...and when Lou craps the bedsheets in the playoffs? Now what? If CHI dealt for that deal, then he fails again, it will be 10x more difficult to trade him from CHI as it is from VAN.

Comparing to Hoss is ludicrous. Let's see: Top 2-way player & leader & champion vs 4-time running playoff choke & too big a talker to the press (TT). The only thing similar is their cap hit on a >10-year deal.

Z.Smith for Hammer was a win-win. OTT gets a great VALUE 4D, CHI gets a really good checking centre. Hammers spot can be back filled inexpensively; e.g. Hannan or Clark. Add'l money saved could have signed Pyatt or can still now acquire Winnik.

I think you're reaching on this JJ to make Lou's risk level look less than it is. Can he thrive? Yes. You bet. Are you willing to bet 6-7 years and $44M worth of salary in addition to having less overall monies to fill other positions, such as 2C, 3L and 5D?

Lastly, are all CHI's goalie options outside the organization exhausted? For instance, Bishop from OTT (OK overpay for him) to come in and compete for a job? Bernier from LA for a 1st and a prospect? Miller, pick & prospect from BUF for Kane? OK, that's a stretch and more of a TDL deal.

Fla won't trade their goalie of the future. Chances for a decent goalie are becomming slimmer by the day. Markstom would develop with Luongo for the next 3 years.
- VANTEL

Mentoring situation makes more sense and it doesn't, It makes sense from a markstrom point of view where we would get to work with one of the best goalies in the league, It does not work for Luongo be cause in 2-3 years he still has 7 years on his contract and another kid just his job and now he has no trade value anymore....

Thats a tough situation and prob one of the things Fla is stalling on, what to do if they do take him.

Maybe a solid challenger. Favorite, though? The team is still to non-physical up front.
- NewToHockey

I have disliked Lu in the past due to his affiliation with the free willies in Van, but I dislike losing even more. Can you imagine that storyline? With this move and a 2c, pretty good offseason if you can swing it. Seems like Crow would need to get moved...his already low self esteem has to be lower than sammy salo's missing nut right about now.

THis blog helps explain the money better, but is Gillis the gambler Tallon is? Simply put, he does not want to go into next season with the distraction of Lu. If I had to bet on it, I would bet TOR, FLA, CHI, VAN.

I say give it a shot. His numbers are regularly better than brodeurs.

I think it depends on what return markstrom will bring Florida if traded.



JJ, fantastic blog today.
- moylander

I don't know why people presume Markstrom would be traded. If anything, as I said above, it could be a perfect development situation for Markstrom. It's got Schneider 2.0 written all over it. If the Canucks do a deal with FLa, I could see Theodore being part of it as a veteran backup for Schneider.

And if Lou ends up in Florida I'm all over StanBow&Pops&McD acquiring Markstrom. Crawford plays this year and Markstrom is on deck waiting unless he were to beat out Emery and Crawford in camp.
- Mr Ricochet

Could those teams swing a 3-way (no pun intended)...??

That's another possibility. Like Bernier and Quick.
- moylander

Not like bernier and quick. Lou has a handcuffing contract when you have a hot up and comer waiting in the wings just ask Gillis..... Fla prob is his destination for Lou but in a couple years lou wont be floridas destination, Florida will be pilfering for anyone to take him...oh wait he has a no trade...lol


Just a really tough situation

Mentoring situation makes more sense and it doesn't, It makes sense from a markstrom point of view where we would get to work with one of the best goalies in the league, It does not work for Luongo be cause in 2-3 years he still has 7 years on his contract and another kid just his job and now he has no trade value anymore....

Thats a tough situation and prob one of the things Fla is stalling on, what to do if they do take him.
- MindFr3eak

If in 3 years Luongo is still a top quality goalie then his deal is less onerous, there would be only 3 years of the bulk of his contract, the rest whittles down to little, and in 3 years a 5.3 cap for a #1 goalie will likely be the norm, if better. That said, if Luongo's play seriously declines, then yes, no trade value, would have to buy him out or something

Could those teams swing a 3-way (no pun intended)...??
- blackhawk24

Very possible . Luongo to Fla .Theodore to Chi.

Fla won't trade their goalie of the future. Chances for a decent goalie are becomming slimmer by the day. Markstom would develop with Luongo for the next 3 years.
- VANTEL

Maybe not. But with Florida having Theodore signed through this year, Clemmensen for the next two, Lu as a #1 and the Panthers way under the cap floor maybe they do move Markstrom if Tallon thinks he can make a run this year or next.

If I'm Tallon and get Lou indeed I keep Markstrom. If I'm most other clubs in need of a top talent, but unproven, I call Tallon and inquire. Which is what I'm hoping the Hawks do.

Could those teams swing a 3-way (no pun intended)...??
- blackhawk24

The only GM getting F'd right now is Stan.

I don't know why people presume Markstrom would be traded. If anything, as I said above, it could be a perfect development situation for Markstrom. It's got Schneider 2.0 written all over it. If the Canucks do a deal with FLa, I could see Theodore being part of it as a veteran backup for Schneider.
- k

But what happens in 2-4 years when Markstrom is ready to take over the reins from Luongo and lead the Panthers (hypothetically of course, you just never know)

6-7 yrs left on a contract and I assure you if it's hard to find him a home @33 yrs old with a 10 year, it won't be getting any easier 2-4years.

...and when Lou craps the bedsheets in the playoffs? Now what? If CHI dealt for that deal, then he fails again, it will be 10x more difficult to trade him from CHI as it is from VAN.

Comparing to Hoss is ludicrous. Let's see: Top 2-way player & leader & champion vs 4-time running playoff choke & too big a talker to the press (TT). The only thing similar is their cap hit on a >10-year deal.

Z.Smith for Hammer was a win-win. OTT gets a great VALUE 4D, CHI gets a really good checking centre. Hammers spot can be back filled inexpensively; e.g. Hannan or Clark. Add'l money saved could have signed Pyatt or can still now acquire Winnik.

I think you're reaching on this JJ to make Lou's risk level look less than it is. Can he thrive? Yes. You bet. Are you willing to bet 6-7 years and $44M worth of salary in addition to having less overall monies to fill other positions, such as 2C, 3L and 5D?

Lastly, are all CHI's goalie options outside the organization exhausted? For instance, Bishop from OTT (OK overpay for him) to come in and compete for a job? Bernier from LA for a 1st and a prospect? Miller, pick & prospect from BUF for Kane? OK, that's a stretch and more of a TDL deal.
- blackhawk24

Need I say more?

Very possible . Luongo to Fla .Theodore to Chi.
- VANTEL

Umm, no.

I don't know why people presume Markstrom would be traded. If anything, as I said above, it could be a perfect development situation for Markstrom. It's got Schneider 2.0 written all over it. If the Canucks do a deal with FLa, I could see Theodore being part of it as a veteran backup for Schneider.
- k

So FLA has a $5.3 million per year backup for 3-4 years? How con-veeeeee-nient.

I'd rather have Lack, or Hackett, or Bishop/Lehner...

Not like bernier and quick. Lou has a handcuffing contract when you have a hot up and comer waiting in the wings just ask Gillis..... Fla prob is his destination for Lou but in a couple years lou wont be floridas destination, Florida will be pilfering for anyone to take him...oh wait he has a no trade...lol


Just a really tough situation
- MindFr3eak

In case you missed it, Quick, 10 years 58 million...

But what happens in 2-4 years when Markstrom is ready to take over the reins from Luongo and lead the Panthers (hypothetically of course, you just never know)

6-7 yrs left on a contract and I assure you if it's hard to find him a home @33 yrs old with a 10 year, it won't be getting any easier 2-4years.
- MindFr3eak

I answered this above. As long as Luongo's play is still at a high level, then of course it gets easier, the contract is shorter, the real money payout for an owner seriously declines, and a 5.3 cap hit - which is actually not even close to the top cap hit for a #1 now - will be even more reasonable then. It all depends on his quality of play, but goalies do keep quality longer. if he can still play, of course it's easier...

Umm, no.
- John Jaeckel

I know. I was being sarcastic to those thinking that Markstrom is tradable.

Umm, no.
- John Jaeckel

Would rather have crow or huet than theodore. Wicked inconsistent.

Need I say more?
- John Jaeckel

Yes.... how to approach damage control when Lou fails. Also how to manage the payroll with a goalies' cap hit that's 2x higher than the rest of the roster was intended to be structured. Also, selling Rocky on a failed goalie experiment up to 4x as costly as Huet's playing in Europe.

If the 'Hawks had expensive pieces they didn't want, could unload and Gillis would take, then fine. Frolik, Hammer etc isn't nearly expensive enough pieces when we look at a several season picture.

Sorry, but Gillis is in the corner and CHI should not be the ones to let him out of it. The cap hit exchange & the overall risk are simply too high for CHI.

So FLA has a $5.3 million per year backup for 3-4 years? How con-veeeeee-nient.
- John Jaeckel

Why worry about things 4 years from now. Fla may not even have a team by then . Lu may retire by then . MY feeling is Lu is a family man and once Fla say Markstrom is ready Lu hangs them up.

So FLA has a $5.3 million per year backup for 3-4 years? How con-veeeeee-nient.
- John Jaeckel

Or you move him then, as I mentioned in other posts. Look, were all in the realm of speculation, of course, but in 3-4 years by definition RL's contract is shorter; if he is still playing well, you move him then. If he can be moved with 10 years left on his deal, he can be moved with 6-7 years left...as long as he still playing well, that would be the key. What have we learned the past year other than owners are willing to pay out/assume huge contracts and these contracts can be traded...

we'll see what happens

Not like bernier and quick. Lou has a handcuffing contract when you have a hot up and comer waiting in the wings just ask Gillis..... Fla prob is his destination for Lou but in a couple years lou wont be floridas destination, Florida will be pilfering for anyone to take him...oh wait he has a no trade...lol


Just a really tough situation
- MindFr3eak

It's my understanding that once a player waives his NMC or NTC its done. They don't get it back with the new team.

VANTEL, I believe. The real hockey insider.
- EKolb13

This.....good morning guys man I got a good laugh from our Vancouver guys last night.

Why worry about things 4 years from now. Fla may not even have a team by then . Lu may retire by then . MY feeling is Lu is a family man and once Fla say Markstrom is ready Lu hangs them up.
- VANTEL

He will be full time on the WPT in four years.