I'm not pinning anything on him. I'm basing my opinion on results from the past couple seasons. He isn't a kid anymore, he took his AHL team to the finals a few years back, he played in several high stress games the past two years, he got one extended run when Luongo was injured, and continued it even though Luongo was ready to play again and he allowed 4 goals in three games against the Stanley Cup champs. It's a small sample, only three games, but Schneider had a .960 save percentage in the playoffs last year and 1.31 GAA, the kid is going to be great.
- 1970vintage

In another small sample, Sam Gagner scored on average 3.66 pts per period

Once again. Ian is on some good drugs.

Bieksa, Hamhuis, Garrison, Edler the best top 4 D in the league? Schneider in contention for the Vezina?

As for Edmontons D: N Schultz was great after his trade to Edmonton. Will have a great year. Petry stepped up in the last half of the year as well. I think Edmonton's D will surprise a lot of the naysayers.

I guess time will tell
- Iggysbff

Holy $hit—key word "ONE" if the best top 4's in the league. There is a difference. Learn to read before you try to criticize.

In another small sample, Sam Gagner scored on average 3.66 pts per period
- BigDre

Dustin Brown has scored a hat trick in every game that people have said could be his last because he's on the trading block.

MOVE OVER 99!

Dustin Brown has scored a hat trick in every game that people have said could be his last because he's on the trading block.

MOVE OVER 99!
- bluecoconuts

Every NHLer ever named Ales has played for the Edmonton Oilers at some point in their career.

Goalies better than Schnieder in no particular order:

Quick
Lundquist
Rinne
Price
Thomas (was)
Kipprusoff
Miller
Howard
Vokoun
Halak
Fluery
Smith
Luongo still is as much as you won't admit

Wait till he gets 60 starts this year before you call him a Top 5 goalie.
- Pilgor09

You forgot Dubnyk.

I was in part agreeing with you, and part disagreeing with you. Yes you're right to call out people for criticizing something they misread, but we can certainly still modify the original criticism without shame.

Take this: He's not currently a top 5 goalie, and there's no particular reason to assume that he'll get that much better next season or that goalies ahead of him will get that much worse. Ipso facto, the prediction is out there based on what we know now.

Further, the argument could go lots of ways. Look: I predict Gagner will score 75 points next year.

No one's going to touch that?
- Morris

Not sure where you're coming up with that one.

Last season Schneider in 33 starts won 20 games with a 1.96 GAA and .937 SV%. Vezina trophy winner Henrik Lundquist in 62 games played had 39 wins, a 1.97 GAA and .930 SV%. Ipso facto, based on what we know, if Schneider can maintain that stat line across 60 games then he'll be in the top 5. I don't find this prediction "whacked out" as far as predictions go. Obviously a lot of work needs to be done but he's already on the right track based on what he's already done and just needs to keep it up over a much larger sampling of games.

So you're finally coming to your senses?
- Pilgor09

I'll talk him out of it...

Every NHLer ever named Ales has played for the Edmonton Oilers at some point in their career.
- Morris

No player from Slovenia has ever lost a Stanley Cup final.

If you're pinning that on him this early with limited playing time then you're building yourself up for running this kid out of town.
- Pilgor09

like they did with luongo?

No player from Slovenia has ever lost a Stanley Cup final.
- bluecoconuts

Any player with the name Phanuef is overpaid

Not sure where you're coming up with that one.

Last season Schneider in 33 starts won 20 games with a 1.96 GAA and .937 SV%. Vezina trophy winner Henrik Lundquist in 62 games played had 39 wins, a 1.97 GAA and .930 SV%. Ipso facto, based on what we know, if Schneider can maintain that stat line across 60 games then he'll be in the top 5. I don't find this prediction "whacked out" as far as predictions go. Obviously a lot of work needs to be done but he's already on the right track based on what he's already done and just needs to keep it up over a much larger sampling of games.
- AlexF

I should amend what I said. He wouldn't need to get better in terms of his production over 33 games. However, all things being equal, the goalie with the more games played seems like the better goalie to me. In fact, comparing 33 games of Schneider to 62 games of any goalie is a bit of a stretch for me.

His prediction is that he will produce the exact same (or in all fairness, slightly worse) stats over twice the games - that seems to be the mark of a top 5 goalie. Certainly not impossible, but it is an out there prediction to make of any player who's about to double his workload.

Any player with the name Phanuef is overpaid
- Bieksa#3

Whew, thank god we made that trade...

I should amend what I said. He wouldn't need to get better in terms of his production over 33 games. However, all things being equal, the goalie with the more games played seems like the better goalie to me. In fact, comparing 33 games of Schneider to 62 games of any goalie is a bit of a stretch for me.

His prediction is that he will produce the exact same (or in all fairness, slightly worse) stats over twice the games - that seems to be the mark of a top 5 goalie. Certainly not impossible, but it is an out there prediction to make of any player who's about to double his workload.
- Morris

Maybe that's where we disagree. I have no idea how this guy's body will hold up under the greater load admittedly but he's young, ultra-fit, and even in his stretch of games in a row while Luongo was injured early last year he didn't show any signs of flagging play (in fact, he actually got back to back SOs during that stretch).

Of course, playing 60 games is quite a bit different, but we're not projecting a guy based on AHL or junior results. The results are all NHL games (inc a great but short stint in the playoffs). If I were betting I'd put my money on a top 10 finish for him, but while top 5 is at the upper end of what he's capable of next season, I don't think it's whacked out to believe he's capable of top 5.

In another small sample, Sam Gagner scored on average 3.66 pts per period
- BigDre

You got me there, I'm sure Gagne will go on to score 240 points next season #CONFIRMED.

Maybe that's where we disagree. I have no idea how this guy's body will hold up under the greater load admittedly but he's young, ultra-fit, and even in his stretch of games in a row while Luongo was injured early last year he didn't show any signs of flagging play (in fact, he actually got back to back SOs during that stretch).

Of course, playing 60 games is quite a bit different, but we're not projecting a guy based on AHL or junior results. The results are all NHL games (inc a great but short stint in the playoffs). If I were betting I'd put my money on a top 10 finish for him, but while top 5 is at the upper end of what he's capable of next season, I don't think it's whacked out to believe he's capable of top 5.
- AlexF

I don't think it's whacked out to believe he's capable of top 5. He is capable of top 5.

I think it's whacked out to say that Schneider is a top 5 goalie now and that this will be wholly evident in a year's time. That says nothing about capability, it's a prediction that the guy will be top 5 next year.

I don't think it's whacked out to believe he's capable of top 5. He is capable of top 5.

I think it's whacked out to say that Schneider is a top 5 goalie now and that this will be wholly evident in a year's time. That says nothing about capability, it's a prediction that the guy will be top 5 next year.
- Morris

Then we all agree that Schneider has proven a capable goalie and he could be a top starter this year?

He's a very good goalie (outperformed Luongo this year) and he has a very good team in front of him. I don't see any reason he couldn't be one of the best other than the fact he hasn't done it yet.

Also, as a Canucks fan, I hope he gets limited to 60 starts maximum. In his 1st season as a starter, I'd like to see him get some rest during the season to ensure he can play at a high level during the playoffs.

If you want an unbiased opinion (because I hate the Canucks and Habs equally), I would take Price every time over Schneider...pretty sure every GM in the league would.

Canucks fans, you need to understand how good your team is. If you put Price on the Nucks and Schneider on the Habs the results would be ridiculous.
- The-O-G

I am pretty sure Schneider will have a better SV% GAA and more wins that price next year and be 2.5 mil cheaper per year over the next 3 years

Hmm.....I guess with your ability to foretell the future you should have seen the Canucks would never win a Stanley Cup.

Heck, even Calgary has a cup.

We will see if your tune has changed as the Canucks performance continues to head South while the Oilers youth continues to develop. As for signing them. It won't be a problem.
- Sabata

Thanks to Steve Smith

Thanks to Steve Smith
- VANTEL

Hell of a first pass that guy had.

Then we all agree that Schneider has proven a capable goalie and he could be a top starter this year?

He's a very good goalie (outperformed Luongo this year) and he has a very good team in front of him. I don't see any reason he couldn't be one of the best other than the fact he hasn't done it yet.

Also, as a Canucks fan, I hope he gets limited to 60 starts maximum. In his 1st season as a starter, I'd like to see him get some rest during the season to ensure he can play at a high level during the playoffs.
- micah555

Me too. Although much of that decision will come down to who is backing him up. If it's Luongo, he'll probably trim down the starts to less than 60. If it's someone like Dan Ellis Schneids might start even more than 60. There's not much out there anymore in terms of back-ups and I don't think Lack's ready to make the jump yet.

You got me there, I'm sure Gagne will go on to score 240 points next season #CONFIRMED.
- 1970vintage

Gagne?! I hope so! Repeat here we come!

Me too. Although much of that decision will come down to who is backing him up. If it's Luongo, he'll probably trim down the starts to less than 60. If it's someone like Dan Ellis Schneids might start even more than 60. There's not much out there anymore in terms of back-ups and I don't think Lack's ready to make the jump yet.
- AlexF

Even if it's Ellis, just let him play. Huet would be a good option. Nittymaki isn't the worst. Someone brought back in trade for Lu...

We'll have to see about Lack. If he is ready to back up, having him get 25 starts would be fine with me. If the backup can do even close to .500, we should still be safely in the playoff.

Hell of a first pass that guy had.
- micah555

Fuhr wasn't too impressed with it.

I love Schneids as much as anyone, but I think we should hold off calling him top 5 in the NHL until he runs a full season as the starter. I definitely think he can get there... Maybe even this season... But let's keep the expectations in check a bit.
- nucks_94

Totally agree,

February could have Dshiddy leading a cause of;

Play Lack
Fire AV
Trade Bieksa

Thanks to Steve Smith
- VANTEL

Ummm, Cgy didnt win that year...