May 1, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo (1) during the singing of the National Anthem before the start of the first period, perhaps his final stand as a goalie.  Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

THE GOALIES

Roberto Luongo

• Height: 6-3
• Weight: 217
• Age: 34

W-L-OTL: 9-6-3
SV%: .907
GAA: 2.56
SO: 2

Luongo is a veteran butterfly style goalie with the ability to make show-stopping saves.  He can steal games, but is occasionally prone to weak angle goals.  Lu was better going post to post prior to a season ending injury to his groin sustained several years ago, but has adapted his style from an athletic goaltender to a sound positional one.  He is a workhorse capable of playing 70-75 games per season and is the Canucks’ all-time leader in virtually every statistical category for goaltenders.  Though age is not on his side, Luongo is still an elite level goalie when he’s on, but he can be a bit fragile mentally.

Cory Schneider

Height: 6-2
Weight: 195
Age: 27

W-L-OTL: 17-9-4
SV%: .927
GAA:  2.11
SO:  5

Schneider, when he’s right, tracks the puck as well as any goaltender in the league. Photo Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

Eddie Lack

Height: 6-5
Weight: 197

Age:  25

AHL Stats (With Chicago Wolves)

W-L-OTL: 7-4-1

SV%: .899

GAA:  3.00

SO:  1

At 6’5″, possesses tremendous size and is also agile for his height.  Has a strong mental game and has been showing signs of dominance at the AHL level prior to sustaining a season ending hip injury requiring surgery.  Was a member of the AHL’s all-rookie team two years ago, and had save percentages of over .925 for the last two seasons with Chicago.  Slightly thin for his height, but has lightning fast reflexes and a good glove. Was expected to backup Cory Schneider prior to his injury which sidelined him for six months.

Joe Cannata

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Age: 23

AHL Stats (With Chicago Wolves)

W-L-OTL: 6-6-0

SV%: .912

GAA:  2.65

SO:  0

Another goaltender with size in the Canucks’ system who is a very technically sound goaltender, with excellent hand-eye coordination.  Cannata is decent puck-handler, but lacks the “grade-A” ability of an elite goaltender.  May succeed at the minor league level, but has limited upside at the NHL level except as a backup.

David Honzik

Height: 6-3

Weight: 209 lbs

Age: 19

QMJHL Stats (With Cape Breton)

W-L-OTL: 4-23-1

SV%: .873

GAA:  4.40

SO:  1

The Czech Honzik is a big goaltender, who moves smoothly in the crease. A good skater who employs the butterfly style, Honzik takes covers a lot of ice and net with his large frame, but he is prone to dropping too quickly.  Although he had a suspect season with Cape Breton in 2013, scouts think Honzik projects forward well, with the potential of one day playing at the NHL level.  Has yet to experience much success in the playoffs.

Schneider won’t be looking over his shoulder in 2013-2014, but can he live up to expectations? Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Verdict:  Glass Half Full

About the only thing in Vancouver which is certain is that goaltender Cory Schneider will be shouldering the load for the team next season.  There are some questions, however.  Some technical elements of Schneider’s game must improve going forward.  Too many times teams dumped the puck in and forced the goaltender to make a play, and more than once it burned the Canucks for a goal.  In addition, Schneider has a tendency to play on-net shoot-ins carelessly, often leaving huge rebounds in the middle of the slot for opposing forwards to scoop up.

Furthermore, and more concerning for Canucks fans, was it just a mirage or did Cory Schneider do a number 2 in the bed in games 3 and 4 of San Jose’s sweep of the Canucks?  The goal to lose the series in overtime was about as bad as it gets.  Schneider himself once admitted to “cramping under pressure” so is this a sign of a goalie who can’t handle the big stage, or of a goaltender learning how to cope with it?

My guess is that Schneider will be just fine, and his backup will either be the unproven Eddie Lack or a goalie received in any trade involving Luongo.  Without the albatross of Luongo’s impending trade hanging around the team’s collective neck, Schneider will prove that he has the right stuff to lead his team into the next era of Canucks hockey.  His stickhandling, positioning and concentration in big games are all things which are important to correct going forward, but something tells me he will amend these flaws in his game.

As for the other goalies on the farm, they’ll hold the fort at the AHL level until the Canucks can draft a better prospect than what they already have. In the unlikely situation that Lack is called up to replace Schneider, the organization will have to refill the cupboards with something in development.  The more likely scenario involves Lack developing as a starter with whatever minor affiliate the Canucks purchase next season while a veteran netminder accepts the backup role to Cory Schneider all season long.

Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The Vancouver Canucks will start goaltender Cory Schneider in Game 4 against the San Jose Sharks tonight as they face elimination and a first round sweep.

“Cory is our MVP, he’s one of the reasons we’re in the playoffs. I’ve got a lot of faith in Cory and he’s in tonight” – Coach Vigneault

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) May 7, 2013

Schneider played well in Game 3 after Roberto Luongo started Games 1 and 2, but Schneider was shelled in the third period by the Sharks. Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau scored nine seconds apart early in the third period for the Sharks to take a commanding 4-1 lead. He was beat again by Couture later for a 5-1 Sharks lead before he was pulled for Luongo.

In Games 1 and 2, Luongo played some his best hockey all year and looked strong in relief of Schneider. He probably should have started on the merit of performance, but this is Schneider’s team. Luongo will be traded in the offseason. It doesn’t send a good message to your franchise goaltender when in a pivotal game like this he is on the bench.

In other news, defenceman Kevin Bieksa will play despite missing today’s morning skate. Either winger Steve Pinizzotto or centre Jordan Schroeder may draw into the lineup.

Bieksa will play, according to Vigneault. He is contemplating one other change at forward. Maybe Schroeder in? #canucks

— Brad Ziemer (@BradZiemer) May 7, 2013

Like I said, just a guess on Pinizzotto as all the other black aces are on the ice and he isn’t. Chris Tanev came out at the end of skate.

— JAY JANOWER (@DOUBLEJGLOBALBC) May 7, 2013

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo was visibly disappointed in his post-trade deadline news conference saying his contract “sucks” and would “scrap” it if he could.

The Canucks were close to a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who appear poised to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reports the deal would have been Luongo for a second round pick, a third round pick, and goaltender Ben Scrivens.

Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province reports Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis and Canucks assistant general manager Lorne Henning had actually agreed on a deal for a pair of second round picks and Scrivens for Luongo. However, in the “11th hour” Nonis asked the Canucks to retain part of Luongo’s salary as “payback” to Canucks general manager Mike Gillis for taking his job in 2008 and the deal fell through.

Gillis and the Canucks have now have no choice, but to deal Luongo this summer. It begs the question: will Luongo’s value go up or go down this summer when the salary cap drops from $70.2 million to $64.3 million?

A lot can happen between now and the summer.

Presumed Canucks starter Cory Schneider could struggle or suffer an injury leading to Luongo taking over the number one reigns. Luongo could take the Canucks deep into the playoffs and boost his trade value or struggle to the point where the Canucks might have to give up additional assets for another team to take Luongo’s contract.

Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer could struggle down the stretch and renew pressure in Toronto to acquire a veteran starter in the summer. Washington Capitals might want a goaltender after having the opportunity to assess their young tandem of Michal Neuvirth and Braden Holtby. The Florida Panthers remains a possible option.

The Calgary Flames may also be in the market for a goaltender as Miikka Kiprusoff is rumoured to be retiring at the end of the season. There is reportedly pressure on general manager Jay Feaster from ownership to make the playoffs next season, so they might push for Luongo as a band-aid solution.

It is clear Luongo’s trade value in the summer is flux right now and is highly dependent on what happens between now and the end of the season as it will impact the number of suitors.

The Canucks believe Luongo will still have value in the summer with a shrinking salary cap. They believe teams will be intrigued at the prospect of acquiring a $6-7 million goaltender for a cheap cap hit of $5.3 million.

The Canucks remain convinced there’s a hockey trade out there for Luongo. With a new CBA in place, they believe the goalie market is still defining itself and, when it does, Luongo’s $5.3-million cap hit will seem attractive. Phoenix starter Mike Smith, for example, is reportedly seeking a new deal worth $7 million annually over eight years. By comparison, Luongo’s deal doesn’t seem so bad.

ESPN’s Craig Custance believes the Canucks will be able to acquire as much as a roster player and a prospect or two in the summer, but it is difficult to say. Because the Maple Leafs were the only team really interested in acquiring Luongo, the Canucks had to settle for Scrivens as the main piece after previously asking for the likes of Nazem Kadri, Jake Gardiner, and Tyler Bozak.

It is a risky situation holding on to Luongo until the summer. By holding on, they are hoping Luongo’s value remains the same or goes up.

If everything goes the Canucks way and goaltending in cities like Toronto and Washington falter, then there will be plenty of teams calling Gillis and his value goes up. If there are a couple of teams interested, they could hold the Canucks for ransom in the summer knowing they have to move Luongo with the cap coming down with a compliance buyout not really an option.