will probably hold out until July 1st or later and see if anyone steps up with a better offer. When that  strategy has run its course (if it hasnt already), he'll turn his attention back to the Toronto and try and hash out and finalize a deal that looks somewhere in between a salary dump and a trade.

My guess is Gillis wants this dealt with sooner rather than later. That's why he's letting things leak out. I'll actually be surprised if the Luongo/Schneider situation isn't settled before free agency begins. The longer he waits, the more limited his options are going to become and the more teams are going to need to dump salary on him to make a deal work.

Harding re-signs, 3 years 5.7 million.  Another option off the market FWIW.

I don't think he was Burke's or Leafs fans' option.  Both want a proven veteran.  He's not proven.

 

[bustaheims]

Harding re-signs, 3 years 5.7 million.  Another option off the market FWIW.

Or, maybe it means Backstrom is on the market.

 

[jonlleafs]

Harding re-signs, 3 years 5.7 million.  Another option off the market FWIW.

Or, maybe it means Backstrom is on the market.

For the money Harding's being paid, I doubt they get rid of Backstrom.  Harding's paid like a backup and unless he usurps Backstrom, he'll likely stay a backup.  If anything changes, it won't be in the offseason.

 

[Kin]

I don't think he was Burke's or Leafs fans' option.  Both want a proven veteran.  He's not proven.

He wouldn't have topped anyone's wishlist but after Luongo the list of proven veterans available is pretty short. Harding would have been a good compromise between signing a career backup with little in the way of potential and rolling the dice with Reimer/Scrivens.

 

[jonlleafs]

I don't think he was Burke's or Leafs fans' option.  Both want a proven veteran.  He's not proven.

He wouldn't have topped anyone's wishlist but after Luongo the list of proven veterans available is pretty short. Harding would have been a good compromise between signing a career backup with little in the way of potential and rolling the dice with Reimer/Scrivens.

He hasn't had a lot of experience even as a backup.  Looking through his games played, he's only had 117 GP in his career.  That's since 2005-06.  Reimer, in 2yrs has played 71 games.  So, it's not much of an upgrade there.  If I were to pick a veteran, it would have been Vokoun but since he's gone, my next choice would be Biron.

 

[bustaheims]

For the money Harding's being paid, I doubt they get rid of Backstrom.  Harding's paid like a backup and unless he usurps Backstrom, he'll likely stay a backup.  If anything changes, it won't be in the offseason.

He's also a UFA at the end of the 12/13 season, and the team just committed to 3 years with Harding and have a highly touted goalie prospect with some NHL success knocking on the door in Matt Hackett. The Wild could very realistically be looking to move the $6M attached to Backstrom so they can improve other areas of their team, and could very well do so without seeing a significant drop off in goaltending.

 

[Kin]

He hasn't had a lot of experience even as a backup.  Looking through his games played, he's only had 117 GP in his career.  That's since 2005-06.  Reimer, in 2yrs has played 71 games.  So, it's not much of an upgrade there. 

Well, again, the issue is potential, not experience. Harding hasn't played a ton but he's played well, posting a career sv % of .916 and last year was a point higher than that while getting the most playing time of his career. Biron is a better choice in terms of vague mentoring qualities and "veteran experience" but Harding strikes me as the guy I'd rather see play 40-50 games next season if necessity dictated.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Dreger on TSN1050 said that the Leafs have no interest in Backstrom, and no interest in Luongo without money going other way.

Also:

Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun

Harding signing does NOT mean Backstrom is in play. Spoke with Wild GM Chuck Fletcher, who says he wants strong 1-2 punch for next season