Gillis Tries Magic -- Trying to turn Schneider into a low pick

Thanks for this news, Thomas!

I think any of these teams could use him: Rangers, Panthers, Bruins, Red Wings.

3rd or 4th round pick at best in return.

Or just waive him?

The answer is simple

Glen Sather… Cause hes like that

The extra frustration from Schneider must/may come from the fact that his contract for this year has bonuses for games played. He’s already missing out on some of that extra $$$

I’d take a bag of pucks for Schneider, not because he is that terrible but because we need the cap space.

I’d honestly take pretty much anything for him.

What I’d really like is to see the Canucks trade Lukowich and Schneider for a 7th round pick, then offer the 7th rounder back to whomever for Lukowich. Basically, give away Schneider for zilch, and in exchange the other team helps the Canucks get Lukowich out of the minors.

Don’t know if the NHL would approve though.

Defenceman Willie Mitchell, who was plus-three on the night, said the fact the Canucks had played the night before may actually have been an advantage.

“We were fortunate to play the Oilers first and kind of find that rhythm,” Mitchell said. “You take two or three days off and you lose your timing quick. We were fortunate enough to play a team last night in the Oilers who were on the same page as us going in and we both kind of worked through our Christmas turkey and ham. And I think that paid big dividends for us playing against the Flames tonight because we had that timing down. . .I just thought we were a little fresher, a little more in the groove and it showed with us having a real good first period.”

IIRC, Schneider’s bonuses require him to average 15:00 of ice time per game. He is currently at 15:14. If he gets his time cut further due to mediocre play, then he could lose approx $1.2m out of his $2.75m contract, or 43% of his pay. My quick math says that means he’ll need 11:02 of ice time if he plays in our 40th game, which is also our next game, in order to earn his first bonus of $300k.

He’s not playing well enough to guarantee that ice time, so the kindest thing Gillis can do for his ex-client is to sit him for now and try to trade him somewhere where he will play more. Playing him in that game could put AV into the awkward position where, if MS is playing poorly, does AV sit him down and thereby lower MS’s avg ice time under 15:00, costing MS the $300k? Or does AV play a guy who’s struggling, potentially costing the Canucks a game and, for now at least, a playoff spot?

Well, no way you risk a playoff spot, so you sit MS down and remove the dilemma. After game 40, the next bonuses come, I think, at 50, 60 and 70 games, so maybe you have a few games to see if he improves, but more likely is that you trade him cuz there’s no point in paying him to sit. And if you lower his ice time any more and cost him the bonus you’ll have one angry player (plus you’ll risk a lesser rep around the league for yourself?)

In the end, Schneider just hasn’t played well enough to earn the ice time that earns him his bonuses, but maybe somewhere else, on another team he could.