Canucks Don't Yet Hold All The Cards

It depends how bad the feelings are between Brian Burke and Mike Gillis.

After the weekend, it's not hard to say they're sour, with gusts to out-and-out dislike.

That's okay. GMs who don't like each other can do hockey deals, and part of the weekend was spent by both men trying to see if they can work out a trade that would move Roberto Luongo and his enormous contract into the Leaf tent.

Nothing happened, and Burke's comments that he wasn't going to "strip-mine" his organization to get a goalie without mentioning Luongo specifically suggested Gillis is asking for a lot more than Burke - or anybody - is willing to give. Only Florida is also in the mix, it appears, which works for Luongo since it's his first choice.

Gillis says he's in no hurry. Well, he might want to re-think that.

There's one card Burke could play, one that would turn relations between the two clubs downright ugly.

The Leaf GM could lay down a huge, multi-year, multi-million offer sheet next Monday for the other Vancouver goalie, 26-year-old restricted free agent Cory Schneider, the Canucks goalie every team would rather get if they had a choice.

That wouldn't get them Schneider; Vancouver would have to match rather than accept multiple first rounders from Toronto.

But it would force Vancouver's hand in the same way San Jose forced Chicago to let Antti Niemi go a few years ago by signing Niklas Hjalmarsson. Let's say the Schneider offer was eight years for $40 million. The Canucks would be stuck with more than $10 million in annual goalie costs, with both at lengthy terms. The Leafs could also, if they wanted, load the deal with so-called "lockout" money, say $15 million in the first year that would be Schneider's even if there's a lockout next season.

If you're the Leafs, why not? Worst thing that could happen is you might actually get Schneider, or that the Canucks might poach Leaf RFAs down the line.

Otherwise, these two teams don't like each other anyway. Might as well play hardball.

The Canucks are a wealthy team. But no owner would want to carry a contract like that, and Luongo's.

If the Leafs did it, it would poison the waters between the teams, just like years ago when the Leafs put down an offer sheet for Mattias Ohlund. Theoretically, the Canucks could give Luongo to some other team to spite the Leafs, but what good would that do Gillis? Burke hasn't liked long-term deals in the past because he believes they contravene the salary cap, but he appears to be past that principle. His colleagues have convinced him it's putting the Leafs at a competitive disadvantage.

The Vancouver GM, of course, could sidestep this threat by signing Schneider himself this week, but Schneider seems unlikely to sign until he knows the starting job in Vancouver is all his. There's not a chance, despite Gillis' bluster, that Schneider wants to show up in camp next fall still faced with battling Luongo for starts.

So really, Gillis needs to solve this problem this week by trading Luongo, if not to the Leafs, then somewhere. No Luongo, no threat for a Schneider offer sheet.  It's hard to gauge what Florida's actual interest would be, or whether they'd be willing to give roster players, draft picks and top prospects to Vancouver as Gillis appears to be demanding.

We know he's not getting Jake Gardiner from the Leafs, and Luke Schenn is gone. He might get a roster player (Tyler Bozak) or a second-line prospect (Jesse Blacker, Korbinian Holzer) and a second rounder. Demand Nazem Kadri or Stuart Percy and a second and Burke might really have to think.

Problem is, Gillis has told Canuck fans he's determined to get a bigger package than that for Luongo. He suggests he has all the cards. Funny, because its starting to look as though he's a man backed into a corner.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Nothing]

Do you work for the leafs? This article reads like a shill piece for burke.

Do you really believe he is going to offer sheet schneider honestly?

[m]

cut your loses, cut Luongo. Give him away for nothing... he's no good. That's why nobody really wants him, but they'll take him.

[gfinale]

Luongo's contract is massive and extremely long. Who would want it? The only thing matching Gillis's cluelessness about that is Burke's in going with two unproven goalies last summer.

[Ron Kelly]

Of course in order for Burke to make an offer for Schneider he would have to go against his own rule which is that you do not make offers for other teams RFA's. He has stated this numerous times dating back to when Edmonton made an offer for Penner and Burke at Anaheim was forced to let him go. In making an offer Burke would have to admit that his stance on RFA's was wrong and that just doesn't happen with an ego of this size.

More likely scenario is that the Canucks will carry Luongo into the season, Luongo has demonstrated he isn't a problem in the dressing room, and wait for a team to have goaltending problems. Toronto then runs the risk, if and when their inexperienced and unproven goaltending tandem of Scrivens and Reimer (who Burke has stated he is now comfortable starting the season with next year) falter, of Vancouver will have all the bargaining chips.

There are few options right now for the Leafs to improve their goaltending. The price will only go up. This situation with Vancouver may be more a reflection of Burke's poor relationship with the Canucks.

[Eric H.]

Damien: Why doesn't Gillis just give Luongo away? It's a terrible, burdensome contract for a guy who is simply not as good as what he's being paid. Just take the cap space, thank Toronto for erasing your mistake, and run! What is the problem?!?

[CptCripple]

Burke isnt going to offer sheet anyone after the spectacle he created during the dustin penner offer sheet debacle, he will look like the biggest hypocrite league wide.
How is he starting to look like he is backed into a corner, Burke's job is the one on the line to make the playoffs and as much potential as scrivens and reimer have they wont bring the playoffs to TO.
Gillis has stated he dosent have to do anything he can bring both goalies into next year, thats fact not opinion.
Leaf fans think that there is only one facet to this trade and thats capdumping, Wrong. Yes the canucks will have to take a bad contract back, but once salary cap tradeoff is even, whomever the trading partner is is going to have to give a piece of talent back that matches the talent and impact they will be getting, an almost guaranteed playoff berth.

[chico_hawk]

I think Gillis would want to sign Schneider first before moving Luongo, simply to avoid giving Schneider more leverage as the only NHL goalie they have left. Move Luongo first before signing Schneider, leaves Gillis exposed to possibly higher demands from his new #1.

And obviously, Gillis needs to do that before Jul 1 or it won't just be the Leafs thinking about signing Schneider to an offer sheet...

[CptCripple]

Everyone forgets that there is always the option to bring alot more to the canucks organization by trading Schneider, and alot more teams interested. If the canucks were to go that route and trade him to anyone but Toronto, T.O is forced to go with Scrivens/Reimer and burke to hope they make the playoffs or my guess is he is done in T.O

If you listen to the Toronto media, Gillis should be the luckiest
man alive to be offered Komisarek. You know because a d-man that can
hardly crack the line up on one of the worst defensive teams with a
horrid cap hit is totally worth a bonafide #1 goalie in the league and will definitely crack the canucks line up, IF and its a BIG IF he has even put the canucks on his June 15th deadline list of teams he will accept a trade to.

Gillis my guess is going on the assumption that if he has to take a cap hit back to even that part of the contract out, he is going to get back a player that will equal the impact Luongo is going to do ie T.O most likely a playoff contender

Canucks aren't going to get what Luongo is worth because of the length
of the contract. But, as stated many times, there are out clauses that
other teams could use. Which begs the question, are they playing dumb
in order to drive down the price on Luongo?

[Matthew Simpson]

Ironically these two GMs hate each other because they're so much alike. They're stubborn to a tee and I'm not surprised this deal hasn't been done yet (or ever will be). Gillis has frequently shown that protecting his ego is more important that doing what's best for his hockey club (i.e. swallowing his pride on Cody Hodgson).

[M Hastings]

Yah.. he COULD do that.. It wouldnt be good for the Canucks to lose Schniedz in that way.. but lets be honest, Schnieder will be a first year starter~ and there is no gaurantee he'll be worth the price. What if Toronto ended up actually GETTING him with that huge contract,. then the doesn't end up being worth it?

Bye Bye Burke career...

And worst case for Vancouver? They keep a good veteran tender in Luongo, who can work with Lack.

[Lewis McClain]

Toronto does not need an older overpriced goalie like Luongo. Reimer and Scrivens will be just fine without Wilson to mess with their heads.