Luongo

[Redleaf]

Don't see what FLA could offer that TOR couldn't match or beat? Probably handily.

Well, it's more likely about what the Panthers are willing to offer that the Leafs are not.

Not sure I buy that. I think the Leafs NEED a guy like Luongo more than FLA do, and should be offering up more than FLA to make it happen. I don't think FLA will offer VAN the reported 2 firsts and 2 players, do you?
The Leafs need to outbid them, without offering the farm. Tough to pull off, but not impossible.

If Burke's stubbornness effects his ability to negotiate then there is a problem.

 

[Kin]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Insider Trading hilites: @DarrenDreger says dialogue continues between FLA and VAN on Luongo. Not so much TOR and VAN. FLA frontrunner.

Don't see what FLA could offer that TOR couldn't match or beat? Probably handily.

Have you seen how many high draft picks they've had in the last few years?

 

[bustaheims]

Not sure I buy that. I think the Leafs NEED a guy like Luongo more than FLA do, and should be offering up more than FLA to make it happen. I don't think FLA will offer VAN the reported 2 firsts and 2 players, do you?
The Leafs need to outbid them, without offering the farm. Tough to pull off, but not impossible.

If Burke's stubbornness effects his ability to negotiate then there is a problem.

What's become abundantly clear throughout this process is that the Leafs are really only willing to take on Luongo's contract if he comes cheap, and that they will not give up significant portions of the future to acquire him. That's no stubbornness or a problem, that's a sound strategy for team building. I mean, there's only so much they should be willing to give up to acquire a 33 year old goalie on a 10 year contract. On top of that, Luongo apparently wants Florida more, Florida's ownership seems to want Luongo more and so on. Burke has set his price, and, quite frankly, I hope he sticks to it. As much as I'd love for the team to acquire Luongo, it absolutely has to come at a cost that makes sense, and, really, with the rumours that have been coming out so far, it doesn't sound like that's a realistic possibility right now.

 

[Omallley]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Insider Trading hilites: @DarrenDreger says dialogue continues between FLA and VAN on Luongo. Not so much TOR and VAN. FLA frontrunner.

Don't see what FLA could offer that TOR couldn't match or beat? Probably handily.

Have you seen how many high draft picks they've had in the last few years?

Seriously. Not to mention that the Leafs really *shouldn't* be looking to match and/or beat someone for that ridiculous contract.

 

[Redleaf]

Not sure I buy that. I think the Leafs NEED a guy like Luongo more than FLA do, and should be offering up more than FLA to make it happen. I don't think FLA will offer VAN the reported 2 firsts and 2 players, do you?
The Leafs need to outbid them, without offering the farm. Tough to pull off, but not impossible.

If Burke's stubbornness effects his ability to negotiate then there is a problem.

What's become abundantly clear throughout this process is that the Leafs are really only willing to take on Luongo's contract if he comes cheap, and that they will not give up significant portions of the future to acquire him. That's no stubbornness or a problem, that's a sound strategy for team building. I mean, there's only so much they should be willing to give up to acquire a 33 year old goalie on a 10 year contract. On top of that, Luongo apparently wants Florida more, Florida's ownership seems to want Luongo more and so on. Burke has set his price, and, quite frankly, I hope he sticks to it. As much as I'd love for the team to acquire Luongo, it absolutely has to come at a cost that makes sense, and, really, with the rumours that have been coming out so far, it doesn't sound like that's a realistic possibility right now.

While I see your point, I believe 'team building' can be accomplished more quickly and effectively when the team have an established, solid, reliable goaltender in the crease providing freedom for creativity and confidence to the young group of players in front of him.

 

[bustaheims]

While I see your point, I believe 'team building' can be accomplished more quickly and effectively when the team have an established, solid, reliable goaltender in the crease providing freedom for creativity and confidence to the young group of players in front of him.

Sure, but getting into a bidding war to acquire a guy who's on the back 9 of his career is the same kind of short-term thinking that got the team in to the mess that Burke is currently struggling to get them out of. If Luongo was 6-8 years younger, it would be a very different story.

 

[Redleaf]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Insider Trading hilites: @DarrenDreger says dialogue continues between FLA and VAN on Luongo. Not so much TOR and VAN. FLA frontrunner.

Don't see what FLA could offer that TOR couldn't match or beat? Probably handily.

Have you seen how many high draft picks they've had in the last few years?

Seriously. Not to mention that the Leafs really *shouldn't* be looking to match and/or beat someone for that ridiculous contract.

With goaltending being the biggest and most important role to fill on a team, I'd have no problem losing a couple of picks and/or prospects (within reason) for a goaltender of Luongo's stature, even with his albatross contract. As it has been pointed out many times before, the last time this team was half decent was when the goaltending was sound. Thats not a coincidence.

 

[Beowulf]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Insider Trading hilites: @DarrenDreger says dialogue continues between FLA and VAN on Luongo. Not so much TOR and VAN. FLA frontrunner.

Great news if true as far as I'm concerned.

 

[maplesyrup]

Honestly, getting in to a bidding war for this guy would be ridiculous.

 

[Kin]

Honestly, getting in to a bidding war for this guy would be ridiculous.

Absolutely. Least of all because Florida could easily win one.

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

I don't even think that this relates to a "bidding war". I'm under the impression that he's guiding the process the same way Kaberle did when he was traded to BOS.

He has one preferred destination that he'd like to work out a trade to (FLA). Failing this, he will expand the list to more teams (TOR, CHI, wherever), but he would like to be moved to the original destination first.

 

[Omallley]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Insider Trading hilites: @DarrenDreger says dialogue continues between FLA and VAN on Luongo. Not so much TOR and VAN. FLA frontrunner.

Don't see what FLA could offer that TOR couldn't match or beat? Probably handily.

Have you seen how many high draft picks they've had in the last few years?

Seriously. Not to mention that the Leafs really *shouldn't* be looking to match and/or beat someone for that ridiculous contract.

With goaltending being the biggest and most important role to fill on a team, I'd have no problem losing a couple of picks and/or prospects (within reason) for a goaltender of Luongo's stature, even with his albatross contract. As it has been pointed out many times before, the last time this team was half decent was when the goaltending was sound. Thats not a coincidence.

I don't disagree that the team with Luongo would be better than the team without (in the short term), and if the acquisition cost was low (and I mean Komisarek going the other way kind of low) I wouldn't be too opposed to getting him. If not though, it compounds the future negative impact his contract will have - giving up good/young players *and* having dead cap space would hurt the team - when that happens is a matter of guessing, but we all know it would be sooner than 8 years from now.

Maybe the new CBA will have some outs in it, but assuming that things operate under the same type of system, the team would be mortgaging the future for the present.

 

[Redleaf]

While I see your point, I believe 'team building' can be accomplished more quickly and effectively when the team have an established, solid, reliable goaltender in the crease providing freedom for creativity and confidence to the young group of players in front of him.

Sure, but getting into a bidding war to acquire a guy who's on the back 9 of his career is the same kind of short-term thinking that got the team in to the mess that Burke is currently struggling to get them out of. If Luongo was 6-8 years younger, it would be a very different story.

Unless the rookie keepers stand on their heads next season (and thats asking A LOT) the goaltending problem will only manifest itself. We'll be back to the drawing board in the summer of '13, after missing the playoffs again, looking for a veteran goaltender. Only the ones available then probably won't be shoo-ins, like we could have now in Luongo.

Because of his contract, I don't see a bidding war for Luongo reaching epic proportions like some here envision. I really don't see FLA blowing out their brains for him either. All Gillis is looking for is the highest bidder. If FLA offers a 3rd, TOR offers a 2nd. If FLA gets crazy, Burke respectfully backs out.

 

[bustaheims]

Because of his contract, I don't see a bidding war for Luongo reaching epic proportions like some here envision. I really don't see FLA blowing out their brains for him either. All Gillis is looking for is the highest bidder. If FLA offers a 3rd, TOR offers a 2nd. If FLA gets crazy, Burke respectfully backs out.

So far, that's hardly proven to be the case. If it was, Luongo would have been moved at the draft. Gillis is looking for value.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Schneider has re-signed apparently.

Thomas Drance ‏@ThomasDrance

Cory Schneider has been re-signed according to Mike Gillis at a season ticket holders event. #Canucks

 

[Redleaf]

Because of his contract, I don't see a bidding war for Luongo reaching epic proportions like some here envision. I really don't see FLA blowing out their brains for him either. All Gillis is looking for is the highest bidder. If FLA offers a 3rd, TOR offers a 2nd. If FLA gets crazy, Burke respectfully backs out.

So far, that's hardly proven to be the case. If it was, Luongo would have been moved at the draft. Gillis is looking for value.

That's what he asks for now. What he's forced to accept at crunch time will be an entirely different ball of wax, unless he just holds onto Luo, and hopes more teams come calling?

 

[Redleaf]

Schneider has re-signed apparently.

Thomas Drance ‏@ThomasDrance

Cory Schneider has been re-signed according to Mike Gillis at a season ticket holders event. #Canucks

If accurate, maybe Gillis lowers the asking price?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Schneider has re-signed apparently.

Thomas Drance ‏@ThomasDrance

Cory Schneider has been re-signed according to Mike Gillis at a season ticket holders event. #Canucks

If accurate, maybe Gillis lowers the asking price?

Confirmed by Gillis' twitter:

GMMikeGillis: We have agreed in principle to a deal with Cory Schneider. More news in the next few days.

 

[bustaheims]

If accurate, maybe Gillis lowers the asking price?

Probably has the opposite effect. Having Schneider signed strengthens his negotiating position a little. It takes away the pressure of having to move Luongo to get Schneider to stick around.

 

[Corn Flake]

I could see Gillis stalling for time by asking for the moon for Luongo while he got the Schneider deal done, and now that it is perhaps he will be more realistic and let the deal happen.

One hurdle over but now he's under a different pressure with two expensive (assumed) goalies under contract.