Bob McKenzie‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

Don't know if OTT's Erik Karlsson will win Norris Trophy but he may have new contract in matter of days. Negotiations ongoing in Las Vegas.

Because Leafs fans know a little something about disappointment.

I guess since a handful of previously uninspiring goalies (other than Theodore; he did win the Hart trophy once you know) managed to have solid seasons that validates the idea that any goalie will do. I'll take your word for it that 'good enough' will be good enough when it comes to Leafs. Seems like the wrong way to approach the potential 9th year of playoff drought to me, but what do I know? Better that than offer up any significant assets for an all star goalie signed to a cap friendly contract, I guess.
- micah555

Oh trust me, obviously any half witted person would want an elite goalie as oppose to average...I'm just saying that they don't need an ultra superstar in order to make the playoffs. But just because of options that are available RIGHT NOW, doesn't mean you trade for a 10 year contract....not saying they won't, just saying you don't panic and throw everything at Luongo simply because he's apparently the only thing that's going to get you 7th or 8th place this season. Opposed to hanging on to your pieces and maybe making a mid-season trade or signing an inexpensive veteran and see how things progress. Far as I'm concerned, I'm officially used to missing the playoffs and at this point I have no issues with staying calm and slowly building a team properly.

As for the disappointment comment...both Toronto and Vancouver have won the same amount of cups in the last 42 years...pretty sure they both know the same about disappointment.

It was in 43 games and he netted 30 points (16 on the PP). The Habs only had 4 guys better than +4 this season.

On an unrelated note, Toronto had no players higher than +3 this year.
- micah555

That's some mighty fine unwarranted light trolling there my friend.

That's some mighty fine unwarranted light trolling there my friend.
- Juice

Hey, you said +4 wasn't that good. I just thought I'd give it some context.

Bob McKenzie‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

Hearing ANA's Bobby Ryan is "available" again after being taken off trade market after Randy Carlyle's Duck departure

Because Leafs fans know a little something about disappointment.

I guess since a handful of previously uninspiring goalies (other than Theodore; he did win the Hart trophy once you know) managed to have solid seasons that validates the idea that any goalie will do. I'll take your word for it that 'good enough' will be good enough when it comes to Leafs. Seems like the wrong way to approach the potential 9th year of playoff drought to me, but what do I know? Better that than offer up any significant assets for an all star goalie signed to a cap friendly contract, I guess.
- micah555

How would you characterize Dshiddy's famous suicide rant at the end of last year?

How would you characterize Dshiddy's famous suicide rant at the end of last year?
- Canada Cup

HB Classic

I got banned for a week too so I may have had one too

Oh trust me, obviously any half witted person would want an elite goalie as oppose to average...I'm just saying that they don't need an ultra superstar in order to make the playoffs. But just because of options that are available RIGHT NOW, doesn't mean you trade for a 10 year contract....not saying they won't, just saying you don't panic and throw everything at Luongo simply because he's apparently the only thing that's going to get you 7th or 8th place this season. Opposed to hanging on to your pieces and maybe making a mid-season trade or signing an inexpensive veteran and see how things progress. Far as I'm concerned, I'm officially used to missing the playoffs and at this point I have no issues with staying calm and slowly building a team properly.

As for the disappointment comment...both Toronto and Vancouver have won the same amount of cups in the last 42 years...pretty sure they both know the same about disappointment.
- Juice

Our disappointment usually comes a little later...

Reimer and (vet guy) are the maybe 7th or 8th place gamble. Luongo is the playoff guarantee. I think something like Schenn and a 2nd would be a great deal for Toronto. Luongo is going to provide a .920 S% (give or take) and can play 55-70 games if needed.

And you need to quit it with the 10 year deal thing. The contract is blatant cap circumvention. That's why he got $10m up front and why he gets $1m at the end. He's not playing for that long. You get a top goalie for the next 6 years. Reimer might be solid next year or he could be the next Monster or Raycroft or whatever other dud. When it's been this long and your GM has already put together a core of 24-28 year old guys, it's time to get a goalie who can make some saves.

Bob McKenzie‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

Hearing ANA's Bobby Ryan is "available" again after being taken off trade market after Randy Carlyle's Duck departure
- VANTEL

canucks will sign and then trade shultz for ryan.

canucks will sign and then trade shultz for ryan.
- RealityChecker

Bob McKenzie‏@TSNBobMcKenzie

Hearing ANA's Bobby Ryan is "available" again after being taken off trade market after Randy Carlyle's Duck departure
- VANTEL

Here we go. This will light up the blogosphere for the next month surely.

Pierre Lebruns updated blog from a few minutes ago.

Goalie talk
With Tomas Vokoun landing in Pittsburgh, Tampa gambling on Anders Lindback (very much a worthy gamble in my opinion), and Josh Harding re-signing in Minnesota on Tuesday, the goalie options continue to shrink for teams looking for an upgrade there.

This should only help the Vancouver Canucks in trying to create a better market place for
Roberto Luongo and his massive contract.

I believe the Florida Panthers are among a short list of teams that have talked to the Canucks about Luongo, but there won’t be a deal there unless Vancouver is willing to take on a contract in return that helps Florida out payroll-wise.

Our disappointment usually comes a little later...

Reimer and (vet guy) are the maybe 7th or 8th place gamble. Luongo is the playoff guarantee. I think something like Schenn and a 2nd would be a great deal for Toronto. Luongo is going to provide a .920 S% (give or take) and can play 55-70 games if needed.

And you need to quit it with the 10 year deal thing. The contract is blatant cap circumvention. That's why he got $10m up front and why he gets $1m at the end. He's not playing for that long. You get a top goalie for the next 6 years. Reimer might be solid next year or he could be the next Monster or Raycroft or whatever other dud. When it's been this long and your GM has already put together a core of 24-28 year old guys, it's time to get a goalie who can make some saves.
- micah555

Ok, so we're debating with our fan goggles on then, cause I'm pretty sure any GM isn't going to raise their offer because of the "obvious cap circumvention"...

Ok, so we're debating with our fan goggles on then, cause I'm pretty sure any GM isn't going to raise their offer because of the "obvious cap circumvention"...
- Juice

and i'm pretty sure that no gm is looking at the contract like it's a 10 year deal like you've written approximately 10 times in the last two pages.

as long as we're putting our fan goggles down.

Pierre Lebruns updated blog from a few minutes ago.

Goalie talk
With Tomas Vokoun landing in Pittsburgh, Tampa gambling on Anders Lindback (very much a worthy gamble in my opinion), and Josh Harding re-signing in Minnesota on Tuesday, the goalie options continue to shrink for teams looking for an upgrade there.

This should only help the Vancouver Canucks in trying to create a better market place for
Roberto Luongo and his massive contract.

I believe the Florida Panthers are among a short list of teams that have talked to the Canucks about Luongo, but there won’t be a deal there unless Vancouver is willing to take on a contract in return that helps Florida out payroll-wise.
- VANTEL

I don't mind a large contract coming back as long as the player is of comparable quality to Luongo. Nearly all of the rants we see on HB have a large contract belonging to a crappy player needing to come back as an equal value deal. That's just nonsense IMO. If someone of that sort does come back (eg Reinprecht) it would also come with a player of quality and we might bury the other contract in the Wolves.

Ok, so we're debating with our fan goggles on then, cause I'm pretty sure any GM isn't going to raise their offer because of the "obvious cap circumvention"...
- Juice

But it is part of the issue. It's not a 10 year deal. A GM may want to make that part of the negotiation, but both they and Gillis know that Lu will not be playing out that deal. Treating it like it's even remotely possible that Lu will be sitting on the bench to collect the last $1m of a $60m deal at age 43 is just being willfully blind to the reality of it.

Pierre Lebruns updated blog from a few minutes ago.

Goalie talk
With Tomas Vokoun landing in Pittsburgh, Tampa gambling on Anders Lindback (very much a worthy gamble in my opinion), and Josh Harding re-signing in Minnesota on Tuesday, the goalie options continue to shrink for teams looking for an upgrade there.

This should only help the Vancouver Canucks in trying to create a better market place for
Roberto Luongo and his massive contract.

I believe the Florida Panthers are among a short list of teams that have talked to the Canucks about Luongo, but there won’t be a deal there unless Vancouver is willing to take on a contract in return that helps Florida out payroll-wise.
- VANTEL

Florida would be the perfect fit for luongo since they need the cap hit so in his later years he could make the perfect backup while making a cheap salary (if he didn't want to retire)

Florida would be the perfect fit for luongo since they need the cap hit so in his later years he could make the perfect backup while making a cheap salary (if he didn't want to retire)
- tbert44

Who makes sense coming back from Florida?

That's some mighty fine unwarranted light trolling there my friend.
- Juice

...and boom goes the dynamite!

Who makes sense coming back from Florida?
- we_are_all_canucks

If Lebrun is correct and a larger contract has to come back, the only options would be:

Brian Campbell - $7.1M/4 years
T Fleischmann - $4.5M/3 years
Ed Jovanovski - $4.1M/3 years
Scott Upshall - $3.5M/3 years

I doubt they give up their #1 D man (Campbell) or one of their top line wingers (Fleischmann), which would leave Jovo and Upshall.

If Lebrun is correct and a larger contract has to come back, the only options would be:

Brian Campbell - $7.1M/4 years
T Fleischmann - $4.5M/3 years
Ed Jovanovski - $4.1M/3 years
Scott Upshall - $3.5M/3 years

I doubt they give up their #1 D man (Campbell) or one of their top line wingers (Fleischmann), which would leave Jovo and Upshall.
- AlexF

i don't see jovo waiving the ntc. he signed in FLA for a reason; he's retiring there. he's not moving his family here for 3 years.

maybe it's kopecky?

edit: now that i think about it, kopecky is unlikely. talon obviously liked him from chi and so brought him to the panthers for a reason.

If Lebrun is correct and a larger contract has to come back, the only options would be:

Brian Campbell - $7.1M/4 years
T Fleischmann - $4.5M/3 years
Ed Jovanovski - $4.1M/3 years
Scott Upshall - $3.5M/3 years

I doubt they give up their #1 D man (Campbell) or one of their top line wingers (Fleischmann), which would leave Jovo and Upshall.
- AlexF

Meh!

i don't see jovo waiving the ntc. he signed in FLA for a reason; he's retiring there. he's not moving his family here for 3 years.

maybe it's kopecky?
- RealityChecker

There would have to be more to it, prospects, picks, etc... I doubt Gillis feels the pressure to move Lu just for the sake of moving Lu. Maybe the pieces won't provide immediate help or equivalent talent back and you have to take back salary but then there has to be something to build on.

Otherwise just keep him.

There would have to be more to it, prospects, picks, etc... I doubt Gillis feels the pressure to move Lu just for the sake of moving Lu. Maybe the pieces won't provide immediate help or equivalent talent back and you have to take back salary but then there has to be something to build on.

Otherwise just keep him.
- we_are_all_canucks

oh i don't mean just that. it would be on top of a pick, prospect.

oh i don't mean just that. it would be on top of a pick, prospect.
- RealityChecker

Agreed. We were just speculating the "large contract" that might have to come back. Clearly it would be that plus something of actual value.