Luongo just couldn't seem to do right in Vancouver. He received endless criticism from fans and media, and it only got worse when the team walked away empty-handed after the 2011 Stanley Cup finals.
The Canucks never had to ask Luongo to waive his no-trade clause. During his exit meeting last year, Luongo asked the team for a trade.
Rumors immediately began flying, and the question of the off-season became, "where will Luongo end up?"
Meanwhile, the Canucks re-signed Schneider to a three-year, $12 million contract. This was going to be Schneider's year.
Well, it isn't going quite as planned.
Vancouver's asking price for Luongo was too high and as a result, the 33-year-old has yet to go anywhere. The two goalies are currently sharing time in the net.
Until Sunday, when the Canucks took an embarrassing 8-3 loss to Detroit, Luongo had been undefeated in regulation.
Schneider, on the other hand, has a 5-4-1 record. The 26-year-old's most recent game on Tuesday night was especially rough, as he gave up three goals in only 21 shots against Phoenix.
ESPN's Craig Custance thinks that the tables might be turning. Canucks GM Mike Gillis says that he has been getting calls about Schneider, and Schneider would probably get the team a better return deal.
Schneider is younger than Luongo, and his contract is certainly more appealing. Luongo is signed through 2021-22 at $5.3 million a year. Schneider's contract only goes through 2014-15 with a lesser salary of $4 million per season.
Custance's colleague, Pierre LeBrun, agrees that the Canucks could get a better deal trading Schneider, but doesn't think that he is going anywhere.
Maybe Luongo will have a change of heart, and Schneider will be the one on his way out. LeBrun thinks that is unlikely. After all, Luongo asked for the trade.
Maybe Luongo's performance this season will spur the kind of offer Gillis is looking for. Or maybe nothing will happen, and the team will be left with two elite goalies heading into the playoffs.
Vancouver has until April 3rd to make a trade, this season. Until then, the controversy will continue, and our questions will remain unanswered.
