Canucks Could Sign Defenseman Schneider
The Province is reporting, citing Sportsnet as their source, that the Canucks are close to inking a deal for 40 year old defenceman Matheiu Schneider.
The Vancouver Canucks are close to signing free agent defenceman Mathieu Schneider to a one-year deal, according to a report by Sportsnet.ca on Monday afternoon.
So let me get this straight. Gillis dumped a 34 year old, rock solid Canucks veteran blue-liner, and made a huge fan fare about taking the team moving in a younger direction, wanting speed, and young blood, and he then goes to sign a 40 year old? The math doesn’t add up for me.
Schneider brings more offense to the table. He’s been a consistant 30 point getter, averaging over 40 points for most of the season’s he’s been able to play more than 60 games. He looks like a Sami Salo sequel just waiting to happen. He’s missed 56 games in the last four seasons. It seems counter productive and contradictory to sign him.
While Schneider comes with playoff experience, and is a veteran of the league, his arrival also marks some other key moments in the Canucks off season. His arrival – at a pay cut from his 5.25 million from the year before – would push the Canucks to the cap, and mark the end of any Sundin speculation around his return. It also puts the Canucks in a similar situation to Calgary last season. Schneider would mean the Canucks will be near the cap ceiling and as masterful as Gillis can get with the cap, the lack of cap space might come back to hinder the Canucks at the deadline down the stretch.
The Canucks need a puck moving defenseman, but I don’t think Schneider is the solution. We don’t need another Salo. We don’t need a player to rack up the man games missed due to injury. Schneider is more disciplined than Ohlund, but the Canucks don’t need to be Schneider’s 10th NHL team.
Even at his age, Schneider proved that he can provide some pop to a team’s powerplay. He finished the season with 17 points in 23 games. Not bad for a 40 year old.
I think this is another one of Gillis’ moneyball moves. Schneider will fill a role – PP specialist – and will do so at a low price. If he chips in 30 points at $2 million while making the powerplay more effective, then it’s already a good signing. Not to mention that he’s also a previous Cup winner (like Gillis’ other FA signing this offseason, Mikael Samuelsson) and will be able to mentor the Edlers, Bieksas and Aaron Romes of this team.
Even at his age, Schneider proved that he can provide some pop to a team’s powerplay. He finished the season with 17 points in 23 games. Not bad for a 40 year old.
I think this is another one of Gillis’ moneyball moves. Schneider will fill a role – PP specialist – and will do so at a low price. If he chips in 30 points at $2 million while making the powerplay more effective, then it’s already a good signing. Not to mention that he’s also a previous Cup winner (like Gillis’ other FA signing this offseason, Mikael Samuelsson) and will be able to mentor the Edlers, Bieksas and Aaron Romes of this team.
Well said JJ. Mathieu Schneider is a great signing if it’s for the right price…$1.5 – 2 Million would be a steal. How do we know that Gillis didn’t go after another d-man (younger) via trade route. He probably explored other option on the trade market before going back to plan B and signing one of best free agent defenceman available. It’s going to be an awesome year considering we’ll have a new and improved team.
Well said JJ. Mathieu Schneider is a great signing if it’s for the right price…$1.5 – 2 Million would be a steal. How do we know that Gillis didn’t go after another d-man (younger) via trade route. He probably explored other option on the trade market before going back to plan B and signing one of best free agent defenceman available. It’s going to be an awesome year considering we’ll have a new and improved team.
His point numbers, while only slightly higher, look a lot like Sami Salos. Do you really want to be wasting cap on TWO players that are out for 20 games a year each?
Especially if we’re put in a position like Calgary was this season where you can’t put them on the long term DL to remove their cap hit because you need them to return in the near future.
Not that far fetched if you think of how good the Canucks are at getting injured.
His point numbers, while only slightly higher, look a lot like Sami Salos. Do you really want to be wasting cap on TWO players that are out for 20 games a year each?
Especially if we’re put in a position like Calgary was this season where you can’t put them on the long term DL to remove their cap hit because you need them to return in the near future.
Not that far fetched if you think of how good the Canucks are at getting injured.
If the rumored $1.5 million salary is accurate, then it’s a fair number, including the assumption that he will miss games. As you mentioned, he’s a 30, even 40, point defenseman – those guys are paid upwards of $3 million each. Even Schneider himself made $5.75 million/year in his last contract.
I agree it’s a bit of a risk having him and Salo in the same lineup. Of course, the hope is that they don’t miss time at the same time.
If the rumored $1.5 million salary is accurate, then it’s a fair number, including the assumption that he will miss games. As you mentioned, he’s a 30, even 40, point defenseman – those guys are paid upwards of $3 million each. Even Schneider himself made $5.75 million/year in his last contract.
I agree it’s a bit of a risk having him and Salo in the same lineup. Of course, the hope is that they don’t miss time at the same time.