Ian Esplen: Luongo and Letang Luongo and Letang

Leafs are getting Letang... As well as Clarkson and Ryan.

Letang's physical skill set is second to none amongst defensemen. He needs to improve the cerebral part of his game to merit making the big bucks.

I would also argue that an offensive D man making 7M per season should be very good/excellent at running a power play, Letang falls short in that area. Puck management decisions have impacted his turnovers in his own zone as well as distribution on the power play.

For the Penguins to invest at the cost that Letang is looking for there can't be any question marks, there are.

Luongo is a buy out, teams will wait it out, Gillis should've dealt him to Toronto when he had the chance, who cares if it was just a 2nd rd pick. I totally agree about Letang, what a mistake the pens are making. I'm a habs fan so I'll offer beaulieu, diaz, 1st and 2nd rd pick!

Thank you for the Letang comments. I thought I was the only one to feel that way about him. I feel like his scapegoat status is unwarranted here in Pittsburgh. Turnovers or not; goals weren't scored against Boston and it was one playoff series; are we going to base an opinion on a player for 4 games that were played? I don't get how you can continue to pay Fleury 5 mil per year, but are okay with just dealing your top defenseman when he's about to hit the prime of his career.

Leafs are getting Letang... As well as Clarkson and Ryan.
- Scooby_Doo

No cap in Toronto

Recapture amount would depend on when he retires. Basically, Vancouver is currently on the hook for 7.5mil recapture money. If he is traded, that number is divided by the number of years left on his contract when he retires. So... yeah, could only be a couple million per year over 3 years. Could also be 7.5 million over one year. Trading him is a gamble.

I dont know whats more comical, the fact that he really beleives there is any sort of trade market for Luongo or the fact that he called Letang the best player on the pittsburgh roster. Luongo has no value and any team interested is either going to hold out until he is bought out or move on to a goalie with lesser contract that doesnt last for the next 230 years. And Lets be honest Sidney Crosby is the best all around most talented player in the world.(And thats coming from a flyers fan) Yes he whines and dives and cries, but there is no denying his superior talent level. Letang is sloppy in the defensive zone, turns the puck over and makes questionable decisions at key points. Shero will pull off a deal just like he did for Staal.

Leafs are getting Letang... As well as Clarkson and Ryan.
- Scooby_Doo

Guaranteed

Letang's physical skill set is second to none amongst defensemen. He needs to improve the cerebral part of his game to merit making the big bucks.

I would also argue that an offensive D man making 7M per season should be very good/excellent at running a power play, Letang falls short in that area. Puck management decisions have impacted his turnovers in his own zone as well as distribution on the power play.

For the Penguins to invest at the cost that Letang is looking for there can't be any question marks, there are.
- Ryan_Wilson

I really cant believe I am about to do this. . .

I agree with the Pen's Fan. . Letang brings a great skill set on the back end, but he makes a fair number of turnovers, takes stupid retaliatory penalties, and his PP running could be better. You can't deny his point production, but if your making 7 mil a year you need to be a player who other teams alter game plans for. Congrats to the 1 Pen's fan who is rational, well played bro.

Luongo- No GM in his right mind would trade for him, Vancouver played chicken with a lot of teams to trade him and they lost, they held his value too high and now they are going to have to buy him out because of business needs, maybe not this year, but probably next year.

Luongo is a buy out, teams will wait it out, Gillis should've dealt him to Toronto when he had the chance, who cares if it was just a 2nd rd pick. I totally agree about Letang, what a mistake the pens are making. I'm a habs fan so I'll offer beaulieu, diaz, 1st and 2nd rd pick!
- kovey27

Guess you haven't followed along. Gillis has said a number of times that there will be no buyouts.

I don't see a hockey trade for Lou at this point. Way too late for that now. My guess is that ownership played a huge role in the original contract signing - hence why MG still has a job now. They know a market doesn't exist and for those who comment on the fact that ownership has stated that they will not sign any buyout cheques - MG also stated last year that they had a decent offer in place. He also stated that 4 teams or more were very interested.

Guess you haven't followed along. Gillis has said a number of times that there will be no buyouts.
- IanEsplen

Let's say, hypothetically, that people of the opinion no GM will take Luongo's contract are correct. (I realize you don't necessarily think so). What do you expect Vancouver to do, if not use a buyout, in order to get the cap space to ice a full roster?

Guess you haven't followed along. Gillis has said a number of times that there will be no buyouts.
- IanEsplen

So what happens if there is no trade market for Ballard, Booth or Lou? How do they ice a team without exercising at least one buyout - especially since he's already stated that Schneider is the #1 goalie. If you can't trade Lou, or buy him out - how do you afford to have him sitting on the bench as a backup?

Guess you haven't followed along. Gillis has said a number of times that there will be no buyouts.
- IanEsplen

Do you have a source for this? I've looked and can't find Gillis actually quoted saying this. Not disputing but it would be helpful to have a link to a quote when I make same argument.

Guess you haven't followed along. Gillis has said a number of times that there will be no buyouts.
- IanEsplen

This is not entirely true

http://video.canucks.nhl....8&cmpid=embed-share-video

When asked if there would be any compliance buy outs Gillis answers "I'm not sure".

Guess you haven't followed along. Gillis has said a number of times that there will be no buyouts.
- IanEsplen

So have a couple other GM's, only to turn around and buy out a player. I don't think Gillis has any other option at this point.

Lecalvier bought out, after Stu said it would never happen

Welcome home Pk'er

Does the chance to land Vinny change anything? I think this would be a good fit for both the player and the team at around 5M/4 years

No cap in
- IanEsplen

Vancouver.

I don't see a hockey trade for Lou at this point. Way too late for that now. My guess is that ownership played a huge role in the original contract signing - hence why MG still has a job now. They know a market doesn't exist and for those who comment on the fact that ownership has stated that they will not sign any buyout cheques - MG also stated last year that they had a decent offer in place. He also stated that 4 teams or more were very interested.
- Canuckleafer

Yes, I firmly believe that 4 teams are interested and are preparing decent offers for Luongo.

Do you have a source for this? I've looked and can't find Gillis actually quoted saying this. Not disputing but it would be helpful to have a link to a quote when I make same argument.
- bloatedmosquito

You are being sent out, with no ammo and no cover.

Cowboy up Bloatsie and go get 'em!

Lol -- pull the trigger and trade Luongo. Hasn't he been trying to do that for the past year? Nobody is going to take on that contract and the recapture liabilities that could be a lot higher than what you project.

Buy him out or let him continue to tweet from the bench for another eight years.

Let's say, hypothetically, that people of the opinion no GM will take Luongo's contract are correct. (I realize you don't necessarily think so). What do you expect Vancouver to do, if not use a buyout, in order to get the cap space to ice a full roster?
- Antilles

Well Torts is a pretty big Luongo fan. Maybe Cory gets moved.