So I’m home, writing, and listening to The Team 1260 in Edmonton. As I count down the minutes to the Flyers game I hear something that catches my ear. Apparently Vancouver, who is facing elimination tonight, is starting Cory Schneider in net over starter Roberto Luongo. This took me back for a second, but it inspired me to pose this question. What is the thinking behind this???
In my opinion, either way it’s not going to end well in The City of Glass.
The first option is the Kings sweep and Schneider becomes the top restricted free agent goalie on the market (it might give the fanbase more stock in Luongo). In doing that though it shows the fans that the team pretty much packed it in and Alain Vigneault is most likely out of a job (sacrificial lamb).
Secondly, say Schneider wins and by a miracle he stays hot and carries the Canucks to The Cup. Now Vancouver is handcuffed trying to dump the obnoxiously large contract that Luongo has (which MAYBE one or two teams might take on), but essentially get nothing in return. The other option is they trade Schneider for a higher value, and the fans get pissed because they traded the new franchise goalie; then they burn shit (its wouldn’t be the first time).
What are your thoughts here? I know there are a ton of hockey fans out there. Comment or email me at jay@thesportsriot.net and let me know…
