So Yzerman the GM coming out and saying he's not interested in Luongo means its the number one place? And Detroit really?? The have a guy there named Jimmy Howard who last year had more wins, better Gaa and Better % than Luongo and hes younger and cheaper. But I guess Detroit getting Luongo makes a ton of sense??
- Habsforever101

NO GM IN THE HISTORY OF THE NHL HAS EVER SAID ANYTHING JUST AS A NEGOTIATING PLOY, EEEEEEEVVVVVVVEEEEEEEERRRRRR

If it's just the system, why was he a vezina candidate in Florida?
- Pea-Brain

Clearly stated in my post he has had a great career did I not?? Yet the guy is 33 now and not at the same caliber he used to be. I also never said anything about a system in my post just stated that when playing behind the best team in the NHL you are prob gonna say way less action. Just look at schneider, with the same team in front of him he had a .937 compared to .919 by luongo and 20 wins in 33 games compared to 31 in 55 games by luongo. He clearly isn't the same goalie he once was.

The problem is the position Lu plays, you can have many solid forwards or D but only one starting goalie. If you look around the league most teams have already locked down who they want to play that position and only a few teams are uncertain or might want to upgrade. Of those teams you have to take a look at their cap situation and their future prospects. Most teams that need a goalie wouldn't be willing to throw that kind of money at a goalie anyways especially for a long period of time. Don't forget his cap hit is 5.3 but his salary for the next 6 years is 6.7 thats a ton of money for a poor organization to have to pay out for an aging goalie.
- Habsforever101

You could also compare the cost of that one contract to the opposite approach, where you would have to pay several defensemen to give you a strong top-4. Goalie is probably cheaper in the end.

Clearly stated in my post he has had a great career did I not?? Yet the guy is 33 now and not at the same caliber he used to be. I also never said anything about a system in my post just stated that when playing behind the best team in the NHL you are prob gonna say way less action. Just look at schneider, with the same team in front of him he had a .937 compared to .919 by luongo and 20 wins in 33 games compared to 31 in 55 games by luongo. He clearly isn't the same goalie he once was.
- Habsforever101

so if it's just the great team in front of him since coming to Vancouver, why did he get Vezina consideration in FLA?

NO GM IN THE HISTORY OF THE NHL HAS EVER SAID ANYTHING JUST AS A NEGOTIATING PLOY, EEEEEEEVVVVVVVEEEEEEEERRRRRR
- Pea-Brain

Still, hard to see how Tampa adds a 6 million dollar goalie (with some question marks) when they already have big tickets in Lecavalier, Stamkos, and St Louis. Tampa is not a big market team in hockey.

You know what I meant by aging, the guy is 33 and past his prime. Also Yzerman pretty much came out and said he's looking for a young guy who can become an elite goalie not a goalie who is 33 and was an elite goalie. As for the teams reported to have interest which I guess you mean Columbus, Islanders, Edmonton and Toronto? Which if you read my last post Lu makes no sense in both Edmonton as they have a goalie of the future and Bulin for another year and Islanders have a goalie signed for life, nabokov and Montoya who are all capable goalies. So basically its Columbus and Toronto and Columbus finished in last place so I doubt Lu wants to go there for a rebuild or that they wanna take on a that contract for the next 10 years while they try and rebuild their team...
- Habsforever101

Was an elite goalie? Luongo is STILL an elite goalie. Yzerman came out and said he wants a young guy. Whether that's all smoke and mirrors to drive the price down remains to be seen.

Still, hard to see how Tampa adds a 6 million dollar goalie (with some question marks) when they already have big tickets in Lecavalier, Stamkos, and St Louis. Tampa is not a big market team in hockey.
- apollo678

NO ONE IN HISTORY

Fleury isn't even a top 10 in the league. I'd argue he's not top 15
- Pea-Brain

Ok so you pulled 1 guy out of the 7 guys I mentioned with better numbers than Luongo last year plus the 4 guys that the other guy said were better than luongo. Thats still 11 guys that had a better year than Luongo, are younger and have better contracts. So he clearly is not a Top 5 goalie in the NHL anymore which was exactly my point, I threw in all the goalies at their current age and with their current contracts I'd rather have over Luongo before. Is Luongo a solid NHL goalie yes he is but he is not Top 5 and when you add his stupid contract to it there are a ton of goalies I rather have on my team over him plain and simple. Argue all you want but the amount of teams that would actually pay to get luongo on their team is extremely limited.

Was an elite goalie? Luongo is STILL an elite goalie. Yzerman came out and said he wants a young guy. Whether that's all smoke and mirrors to drive the price down remains to be seen.
- Michael_Stuart

It's unreal. one less than stellar season and he sucks. Same invalids who have been saying Sharp is past his prime because he was 2 points off his career best last year.

Ok so you pulled 1 guy out of the 7 guys I mentioned with better numbers than Luongo last year plus the 4 guys that the other guy said were better than luongo. Thats still 11 guys that had a better year than Luongo, are younger and have better contracts. So he clearly is not a Top 5 goalie in the NHL anymore which was exactly my point, I threw in all the goalies at their current age and with their current contracts I'd rather have over Luongo before. Is Luongo a solid NHL goalie yes he is but he is not Top 5 and when you add his stupid contract to it there are a ton of goalies I rather have on my team over him plain and simple. Argue all you want but the amount of teams that would actually pay to get luongo on their team is extremely limited.
- Habsforever101

my point was your argument is invalid when you make it invalid.

There's also a huge difference between a career year and a pedigree. there's a difference between a sub-par year and sucking. You might want to learn it.

Also, how is $5.whateverM for 6 years insane for a top 10 at worst goalie in the NHL?

Was an elite goalie? Luongo is STILL an elite goalie. Yzerman came out and said he wants a young guy. Whether that's all smoke and mirrors to drive the price down remains to be seen.
- Michael_Stuart

Of course its smoke and mirrors, no GM in his right mind would say that they are interested in a big way, that would drive up the price. Yzerman is too smart for that game, and it is a game.

Just like on draft day, when Yzerman tables an offer, Gillis will say that there are betters offer availble and Tampa better step up their offer.

Trust me, with Tampa's goaltending situation, they will be making an offer to Vancouver draft day.

so if it's just the great team in front of him since coming to Vancouver, why did he get Vezina consideration in FLA?
- Pea-Brain

Once again and now read carefully, Luongo WAS a great goalie but the year he got nominated for the vezina in florida was 2003 almost 10 years later he is no longer the same goalie he once was. He is still at this point a top 15 goalie in the NHL which is pretty impressive at 33 years old however, he is no longer under elite status as that usually means a top 5 guy. The guys id easily put in the elite category would be Rinne, Quick, Lundy, Thomas and Howard or Price and besides Thomas all of which are great young goalies with promising futures.

Once again and now read carefully, Luongo WAS a great goalie but the year he got nominated for the vezina in florida was 2003 almost 10 years later he is no longer the same goalie he once was. He is still at this point a top 15 goalie in the NHL which is pretty impressive at 33 years old however, he is no longer under elite status as that usually means a top 5 guy. The guys id easily put in the elite category would be Rinne, Quick, Lundy, Thomas and Howard or Price and besides Thomas all of which are great young goalies with promising futures.
- Habsforever101

you would put Howard in the elite category? really?

You could also compare the cost of that one contract to the opposite approach, where you would have to pay several defensemen to give you a strong top-4. Goalie is probably cheaper in the end.
- nfph

One HUGE point everyone seems to miss out out on is the VALUE of Luongo and not the contract itself.

Sure the contract makes creating a contender for the cup in a tight spot.

BUT ---- as an investment for an owner for will get anywhere from 2 to 5 million (depending on the city) per home playoff game.... no Goalie has won more rounds than Lou in the past three years.

Ka-Ching.

5.6 Cap hit a year in Salary.... 4 to 10 Million in a year's worth of MINIMUM playoff home games.

Fans like players.
Owners like money.

my point was your argument is invalid when you make it invalid.

There's also a huge difference between a career year and a pedigree. there's a difference between a sub-par year and sucking. You might want to learn it.

Also, how is $5.whateverM for 6 years insane for a top 10 at worst goalie in the NHL?
- Pea-Brain

So the guys I named where in career years now? No the guys are named are young goalies who have had a few solid seasons and judging talent wise not just on pure stats but how good the goalie is I would say they are better goalies for the future than Luongo. And his contract isn't for 6 years its for 10 at 5.3 but for the next 6 years his salary which is what the team has to actually pay him is 6.7. And once again he is not at worst a top 10 he is not even a top 10 now at 33 come back to me in 3 years from now and well see where his career is at!

you would put Howard in the elite category? really?
- CanuckforLife

Or Price? potentially, yes. But right now Halak>Price.

So the guys I named where in career years now? No the guys are named are young goalies who have had a few solid seasons and judging talent wise not just on pure stats but how good the goalie is I would say they are better goalies for the future than Luongo. And his contract isn't for 6 years its for 10 at 5.3 but for the next 6 years his salary which is what the team has to actually pay him is 6.7. And once again he is not at worst a top 10 he is not even a top 10 now at 33 come back to me in 3 years from now and well see where his career is at!
- Habsforever101

The last 4 years he will have retired. don't be a troll.

Didn't you mention Elliot?

One HUGE point everyone seems to miss out out on is the VALUE of Luongo and not the contract itself.

Sure the contract makes creating a contender for the cup in a tight spot.

BUT ---- as an investment for an owner for will get anywhere from 2 to 5 million (depending on the city) per home playoff game.... no Goalie has won more rounds than Lou in the past three years.

Ka-Ching.

5.6 Cap hit a year in Salary.... 4 to 10 Million in a year's worth of MINIMUM playoff home games.

Fans like players.
Owners like money.
- Beatle_john

First off I highly doubt the 4 playoff series that Luongo has won in the past 3 years is the most by any goalie... Thomas alone won 4 the year they won the cup so don't just throw out made up stats! Second like i've said before Luongo is worth the money for the first 2-3 years and maybe up to 4 years but after that you'll be paying a 37 year old goalie 6.7 mill in salary with a 5.3 cap hit. and his contract still has another 6 years left on it!

you would put Howard in the elite category? really?
- CanuckforLife

You wouldn't? He has only played 3 NHL seasons and has never had under 30 wins and has 2 seasons with a % above .920 and and Gaa under 2.3. Pretty stellar stats for such a young goalie. He might not have years of experience but he's a great goalie and I'd take him over Luongo at this point in their careers any day.

Or Price? potentially, yes. But right now Halak>Price.
- Pea-Brain

Have you not watched Price play? On a terrible team this year where on some nights the lineup was half AHL and half NHL caliber Price had numbers very similar to Luongo. Price is amazing and although Halak had better numbers he was on a much better team either way Luongo doesn't rank ahead of either of them.

First off I highly doubt the 4 playoff series that Luongo has won in the past 3 years is the most by any goalie... Thomas alone won 4 the year they won the cup so don't just throw out made up stats! Second like i've said before Luongo is worth the money for the first 2-3 years and maybe up to 4 years but after that you'll be paying a 37 year old goalie 6.7 mill in salary with a 5.3 cap hit. and his contract still has another 6 years left on it!
- Habsforever101

Let's see...

0 this year,
3 last year,
2 the previous year

3+2 = 4

And I guess if we aren't including this season because it's not over, 3+2+2 = 4. Excellent.

Have you not watched Price play? On a terrible team this year where on some nights the lineup was half AHL and half NHL caliber Price had numbers very similar to Luongo. Price is amazing and although Halak had better numbers he was on a much better team either way Luongo doesn't rank ahead of either of them.
- Habsforever101

To me it seems Price is more talented but Halak is more coachable. I would take Price between the two of them.

I'd also like to direct you to this statistic.

http://www.quanthockey.co...e-percentage-leaders.html

Note Roberto at 5th, and the games played of those above him compared to his.

Obviously an incredible talent who holds a lot of value, especially being the 8th or 9th highest paid goalie (per cap hit) in the league today.

Looking at this table more I'm making the observation that save percentages are grossly inflated these days. Out of the top 20 goalies all time 3 are not currently playing, and one of those is Cristobal Huet. Are we to believe that the top 18 goalies ever are playing today? Brutal that this statistic has become so skewed because of the evolution of the goalie.

It also shows how dominant Dominik Hasek was. Best ever? Possibly.

As for everyone saying Lu is a top 5 goalie on this board, you do realize how ridiculous you sound right? I would take a number of goalies over Lu for both short and long term:
Rinne, Lundy, Quick, Howard, Price, Thomas, Halak, Smith, Backstrom, Fleury, Lethonen, Hiller, Ward, Kipper, Elliott and Miller. All of which have better contracts and are younger. If you look down the road a few years and take away the first place team that sit in front of Lu these guys are simply better goalies. Then if you mix in some of the young guys like Lindback, Bernier, Markstrom, Schneider, Varly, Dubnyk, Pavelec and Niemi which have a bright future ahead, the market for Lu just isn't that strong.
There are a lot of young talented goalies in the NHL and although I don't think most of them will have a great career like Lu has had and he still has a few years left they are still better options in goal than he is.
- Habsforever101

The ones hilighted are not better than Luongo. Of the others, a few are on par with Luongo.

Smith? Elliot? Lehtonen? you're kidding right?

A few of the guys you mentioned are borderlined NHL starters