The Great Vancouver Goalie Debate

(photo courtesy of passittobulis.blogspot.ca)

The Canucks are in a pretty awkward spot. After getting embarrassed in the playoffs this year, the ice is now wearing thin in the Vancouver goal crease. Reading the writing on the wall, Roberto Luongo, a man who walked on water in BC not so long ago, reportedly asked the Nucks for a trade today. In classy fashion, Luongo recognized young Cory Schneider as the future of the franchise in an interview with local reporters.

(photo courtesy of mapleleafshotstove.com)

Now comes the tricky part; Bobby Lu commands a hefty price tag, but is also under contract for another decade. That's a tough sell when you're moving a goalie you gave up on. There are several teams with the need, and the means to accommodate the dollars, but the most interesting question is "how much is Roberto Luongo really worth right now?".

Blue Jackets Setting the Bar for Bad

(photo courtesy bleacherreport.com)

The Blue Jackets are finished in Columbus, even if they don't know it yet. This team is not only dead last in the NHL standings by a country mile, but have a fractured management system from the top down. Perennial lottery picks that fail to pan out from poor drafting, misinformed free agent signings, and only one playoff appearance in their history. Not even Ken Hitchcock could save them, and he now has St. Louis in first place. The guy can coach. Compounding matters, their coveted first overall pick-to-be, Nail Yakupov, now has scrambled eggs in his skull. They've had bad luck, but the problem boils down to consistently atrocious mismanagement. With little fan interest, their franchise player begging to leave, and no discernible sign of hope on the horizon, I doubt they'll still be in Columbus within five years.
           (Columbus Captain Rick Nash addresses trade rumours)