Check out this quote from Aaron Portzline in the Columbus Dispatch. ” When the Blue Jackets look down their offseason shopping list, they will see the biggest need is goaltending. After three poor seasons, they have decided that if Steve Mason returns next season, it will be as a backup.
No. 1 on the list of potentially available goaltenders would appear to be Vancouver’s Cory Schneider, who will be a restricted free agent and likely draw a salary of $4 million or more.
The Canucks will likely make a qualifying offer, but his rising salary — Schneider has arbitration rights, should it come to that — will make it almost impossible for him to remain in Vancouver. The Canucks are already committed to starter Roberto Luongo for 10 more seasons with a $5.3 million cap hit.”
- Question, could/would any team spend approx. $10 million on their pair of goaltenders? And the even bigger question, could/would it be worth it? And even if Vancouver would spend that kind of money in any creative way, would Cory Schneider want to stay and play as back up or in tandem? I think that goalies are like NFL quarterbacks, the good ones have an ego. Without that ego, they would not be as good as they are. So I think Schneider would want to be #1, therefore I think he leaves the Canucks. Or, Luongo must leave and with his salary and the tenure of his contract, no easy matter.
- To even think about Schneider or another top shelf goalie, that would mean that Mason would have to go, I cannot see the Blue Jackets paying $3 million for Mason and $4+ million for Schneider or any other lead goalie. Or the Blue Jackets will not bid on Schneider’s free agency and retain Mason.
- I believe Steve Mason could be put on wavers and if picked up by another team, would cost the Jackets $1.5 Million for the year. Which is half his salary. Then the door would be open for another backup. AKA Curtis Sanford or Mark Dekanich and remember Allen York is waiting in the wings. Both Sanford and Dekanich are free agents this summer.
- How about this for wild [ and stupid on another teams part ] Put Luongo on waivers, when another team picks him up, @ half price of $2.5 million for 10 years, Vancouver pays $2.5 million + other team pays $2.5 million and both pay it for 10 years. Aren’t these numbers getting wild???
- As discussed before, goalies seem to burn out. Long term contracts are not a good idea, as seen in Luongo’s case. This situation may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in the high dollar, long term goalie contracts, particularly if Vancouver is not successful in the playoffs.
This summer Scott Howson us under TREMENDOUS pressure to obtain a “name” goalie. The fans groundswell, the F.A.N. movement, and the media are looking for Scott Howson’s head and a new goaltender.