12/22/24
June 23, 2006
Luongo traded for Bertuzzi: The NHL season might be over, but that doesn't mean that the action has stopped. In advance of the NHL Draft, "the Panthers have confirmed that they acquired Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld from the Canucks in exchange for Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek and a 2006 sixth round pick." Hindsight will determine who the trade "winner" was, but for this season, Vancouver has vastly improved. (But what happens to Cloutier now?)
With the trading of Bertuzzi, the Canucks made both of the moves that I was thinking they'd make at the end of the regular season, along with the firing of Marc Crawford. Even without discussing the Steve Moore incident, Bertuzzi was a distraction and not playing at the level to which he was hyped. Vancouver can't afford to continue to hang on to him. They missed the playoffs with him. They're certainly capable of missing the playoffs without him. I think the Canucks are moving in the right direction.
posted by pullthegoalie at 01:02 AM on June 24, 2006
Great trade. Bertuzzi wasn't the same player the season leading up to the Moore incident, let alone after that. Allen is a good, tough defenceman, he can clear the front of the net, but he is a bit slow for the new NHL. Auld is a decent goalie, could be a starter, but had a chance to show he could be a game stealer and didn't do it. One soft goal per game, very vulnerable to the sharp angle high shot, goes down early and biig five hole when doing so. has potential but by no means a blue chipper. Krajicek looks like a very good prospect, a lot more upside than Allen. In the "new" NHL, the cap is everything. Vancouver unloads 5.2 million in Bert plus 1 million in Allen and 600k in Auld, for about 7 million, and take back less than that. Thats an upside. Vancouver also almost certainly loses Jovo as a UFA, that frees up around 4.5 million, enough for a very good replacement, or, more likely, two solid d-men. The key remaining questions are: 1 Cloutier. Canucks don't need him, at 3.2 million he is expensive and a risk for another team - injury prone and a disaster in the playoffs. Someone might take him and cash for say a 2nd rounder. he might get bundled at the draft. 2. Who plays with Naslund? Only two seasons removed from MVP contender, Nazzie should be a huge presence with the new rules, given he has a fantastic shot and should be able to position himself more easily. He needs a great setup man. The Sedins were the #line last year already, so nazzie is a good building block for a good second line, but Canucks need an elite centre to get him the puck. Prediction: Bertuzzi will play great in Florida.
posted by rumple at 01:32 AM on June 24, 2006
Well, I just want to thank you for pissing in my corn flakes. I was having visions of Luongo in a Wings sweater, and you had to go and ruin my day at 2:46 in the friggin' morning! Now I have to wonder who the Wings are going to pursue for their number one netminder. I don't see Cloutier, and I certainly don't want to see Jiggy and his bum knees.
posted by wingnut4life at 01:54 AM on June 24, 2006
Roloson probaly won't get signed in Edmonton. Detroit could do worse, though he wants 3 years and is 36. Maybe the chance to play in Detroit would lessen his contract demands a wee bit. Ed Belfour will be available too. heh.
posted by rumple at 01:58 AM on June 24, 2006
This is a great trade both ways. Bertuzzi will get a chance to start again and become the solid power forward he used to be, and the Canucks were a goalie short of finishing in the top four in the West. Poor wingnut, watching his decade-long Wing empire fade like all dynasties eventually do. :)
posted by chicobangs at 04:35 AM on June 24, 2006
Wingnut would you have been willing to give up Datsyuk for Luongo? I don't think the Wings were ever really going to get him, the price in players and the effect it would have on the cap was just too great. And how about that Leafs dynasty?
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:48 AM on June 24, 2006
You can't miss what you never had, YYM.
posted by chicobangs at 04:49 AM on June 24, 2006
Man, I am absolutely thrilled that I don't have to see Luongo 8 times a year anymore. Thank you Vancouver! As for the Wings, I predict that they'll sign Martin Gerber. There, you read it here first.
posted by NoMich at 08:42 AM on June 24, 2006
Yeah, I was thinking Gerber too. Probably the best goalie available this summer. Best goalie that isn't old and rundown, at least (hey, you can get Hasek back!)
posted by mkn at 10:20 AM on June 24, 2006
What a great trade by Vancouver. It's a huge upgrade - and we all knew Bert had to leave. Cloutier will have to be dealt now, you can't have $9 million in goaltenders with the cap. But Luongo is a total stud. He's never had a really good team in front of him - and the 'Nucks are a good one. I think this is going to be the start of another wild-ass trading day.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:01 AM on June 24, 2006
The organization had to do something. The situation with Bertuzzi and Crawford and the whole Steve Moore thing, even though it won't ever be discussed, was a black cloud over a promising team and it had to affect ticket sales. Putting that mess behind them should get them back in track. As a diehard Avs guy, I'm lookin forward to next season's rivalry
posted by cptdpt at 12:00 PM on June 24, 2006
Bert will probably thrive because (a) keenan will make sure he gets a LOT of ice time (b) he won't be on a line with a world class sniper and so won't be tempted to pass before going to net and (c) he'll be able to elave the house without everyone and their dog staring at him.
posted by rumple at 12:24 PM on June 24, 2006
YES! This makes my damn day! I appreciate the great play Bertuzzi gave the 'Nucks for years; but he needed a change of scenery after the Moore sucker-punch incident and the (well-deserved) backlash from it. In Florida he won't have to play the Avs 8 times a year or more (counting a possible playoff encounter) and may return to pre-Moore form. Luongo's certainly capable (if the 'Nucks don't screw up and finish 9th or worse again) of duplicating Kirk McLean's stellar play from the '94 playoffs. I'd like Vancouver to keep Jovo (trade Cloutier and his great regular season/lousy playoff performances for a later round draft pick/cash) because his injury last year was part of the reason they missed they playoffs (along with an anemic offense at times.) Anson Carter and the Sedins had good seasons last year and that line could well be the #1 scoring punch again. Naslund may well have a better season than last year. I also like the hiring of Vigneault as coach (even though I would've wanted Quinn as coach for nostalgic reasons--but would he still have the drive to coach a team with such high expectations?) Add Krajicek replacing Allen and I actually feel optimistic about the 'Nucks chances for a top 4 seed and a deep playoff run--IF they get Luongo signed! Do it now Nonis!
posted by curtangle at 01:16 PM on June 24, 2006
Wow, hindsight sucks. You look at Bertuzzi and say, "I knew that he was going somewhere!" And Luongo was going to get the hell out of Dodge, Florida. It all makes sense now. I really wouldn't mind the Wings picking up Gerber, though. Only because I have his rookie card and I want the value to shoot up a little. I still would not want to see Datsyuk go anywhere else. Never mind that I have three of his rookie cards -- I honestly think that he is a very special player that does dominate when healthy. The Empire is still in control, chico. This season was just a jedi mind trick...
posted by wingnut4life at 10:26 PM on June 24, 2006
And the last season, and the season before that....
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:43 AM on June 25, 2006
I keep trying to post in this thread but that involuntary eye lid twitch comes back every time I start typing. Bob Clarke dropped the fucking ball here. I really thought Roberto was going to at least get a deal pitched to him from the Fly guys, but no they'll probably go out and sign another over the hill defensemen. I can't wait for another year of Esche sucking big ass in net.
posted by HATER 187 at 01:59 PM on June 26, 2006
Four year/$27 million deal for Luongo--now I'm REALLY looking forward to next season. (Of course I felt that way the past few years and look what happened--and what didn't happen.) Keep Noronen as the back-up and trade Cloutier. Bye Dan--it's been real (disappointing.) Now if the 'Nucks could just keep Jovo somehow...
posted by curtangle at 12:19 AM on June 30, 2006
With Cloutier still in the Canuck fold, I'm wondering if this is going to become another Curtis Joseph situation.