Cory Schneider’s Canucks Shelf Life

Photo credit: canucks.com

Cory Schneider remained a Vancouver Canuck after yesterday’s trade deadline. But for how much longer?

According to Mike Gillis, the Canucks have significant plans for him:

“We had a number of teams call about Cory but there wasn’t anything that we felt was appropriate,” Gillis said. “He’s a great young player in our organization, a fully developed goalie who is ready to step into the NHL, and that’s not something you would trade away lightly. We have significant plans for Cory. We’re going to get into those plans with his agent in the next couple of weeks and try to get him re-signed.”

IMHO, those significant plans have about a one-year shelf life.

See, Schneider is an RFA this off-season, but unless Gillis signs him to a multi-year contract extension, he may very well be a UFA by July 1st, 2011. To be honest, I don’t see Schneider signing any more than a one-year contract extension.

By July 1st, 2011, Schneider will be 25 years old. (He turns 25 in March 2011.) If he doesn’t play at least 30 minutes per game in at least 21 NHL games between now and July 1st, 2011, he’ll be a Group 6 UFA.

And this is where I get a bit concerned about his asset management.

My best logic says that the plan is for Schneider to be Luongo’s back-up next season. From Schneider’s point of view, he’ll get an extended opportunity to prove that he can translate his excellent play in the AHL to the NHL. From the Canucks’ point of view, they’ll hope that Schneider can prove he belongs in the NHL to further boost his trade value.

The problem is, I don’t see Schneider playing 21 games as Luongo’s back-up. Or to put it another way, barring injury I don’t see Luongo starting only 60 games. The problem is, regardless of what the Canucks have planned for Schneider or how he performs, the most likely result is that he will be a UFA at the end of next season.

And what’s the market value for a UFA-to-be goaltender?