OffThePost.org

Vigneault's teams have won the Presidents Trophy two years in a row, they made the Finals just last year and came within one game of winning it all. At least give the guy a chance to truly fail before you give him the boot.

And as everyone has been saying all along, L.A. is way, way better than that 8th seed would indicate. They were the best defensive team in hockey behind St. Louis...the only thing that held them back up until the last part of the season was their complete inability to score, which changed big-time when they traded for Jeff Carter. After that they averaged three goals per game.

The Canucks came into the playoffs with two of their three deadliest offensive weapons either out or badly limping. And again, this was against the 2nd best defensive team in hockey and a goalie who most assuredly will win the Vezina Trophy. Do I think Vigneault is perfect? Hell no...but he did great with what he had. Frankly I think GMMG took a couple big gambles (relying on Ballard to replace Ehrhoff, trading for Booth-speaking of bloated contracts) that just plain didn't work out.

Agreed that Luongo must go, but simply because Schneider is younger, has his best years in front of him rather than behind, and is invariably cheaper.

Man, isn't it one of the CBC Sports' producers that is tweeting for Don? I like how they literally tweet what he tells them and doesn't adjust for errors.

That being said, they spelled Luongo correctly, rather than 'Longo' as he would say.

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I will smash your face into a, into a jelly!

If he fails to get the two-time President's Trophy-winning team loaded with a Selke winner, two Art Ross winners, Jennings winners, and a Vezina finalist into the playoffs. His teams have won the NW division title five out of the six years he's been here (IIRC). Oh, and Mike Babcock would need to not only be available but willing to leave Detroit to coach here. THAT's what would get me on board, because any other coach would likely be a serious step down.

Was he the pilot? And even if he was, a posthumous firing would be rather cold, wouldn't you say?

Why don't you give Detroit a call and see why they aren't calling for Mike Babcock's head. Their team has been bumped in the early rounds of a playoff for a couple of years now. Claude Julien's team lost three of four home games in a place as hostile to road teams as there is.

Getting outplayed in a 7 game series happens. Get over it.

Schneider actually appears to be the better goalie, at an age where he is about to enter his prime, and at a potentially reasonable price. Luongo has been exceptionally supportive and unexpectedly (at least from my perspective) understanding and mature about this. I would have no problem (other than perhaps the potential cap $ locked up in the goalie position) of starting the season in October with both goalies on the roster. For that reason, I would disagree with the "Luongo's contract must go" sentiment.

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no

Ahem, that'd be "Lalongo". And yeah, there's no way that Cherry is literally tweeting anything, so either the "social media coordinator" is equally ineloquent, or as you say, they're doing it verbatim so that people picture Cherry with an iPhone.


Honestly, that's fair. He may oppose doing something in principle (why, it's not clear, but he may). But he's not going to avoid a step up for his team just because he didn't like what another GM did before. It's no different than the logic of taking on a contract that you know is too rich, but you do it to either get the player or complete a deal.

Gillis is right now also getting to escape on a technicality in that he said he "wouldn't ask a player to waive his NTC". If it is true that Luongo has now actually asked for a trade, Gillis escapes by the skin of his teeth from having to actually do it.

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Actually, I see it as a Mexican standoff - Luongo is on record as saying that he'll waive if it if he's asked. But Gillis has said that he won't ask a player with a NTC to waive it... Who'll blink first?

Then again, perhaps Lou told his old buddy Nick Kypreos: http://vansunsportsblogs.com/2012/04/26 ... -about-it/

Any guesses which teams might be on that list?
Florida (home is where the heart is for Mrs. Luongo, although Lou might not want to mentor another up-and-coming franchise goalie again)
Tampa (would give them solid, dependable goaltending to get them back into the postseason)
Detroit (have a history of making older players look great)
Chicago (direct flights to Miami and Montreal)
Toronto (yeah, I can see it)
New Jersey (why not?)

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I'd scratch Detroit, they're pretty set with Howard and add SJ who really need an upgrade.

Winnipeg and Edmonton should probably make a call, too.

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I will smash your face into a, into a jelly!

It doesn't exactly look like a bumper crop of quality UFA goalies this summer; besides TT, there's Harding, Vokoun... Then?

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Not UFA as such but St. Louis all have 2 goalies capable of being a starter and may realistically be looking to trade one. Also a lot of talk about Calgary rebuilding and moving Kipper.

So regarding quality keepers, really looking at one of Halak/Elliot; plus Kipper; TT, and Luongo for any of NJ, Florida, TB, SJ, Chicago, Toronto, Columbus and Edmonton. Although I don't seen either of the last two spending much for an old goalie.

St. Louis definitely won't be moving a goalie. It's obvious now that Halak is great in a tandem situation, not so much when he's going solo.

There'll definitely be more demand than supply though--it's a seller's market.

An 8 seed is an 8 seed no matter how you rationalise their performance.
2)more excuses
3)What's that supposed to mean --the Canucks have talent-AV's tenure in vancouver he has been carried by the talent.
I think it's kinda unfair to point a finger at Booth when so many players underperformed in the playoffs.
Look if the 8 seed kings win the cup most people will say what a great cinderella story but for me it will just mean the regular season is meaningless.If the regular season is meaningless what's the point of watching or cheering?
Last-I am glad we agree on Luongo it's just common sense.

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Zack Kassian for Cody Hodgson = Gillis on CRACK

You realize your talking about a league where more than 1/2 the teams go to the playoffs--this is a very low standard for the team you describe.
2)Now your just being silly Babcock has a SC ring,olympic gold,World junior gold. What does AV have ? Nothing that is even close to that.
3)I thought you were agreeing with me but it turns out you weren't.
Keeping both isn't a good hockey or business decision.
Look --I can't argue with all my Canuck fan brethren but I don't agree alot of the people on this board. I have to say it's pretty disappointing that for most fans it doesn't matter what happens on the ice change is bad & just keep the Kool-aid cold.

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Zack Kassian for Cody Hodgson = Gillis on CRACK

Example #1 - New York Islanders 1974 to 1980: The Islanders made a run in the 1975 playoffs, coming back from a 0-3 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in 7 games. Went on to fall to eventual Cup winners Philadelphia Flyers in 7 after rallying again down 0-3 in the semi finals. Big things were expected by the Islanders especially after adding sniper Mike Bossy but they kept underachieving and getting upset by Toronto in 1978 and the Rangers in 1979. Starting the 79-80 season on a losing skid, everyone called the Islanders chokers and believed the team should be broken up. Instead Bill Torrey kept the core together, added Butch Goring and the Islander finished 24 pt behind the previous season's point total before going on to win 19 straight playoffs series and 4 Stanley Cups.

Example #2 - Detroit Red Wings 1993 to 1997: Finished first in the West in 1994, knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by lowly San Jose. Won the Presidents Trophy in 1995 and 1996 and lost the Stanley Cup in 95 to NJ in a similar fashion to Canucks losing to Boston last year. Set an NHL record with 61 wins and 131 pt in 96 only to lose to the Avs in the playoffs. Dropped to 97 pt next season, screams for Yzerman to be traded. Instead Holland/Bowman kept the core, added Shanahan and the Wings go on to win 3 Cups in 6 season after not having won in 42 seasons.

Example #3 - Detroit Red Wings 2005 to 2009: Upset in the first round by Oilers. Too soft, too Euro, not enough Canadian toughness. Holland kept Babcock as coach, kept core, Wings go on to play in 11 playoffs series the next 3 seasons, losing to eventual cup winner Anaheim in 07, winning the Cup in 08 and going to the final in 09 before losing to Pittsburgh.

Example #4 - Vancouver Canucks 1991 to 1997: Canucks win the Smythe in 92 and 93 only to lose to lower seeds Edmonton and LA. Go all the way to game 7 Stanley Cup final 1994. Knocked out by Chicago in second round next season, mess with core. Geoff Courtnall gone, Greg "Gus" Adams gone, Momesso gone, Ronning gone, Canucks miss the playoffs until 2001 and never reach previous heights from the team that almost won in 94 due to the core having been broken up.


Now it's time for a clean sweep? Does this mean if the Canucks don't reach the final every year then break up the team and rebuild? Gillis took over in 2008 and it's now 2012. Do they fire Gillis too and bring back Arthur Griffiths to be GM? Who to coach? I've been one of Vigneault's biggest critics but to his credit he has changed his coaching style to that of Gillis's vision. Luongo's bloated contract? Fuck off. That means Zetterberg has a bloated contract, Hossa and Franzen as well. If you haven't noticed, Luongo's cap hit is $5.3 mil per year and goes until he's 43 years old, the same age as Dwayne Roloson is now. Then there's Martin Brodeur whose soon to be 41 and still in the NHL. Wasn't Hasek in the NHL until age 43? Sean Burke until 40? Cut the rhetorical bullshit FD, it may make sense to move Luongo now he has agreed to wave his NTC but don't denigrate him or Gillis. The two of them have been involved in making this the best team in Canucks history.

Making massive changes to the core now won't improve this team, it'll throw it off and will result in another rebuilding program lasting seven years minimum. For example, see Keenan, Mike post the Rangers winning the Cup and see how well his teams fared with massive changes.

And thanks Dr for bringing a note of reason and balance that is actually supported by fact and historical precedent.

Of course - but be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

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GO CANUCKS GO!

i wonder if loogongos cap hit was say 4-4.5 million people wouldn't be soo harsh to get him out of here

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"if your parachute doesn't open up while skydiving, don't worry, you have the rest of your life to figure it out"

Nope...it'd be the same. People still perceive the length of the contract rather than the actual cap hit. It could be as low as $3 million and fans would still think it was an albatross.

I suspect you need to move Luongo just to get Schneider locked up past a qualifying offer.