For a guy who's is locked in a holding pen, Cory Schneider is remarkably upbeat.
If he were a skater, instead of a goaltender, there wouldn't be an issue. As a forward or a defenceman, having reached a point in his professional career where he's proficient enough at his craft to be an everyday NHL player, he'd be in the lineup and getting his minutes. Of course, there are 18 skaters playing in any given game, but usually just one goaltender.
Schneider, 25, dresses for every game, but he watches two-thirds of them from the bench as No. 1 Roberto Luongo gets the priority.
It's a rare circumstance having essentially two No. 1 goaltenders and Canucks fans should enjoy it while it lasts.
Right now I'm just taking it a game at a time, said Schneider, who shared with Luongo last season's Jennings Trophy for the goaltenders on the NHL team with the fewest goals against and had very similar personal stats except, of course, games played.
I think right now anything could change at any moment, but it's not like I'm sitting here waiting for something to happen. I like the city, my teammates, the organization. It's not some place that I want to get out of, by any means, but if an opportunity comes about that allows me to advance my career and become a starting goalie, it would be a great opportunity. But it's out of my hands. If there's one thing I've learned, it's to not waste energy thinking about things you can't control. If I do well and perform my job like I can then I force them to make a tough decision. Whatever happens, I realize it's not personal, it's a business decision that's about what's best for the organization, so I'm just going to enjoy it here while I can.
Schneider's situation is out of his hands in part due to Luongo's 12-year contract that has this season and 10 more to run and partly because he signed a two-year deal that will still leave him a restricted free agent at the end of this season. Schneider, actually, won't become an unrestricted free agent until after next season, but we'll get to that.
Right now, it's looking like Schneider will get more than the 25 appearances of his rookie season last year, but Luongo's No. 1 status carries with it obvious certainties.
It's hard to find a situation similar to that of Schneider elsewhere in the NHL. Perhaps 23-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky in Philly, who went through the goaltender merry-go-round there last season as a rookie and is stuck behind newly signed Ilya Bryzgalov and his nine-year, $51 million deal. And there's 24-year-old Tuukka Rask in Boston, where last season's all-everything goalie Tim Thomas is No. 1 but, at 37, only has this year and next on his contract.
Canucks goaltending coach Roland Melanson said Schneider is ready to be a starter now.
He's definitely a guy that I would have no problem filling a No. 1 role in this league, said Melanson, who lauds Schneider for his work ethic and ability to assess his own performance. He's showed the maturity. He's very comfortable being put in all sorts of situations against any team. He's a great complement with Roberto. He's a guy who very loyal to what he does and that he signed that contract. He knew the role he was going to be in his first year or two.
We're privileged to have two quality netminders so on any given night to give us a chance to win.
Some players might not be so upbeat in similar circumstances, but that seems to be part of Schneider's nature.
I get to play in the NHL for a living and come into this room with the most talented people in the world at what they do, said Schneider. I push myself and I have internal drive to be the best I can and have a chance to be become a No. 1 guy, but it's one of those things where you can't come in and start making demands. You can't rock the boat because you want to be selfish and not worry about the team. I was always taught that you do what you're told, that it you play well and do the work you will get success down the line. I'm not hurting being a back-up on a Stanley Cup contending team.
As for the loyalty part, Schneider defended Luongo vehemently as his goaltending partner received unprecedented flack in recent weeks for another poor start in October. In a way, Schneider's excellent play to start the season (1.97 goals against average/.927 save percentage) has ramped up the criticism of Luongo (3.45 GAA/.868 SP, before Saturday's game with Washington).
But Schneider's reaction speaks volumes about the tight relationship the two have.
You have to defend your teammates, said Schneider. I don't care what the scenario is or who's right or who's wrong, these are the guys you play the game with. You've got to have their back and they have yours. It's frustrating to hear the negativity and criticism of people you know and I take it personally and I hope other guys on this team do as well.
Schneider has been a the No. 1 goaltender almost his whole career, but says he's adjusted to working as a subordinate to Luongo.
I think you have to understand each other, understand your roles, he said. I think it's hard for people who aren't goaltenders to understand the position, the mental side of it. It's nice to be able to commiserate with each other, to say, hey, we're in this together. We sort of joke around, we worry about the same things, we think a certain way. I think we connect in that sense. He enjoys getting some time off to re-charge his batteries and I enjoy learning from a guy like him and watching him play every day.
Said Luongo: We have a good relationship off the ice as well. We're in this together. He's a great young goalie and he's going to be superstar in this league, no doubt. The other thing, that's sad about it, is we know it's not going to last forever.
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