Trade Rumors and Free Agent TalkTrade rumors, transactions, and free agent talk. Rumors must contain the word RUMOR in post title. Proposals must contain the word PROPOSAL in post title.
I can't speak for other Vancouver fans. I actually think that if you ignore the salary structure TB makes the most sense for Luongo. He makes you guys a contender immediately, IMO. The problem is that you can't really ignore the salary structure. I'm interested to see what Yzerman's plan is here. Lindback has some good long term promise but he needs to go out and get someone to play at least half the games.
He may make the most sense for Tampa to you, however, he makes no sense for Tampa given the plan the GM has in place, salary or not. He wants his #1 to be the same age range as Stamkos and Hedman, and he has flat out stated no long term contracts. The money wouldn't be a hindrance in and of itself, but, salary/contract combined doesn't work. We could have done it, it's just not in our best interest.
SY has said it's a Garon/Lindback tandem to start and that the goalie search is over for the summer. He's not trying to win the Cup this year (it would be some wonderful gravy, of course), his plan is, and always has been, the long term picture. He's told the fans this, we're prepared for it. And, frankly, no matter how bad Garon/Lindback could be, they can't possibly be worse than last year, when we still managed to get darn close to making the playoffs. SY is planning to upgrade the defense. If the goalies are even just a smidge better, the season should be much better as we will also be (hopefully) starting the season with players who are healthy (last year we had as many as 9-10 starters out injured at the same time).
Is there any point going into the playoffs without believing you have a legitimate shot at winning? I don't see the Leafs as contenders with Luongo ainec, is it actually productive to squeak into the playoffs and get ripped apart in 4-5 games? It seems to be the most likely scenario. It does not make sense to break what you are building for an early playoff exit.
How about the fact that ownership makes approx. 5 mil. in additional revenue per home playoff game.
Let us assume that the Leafs made the playoffs 5 out of the past 7 seasons. Let us also assume that they were swept in each of those years (if we use your no chance model). That equals 50 mil. in revenue to the ownership.
$5.3m cap hit for a goaltender that will eventually be surpassed in quality of play by a younger, cheaper alternative is certainly not a pleasant situation. It also doesn't get any rosier once you factor in how that will impact on a teams ability to re-sign players or improve through free agent signings.
Roberto is 33 after all.
Luongo's play was not an issue this year, Schneider's play was just that much better.
Luongo has been very consistant statistically year to year. He’s done nothing that would suggest his play will take a dive. He's 33 ya but all you are doing is speculating with little to no concrete evidence on what his play will be like in 3-5 years.
I made this point fairly far back, so I will repeat it in this context.
At this point (the longest playoff drought in the league with no sign of improving)... it is likely VERY damaging for the Leafs to continue to miss the playoffs.
After losing for so long, you just get into a cycle where you keep losing your players to free agency as fast or faster than you can draft new players. I mean already... who is your longest serving Leaf? Kulemin?
The only way to stop the exodus is to overpay the players to stay (no one wants to lose forever)... that really removes ability to build a winner when every contract is a bad value under the cap.
This year's draft pick is likely going to be a couple of seasons away from being an NHL regular, and most likely a couple of years beyond that before being a significant contributor at the top of the roster (pretty safe that they aren't going to be a complete bust). That puts you 2-4 more years down the road and a lot more existing roster players gone.
Just look at next summer. You have it appears to be exactly 3 forwards signed for the 2013-2014 season.... 4 holes in the top 6 to fill. Add in a couple of RFAs who will likely re-sign and you have 5 forwards committed to your club and maybe a couple of young guys who may be ready to be promoted.
If you don't think that making the playoffs this year and showing some significant improvement and commitment to winning is important, I don't think you are considering A LOT of factors.
You bring up Kulemin being the Leafs longest serving Leaf. What does that have to do with anything? Name a couple big name players the Leafs have lost to free agency over the years.
What indication is there that the Leafs have to overpay to keep their players? Any re-signing that has been made by Burke has been right up there with market value as well as taking each individual player's potential into account.
So what if we have 3 forwards signed for the 2013-14 season? The only forward that is worth being re-signed is Lupul. Not to mention, there are MANY teams that have few forwards signed for the 2013-14 season. The Canucks have 6 forwards signed for the 2013-14 season.
It's pretty funny that Vancouver fans are trying to convince us Leafs fans that Burke needs to sell the farm for Luongo so the Leafs can squeak into the playoffs.
How about the fact that ownership makes approx. 5 mil. in additional revenue per home playoff game.
Let us assume that the Leafs made the playoffs 5 out of the past 7 seasons. Let us also assume that they were swept in each of those years (if we use your no chance model). That equals 50 mil. in revenue to the ownership.
This is so true, you don't want to become known as the new version of the islanders.
Except nobody important left via free agency or demanded a trade. Burke purposely overhauled the entire roster to get younger. I thought this was common knowledge?
How about the fact that ownership makes approx. 5 mil. in additional revenue per home playoff game.
Let us assume that the Leafs made the playoffs 5 out of the past 7 seasons. Let us also assume that they were swept in each of those years (if we use your no chance model). That equals 50 mil. in revenue to the ownership.
How bad does Luongo's contract look now?
Are you sure about the $5M? I heard it was $1M per game.
Luongo and Schneider as about as professional as they come. They've both had numerous chances to screw the team over with no repercussions, but they've never taken it. They're both very popular in the room, and the speculation about Vancouver goalies isn't anything new for either of them.
That was the situation when roles were clearly defined, Luongo as starter and Schneider as backup but that changed in the playoffs.
Here's a parody of Luongo and his backup. In fun but as with all parodies is based on truth:
I think we can all agree, even sneaking into the playoffs as the 8th seed is better than not making the playoffs at all.
As we saw this year.. all you need is a chance. I can tell you the Kings were pretty bad in the last part of the year. They couldn't score goals if their life depended on it. Lethargic looking hockey. Then it started to click and look what happened. A unreal force was born.
So - same goes for Luongo. If he can catch his stride this year and get the demons out of his head, the Nucks could be back in the Finals.
He may make the most sense for Tampa to you, however, he makes no sense for Tampa given the plan the GM has in place, salary or not. He wants his #1 to be the same age range as Stamkos and Hedman, and he has flat out stated no long term contracts. The money wouldn't be a hindrance in and of itself, but, salary/contract combined doesn't work. We could have done it, it's just not in our best interest.
SY has said it's a Garon/Lindback tandem to start and that the goalie search is over for the summer. He's not trying to win the Cup this year (it would be some wonderful gravy, of course), his plan is, and always has been, the long term picture. He's told the fans this, we're prepared for it. And, frankly, no matter how bad Garon/Lindback could be, they can't possibly be worse than last year, when we still managed to get darn close to making the playoffs. SY is planning to upgrade the defense. If the goalies are even just a smidge better, the season should be much better as we will also be (hopefully) starting the season with players who are healthy (last year we had as many as 9-10 starters out injured at the same time).
I have never been of the mind Lui should go to TBay, thought Shniedes was SY target though, having said that I am curious to know Salary Cap not being an issue (as I think a huge part of the deal was a non starter (Vinny was never waving his NMC)). If you guys were that close to making the playoffs, with from what we can agree was terrible goaltending, what makes you think with a good goalie top 10 in the NHL that you wouldn't have been contenders? Again don't think a trade was ever going to happen between us just curious.
Wrong on several counts. Florida has already stated Markstrom is returning to the AHL this season.
Columbus has no bearing on Luongo. They may have tried to get Schneider, but I'm sure the price was too steep for their liking.
Fair enough, didn't know what. However, it doesn't change anything. Florida isn't suddenly going to go hard after Luongo, signed for many more years, just because their young stud will be in the minors for another year.
If by the end of next season the Panthers determine that Markstrom isn't panning out, though, then their interest in Luongo would obviously increase tenfold. That still doesn't help the Canucks because for a variety of reasons they're hoping to unload the Luongo contract NOW.
This is so true, you don't want to become known as the new version of the islanders.
Yep... I am not saying it to be a jerk towards Toronto. Just that being in a swirling vortex of continual losing is not the same as rebuilding.
Edmonton=Rebuilding - lots of great buzz and star players
Islanders=Swirling Vortex of Losing - no noticeable improvement in talent pool or results
For having missed the playoffs for so long, the Leafs are way behind in the prospect department compared with where they should be... even worse than the Islanders who no one is considering an up and coming team.
Just so people are aware, it is being reported that CBJ is still looking for another goalie. They are still in the luongo hunt... well as much as they were before.
Did they mention what Columbus is going to do with Mason and his $2.9 million?
