This is a well reasoned argument- a rarity when it comes to Canucks discussion. I am in your camp when it comes to what the Canucks should do: Schneider will be a great goalie for years to come, but the Canuckers were built to win the cup now. Luongo is an elite goalie with an elite contract, and as pointed out, was paid such that he would be the Canucks's elite goalie for their window. Canucks' 'Schneider-issue' is a problem of riches; if the window is now, Schneider needs to be traded for the best player for this window.

Luongo has been and is a great goalie, but was made the 'escape- goat' (zing) of a team decimated by injuries in last year's cup final. The cup final is different with Hamhuis, two-legged Kesler, and two-eyed Maholtra. I always think, had the Canucks re-signed and avoided Ballard, Canucks would of won the Stanley Cup last year….hindsight, sigh….

Your points with respect to the Sedins, are spot-on. Once the twins are gone, the window is closed. The prospect pool and current roster are not an elite team without them. It will be a few years, some good drafting and proper cap management to get the team competing for the Northwest title after they move-on.

The claim of teams being consistent performers and building to win the cup every year is bogus. Detroit is used as an example of these consistent elite teams, but with Lidstrom at 43, Holmstrom, Zetterberg and Datsyuk on the downslope, it is very hard to see where their cup pedigree is coming from. They have good players, but their window to win has since passed with the current roster.

So yes, in agreement, move Schneider, try for the cup with the current team with the current roster (a tweak here or there), celebrate, and then build the team for the next window.

Great article, I am now a reader of your blog!

I say we trade luongo to tampa where he wants to go, get teddy purcell or whatever assets we can get, and use those assets + raymond and try for nash or another high caliber goal scorer. The reason for trading raymond would be to create a spot in the top 2 or 3 lines. The canucks have too many players that are potential second liners (raymond kesler burrows booth higgins, heck even hansen has been playing well) so we could afford to off load raymond.

Sedin – sedin – nash

Booth – kesler – burrows

Higgins – pahlson – hansen

Lapierre – malhotra – extra

Schneider – lakk

Thats a cup contending team right there if i do say so myself.