Dream scenario: Luongo stays, Schneider struggles, Lu pitches a shut out.
- Atomic Wedgie
Yup - that happens and Gilis is screwed, 'cause then he has to hang on to Luongo, they've already said that they won't buy him out... so they stuck with the crazy contract, no room to re-sign Edler.
Gillis problem is not just the presence of Luongo in the locker room - due to the #1 or #2 thing, its the CAP hit and salary all rolled into one. With the CAP going down he'll have to outright dump at least one of the $4M defensemen, and likely also have to get rid of Booth. Big problem.
Luongo, Edler, Booth and LaPierre for
Connolly, Liles, MacArthur, Jesse Blacker and Scrivens.
Vancouver
Negatives:
Loss of Edler, but not the loss of his resigning.
Positives:
Addresses CAP issues in one fell swoop. Addresses goaltending controversy(if there really is one) - addresses media optics.
1) gets lower cost puck moving defensemen D man - which they appear to need.
2) addreses goal tending situation (no controversy)
3) clears Luongo's CAP and contract (huge win)
4) clears Booth's CAP and contract (giant win)
5) gets prospect with upside - defensive depth/youth
6) takes on only shorter term contract hits
7) gets Connolly to help with 2nd and eventual 3rd line role
8) gets 2nd/3rd line help in MacArthur
Toronto
Negatives - a ton of contract responsibility - assuming approx 5 for Edler -that's 15M in contract and CAP per year. Of course, Booth could be bought out on July 1st 2012 as option. Loss of LIles maturity and puck-handling.
Positive
While taking on large new CAP hits, addresses steady defenseman situation - while creating a space for Gardiner that is not a duplicate (albeit better) than Liles. Youth, Edler younger than Liles - although he'd be more expensive. Goaltending situation clarified in short term. Clears CAP space ahead of time, i.e. Connolly, MacArthur, Liles ahead of time. Booth could be bought out if necessary - along with last year of Komisarek - leaves plenty of space for big name FAs in summer - should that be the desired path. Putting the "recognizable name" in the net would definitely look more attractive to big name FAs come summer time.
1) gets defacto #1 goalie
2) gets #2/#3 defensemen - who will need to re-signed on July 1st
3) gets Booth, who maybe able to revive career in Toronto - close to home (if that matters)
4) gets rid of Connolly
5) addresses MacArthur - Kadri situation - opening (more easily) a spot for Kadri.
6) would take pressure off Nonis in short term.
