Despite being one year away from unrestricted free agency, reports are saying that goalie Roberto Luongo is discussing a contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.
CKNW Radio in Vancouver is speculating that Luongo and his agent, Gilles Lupien, are asking for a long-term deal that would be at least five years in length...
From the start of the month.
Versus:
Goaltender Cory Schneider will be given a chance to make the Vancouver Canucks this fall, which could result in recent signing Andrew Raycroft playing for the AHL Manitoba Moose, general manager Mike Gillis said Tuesday.
"Our long-range plans are to keep him as a Vancouver Canuck and having him play here."
From two days ago.
Here's the problem with goalies...it just can't be both, folks. If Vancouver locks up Luongo long-term for big bucks - unless Schneider is happy watching most of the season as a door opener or "seasoning" in the AHL till his mid-20's - I don't think he'll be sticking around.
Ideally, signing Luongo short-term and aggressively developing Schneider in the mean time is the answer. Of course, you can only develop a kid in the minors for so long before he has to be tested against NHL shooters to see if he can make the leap. Problem is, that requires trying to split time with the expensive superstar - a job so thankless the Canucks apparently went out and got the worst (and therefore best) guy they could find to fill it this coming season.
If indeed Gillis manages to get Luongo's name on a long-term deal, it'll be fascinating to see what the Canucks do if Schneider knocks it out of the park in the AHL again - especially considering the trade market for AHL goalies (even really, really good ones) is quite poor.
