Kukla's Korner Hockey
Luongo Not What He Once Was
by Paul on 10/25/10 at 05:08 AM ET
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via Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province,
After two starts, it’s hard to know what Cory Schneider’s impact will be on the Canucks’ goaltending situation. But this mini-drama will bear watching as the season unfolds.
For starters, it’s now clear that Roberto Luongo’s demi-god status within the organization has been downgraded to mere mortal. For the Canucks, that’s a positive development. Far too much of their story has revolved around Luongo for the past couple of years and that was unfair to the player and his teammates.
But, while the goaltending might be healthier in the short term, there’s also the matter of Luongo’s gargantuan contract to consider. The 12-year deal was struck with the presumption that Luongo, like Marty Brodeur, would still be an All-Star level goalie into his mid-and late-30s.
The problem is, Luongo turns 32 in April and, clearly, he isn’t the goalie he was four years ago. The question then becomes can he be good enough—and that’s what we’ll find out this season.
In the meantime, it seems Schneider’s greatest value to the organization is as trade bait and that’s unfortunate.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Vancouver Canucks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: roberto+luongo
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Isn’t this an annual article at about this time of year?
I’m no Luongo fan but from what I understand he starts slowly, which inevitably provokes this kind of article.
Posted by Osrt on 10/25/10 at 02:18 PM ET