Lessons learned from Luongo
Long-term deal with no-trade clause may not always be the smart way to go
While the light shines on teams still playing, several National Hockey League general managers are keeping an eye on the Vancouver Canucks “situation.” It involves Roberto Luongo admitting he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause, even though a decade remains on his 12-year, $64-million contract.
The goaltender carries a $5.33 million salary-cap hit throughout, but is owed more than $6.7 million for the next six seasons.
“Yeah, of course, if they ask me to,” Luongo told reporters after the Canucks fell to the Los Angeles Kings in five first-round games. “I don’t want to be one of those guys that’s going to stand in the way of anything. I always want to put the team ahead of me first.
“I don’t want to be one of those selfish guys,” he added. “I’ve always been about the team first and, obviously, they’ve got a guy here (backup Corey Schneider) who is going to be a superstar in this league for the next 10, 12, 15 years. I loved being here the last six years. If I’m here in the future, then great, and if I’m not, that’s good also.”
Nhlers, Luongo among them, have worked long and hard to earn no-trade clauses. How do you put a price on the security that comes with them?
“It’s a unique circumstance we’re in, where we’ve got an elite young guy who is probably going to dominate the league for many years,” Luongo said. “So I’m not sure what I would do if I was GM. It’s going to be what’s best for the team, and whatever scenario that is, I am okay with it. Whether that involves me being here or not is okay.”
Fort his part, Vancouver GM Mike Gillis appeared pleased with Luongo’s willingness to move elsewhere.
“The emergence of Cory to be so outstanding a young goalie changed the landscape,” Gillis said. “We’re in middle of a changing landscape and we have to evaluate it.”
Why wouldn’t the gm when it’s considered that while Luongo was the best player in Game 1 against the Kings, Schneider started in Game 3 and went on to stop 97 of 101 shots, losing a 1-0 shutout and 2-1 in overtime in the decisive Game 5.
I suspect Canadiens management has noticed what is happening in Vancouver.
Maybe the people up there even have learned something from it since Carey Price becomes a restricted free agent on July 1.
Do they sign him to a longterm contract and, if so, do they also provide him with a no-trade clause?
Right now, Price stands alone as the team’s No. 1, which was the case when Luongo was signed to his 12-year deal. Price, no doubt, also would want a lengthy contract protected by a notrade clause, but are the Canadiens prepared to give him one?
If they refuse, would restricted free agent Price pursue offers from other teams, which the Canadiens would have to match in order to keep him?
Signing Price is a priority, even though his 2011-12 season was so-so, at best. The question is: at what price? Do they go long-term along with a no-trade clause? Do they give him the first, but not the no-trade clause?
Obviously, Price will be offered more than the $3 million he earned this season, even though the Canadiens finished No. 15 in the East. He is, after all, the team’s uncontested No. 1 – for now.
What he is not is a Henrik Lundqvist, the biggest reason the New York Rangers posted their best regular-season record since the Stanley Cup season of 1993-94. Lundqvist set a career high in wins and placed near the top in all major goaltending categories. He led the Rangers to a 3-1 victory over Washington in the first game of Round 2 on Saturday.
Price is not a Jonathan Quick, who carried a Kings team ranked 29th overall in offence to the second round of the playoffs, led all goalies with a franchise-record 10 shutouts and whose heroics in the first period set the stage for the Kings’ 3-1 victory in St. Louis on Saturday.
And Price is surely not a Pekka Rinne, who faced the most shots, but led all NHL goaltenders in wins with 43 for the Nashville Predators. Price had 26.
As you know, Lundqvist, Quick and Rinne are the finalists for the Vézina Trophy, an award voted on by the general managers.
Price has to be signed – but only if its length calls for four years – five at the outside.
It should not come with a no-trade clause.