Numbers Game: Luongo-for-Bertuzzi
Scott Cullen
6/24/2006 12:23:53 AM
A blockbuster deal that had been rumoured, in part, for quite some time sent Roberto Luongo from the Florida Panthers to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for power forward Todd Bertuzzi.
The Canucks get: G Roberto Luongo, D Lukas Krajicek and a sixth-round draft pick.
Luongo, 27, was the prized goaltender on the trade market this summer because he's a restricted free agent, who will be an unrestricted free agent after next season. By making this move, the Canucks have to be prepared to sign Luongo to a long-term deal, which is likely going to be in the $7-million per season range.
For that hefty price tag, the Canucks will get a durable number one starter; Luongo has started 147 games over the past two NHL seasons, facing more shots than any other goaltender. In Vancouver, he might not need to play quite that much, if Mika Noronen is capable of handling the backup job but, more importantly, Luongo should face less shots. The end result should be an improved goals against average and more wins.
Getting Krajicek, 23, is also a solid acquisition. He didn't put up big numbers in Florida, but Krajicek was a top-four defenceman for the Panthers as a rookie, logging 18:30 of ice time per game. With that experience under his belt and an expected opportunity to play a top-four role in Vancouver next year, he might be able to put up 25 points, playing behind Mattias Ohlund and Sami Salo in Vancouver. Krajicek is a restricted free agent who earned $551,000 last year.
By dealing Bertuzzi, the Canucks also change the make-up of the team's forward lines, turning the focus to the Sedin twins, but it also opens up a spot on a scoring line, perhaps for a youngster like Ryan Kesler, who scored 30 goals in his one season in the AHL, to get a shot at a more offensive role.
The Panthers get: G Alexander Auld, LW Todd Bertuzzi and D Bryan Allen .
A fresh start could be just what Bertuzzi, 31, needs to get his game back on track. While his 71-point season wasn't terrible, that minus-17 rating he posted was abysmal. He's better than that and might be able to thrive with a little less scrutiny in South Florida. The Panthers could try and put together a power-packed line that combines Bertuzzi (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) with Olli Jokinen (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), but no matter which line Bertuzzi ends up with, he gives the Panthers another offensive threat and there were too many nights when Jokinen was the only Panther to fear. Expect Bertuzzi to at least match last year's point totals, maybe even improve on them a bit. Bertuzzi will earn $5.269-million this season and be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.
By sending Luongo out of town, the Panthers had to get a goaltender to at least try and fill the void and Auld is a pretty decent option, though his ceiling is clearly lower than Luongo's. Auld, 25, stepped up in the absence of Dan Cloutier last season and performed beyond expectations, though he was overworked without an adequate backup for much of the year. Don't be surprised if the Panthers bring in a more experienced backup to ease the load on Auld, who started 67 games for the Canucks in 2005-2006. Cutting Auld's starts down to 50-55 or so might be the best way to go. In that case, Auld would be unlikely to duplicate last year's 33 wins, but if he can continue to build on what he established last season, he could improve on his goals against average (2.94) and save percentage (.902). Auld is a restricted free agent who should get a healthy raise on the $513,000 he made last season.
Allen, 25, is developing into a solid stay-at-home blueliner and he'll provide some much-needed size to the Panthers blueline. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Allen will help clear the front of the net and likely play a top-four role in Florida with Jay Bouwmeester, Mike Van Ryn and Sean Hill. Allen is also a restricted free agent, who earned $941,441 last season.