Patrick Cwiklinski

Salt Spring Island, BC • Canada • 17 Years Old • Male

Back-Up For Luongo?

I think It's safe to say that Roberto Luongo is the single best thing that's happened to the Vancouver Canucks in a very long time, if not, ever. But what happens when the all-star goalie gets, dare I say, injured or gets tired of playing over seventy games a season, what then? Dany Sabourin had a mediocre start to the season but as he played a few more games he seemed more comfortable doing his job. With that being said, I don't think Sabourin is the right back-up for Luongo, the Canucks should look into getting a solid veteran back-up that's had more experience in the NHL and who could play more than seven to ten games a season. Here are a few highly capable back-up goalies who the Canucks should keep an eye on.


Jamie McLennan (Calgary Flames) - Okay, so maybe McLennan didn't exactly have a "stellar" season with the Flames this year, with his now famous slash on Johan Franzen in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarter Finals against the Detroit Red Wings, playing in nine season games with a 3.60 goals against. But before the 2006-2007 season started up and before Luongo came to Vancouver, Mike Keenan tried to keep Roberto Luongo in Florida. One of Luongo's conditions was that he have McLennan as his back-up, but that never happened and instead Roberto came to Vancouver and shortly after was offered a huge contract. The relationship between Luongo and McLennan is great and if you look at his numbers throughout the years they aren't tragic, with the exception of the last couple seasons. I think Jamie McLennan would be a great guy to have for insurance in case something happens to Luongo.

Sean Burke (Los Angeles Kings) - The now forty year old Burke enjoyed some late season success with the Kings after posting a .901 save percentage which is respectable. I'm not quite sure what the situation is with his contract as a King but I'd be more than happy to see him back in a Canucks jersey as a back-up for Luongo.

Brian Boucher (Columbus Blue Jackets) - Alright, I'm not gonna lie, Boucher is coming off a horrible season, he played eighteen games and had two wins to show for it, a 3.26 goals against in fifteen games with the Chicago Blackhawks and a 3.80 goals against in three games with the Blue Jackets. Now I'm sure you're asking yourself why I think Boucher would be a good back-up in Vancouver? Why bother with this washed up goalie who had a shot at being a star? I don't think we'll ever see the Brian Boucher who played for the Flyers again but I think we could capture some of that glory he had early in his career.

These three are, in my opinion, the best back-up goalies that the Canucks can afford. I'm sure there are a handful of back-ups who are much better than these three but for this price, I think this is as good as it gets.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to leave a comment.