Canuck's Quarter Review "Goalies and Prospects"

Part Three
Goalies and Prospects.

Goalies.

The Canucks came into this year with the former captain, team leader and highest paid player Roberto Luongo as the obvious #1 with blue chipper and leader of the Moose for the last few seasons, Cory Schneider, as his backup. 

Luongo: He hasn’t played great nor has he played horrible. When he first came to Vancouver he developed a reputation as one of the best goalies in the NHL. He has then followed that up by developing a reputation amongst fans are a choke artist who let’s in weak goals. I definitely don’t think he is that. Right now he is playing like an average goalie. I do believe he has the skills to be an elite goaltender and I trust what Gillis sees in him as well.  My reasoning for thinking that he can lead the Canucks to the cup this year is this. Have you ever done something for years and years and then tried to change the way you do that one thing? It takes time to adjust. Luongo was a hard charging, aggressive, out to challenge type goaltender and has been his whole career. This year new goalie coach Rollie Melanson wants Luongo to be deeper in his net. At times this has looked brilliant (see last night’s scramble save with the blocker), on other occasions he has looked pretty bad getting beat high over his shoulder from outside. To me these are growing pains. In the end I think this change will help him out a lot and he will round back into top form. Time will tell what we have in Luongo and I expect him to be worth his 5.4M cap hit.

Schneider: The kid lots of fans were saying should have Luongo’s job as the #1 guy. He started hot 3 games in he was leading the NHL in GAA and S%. He is no longer putting out those numbers and has looked a little shaky lately (so has the team in front of him). He will continue to get his games this year as AV and MG have apparently set out a plan for the goalies. He is a big solid goalie and when on makes the job look easy. More confidence and more ice time and he will be a #1 in the future (maybe not with Vancouver). The thing that looks good about Schneider is he seems to be adjusting faster to his new coach and the new style. Think younger generation vs older generation when it comes to the Internet. (Just joking family).

Both goalies have to adjust to new styles as well as new defenders in front of them. Look for both goalies to improve as the team grows together. Luongo will be the #1 this year barring injury, look for nothing less than the Canucks riding Luongo through the playoffs.

Prospects.

Although I can’t say I get to much viewing time of the Moose I get to catch a bit of the Canucks system as I work at the Save-On Foods Memorial arena home of the Victoria Salmon Kings. I do a lot of following of the young guys though and look for some of them to make an impact on the team in the next few years.

Hodgson (17 gp 8g 5a): He started slow but has come on strong. He looks like the big time prospect we thought we drafted a few years ago. He’s tied for the lead in points with Shirokov with 13 points. All reports have Hodgson leading the team. As a stated in the earlier blog I hope Hodgson can fill the 2^nd line RW position for the Canucks this season. 

Shirokov (17gp 5g 8a): Russia? North America? AHL? NHL? Does anyone know what Shirokov will show up each game? He’s one of those players who has the talent but doesn’t always bring it. Probably not what the Canucks need right now but he does have some experience and is playing well right now. Might we see Shirokov get a shot? Only time will tell.

Bill Sweatt: Seems to be playing very well with Hodgson. He also played will in the preseason. Gillis has said that he wants his prospects to get a taste of the NHL this year and I can see the hard working Sweatt getting a chance.

Schroeder: According to Brian Munz Schroeder hasn’t looked great and hasn’t looked that bad. Had a good game the other night will two goals and will need to keep building on that. In my opinion he’s a few years away but will be a good smart player for the Canucks in the future.

Connauton: See Blog about the defence.

Tambellini: Seven points in seven games, sniper is playing like he wants another shot in the big leagues. Didn’t look that out of place with the Canucks earlier in the year and is my guess for the teams first shake up if they keep losing.

Bliznak: Had a chance in the NHL and got sent back down. I think he knows what he needs to work on and with the weakness of the 4^th line the Canucks have will probably see more time with the big club in the future.

Lack and Wieman: Both goalies for the Moose have been playing good this year. Lack (2.22GAA 0.919SV%) Wieman (2.46GAA 0.908SV%) are both options if there is an injury to the Canucks tandem however in my opinion Gillis might have found a steal in Lack.  With some time to develop I can see the 6’4 goalie becoming a serviceable NHL goalie.