Housing Markets
June 24th, 2009 by Jason ChenIn local Vancouver papers today it was reported that Roberto Luongo is building a new home near Merritt, BC, while another non-Canuck NHLer has purchased a home in the Vancouver area. The mystery guest is none other than Marian Gaborik.
I normally don’t put a lot of stock in these things, but it’s not always a sign that can be ignored. Last summer Markus Naslund put up his house for sale, leading to speculation that he was leaving via free agency despite his claims that he was only taking advantage of the housing market.
That Luongo is building a home is encouraging, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll stay. Merritt is some distance from Vancouver, in the Interior just south of Kamloops. Commuting to Vancouver would be time-consuming, so maybe it’s just a summer home? Just pure speculation on my part, of course, but there are plenty of NHLers who make their off-season homes in BC.
However, perhaps the more interesting piece of news is Gaborik’s move to Vancouver. This is not entirely new - there was much speculation last year that Pavol Demitra would sign with Vancouver after given a tour by a couple of the Canucks, which led to more speculation about whether or not it was a preemptive move to lure Gaborik to Vancouver once his contract expires. So far it sure seems that way. It’s common knowledge that Demitra and Gaborik are close friends, and both were dynamite together in Minnesota. Demitra may have lost a step, but remains a skilled offensive forward and Gaborik can only compliment his game. Both come with significant injury risks, but when healthy Gaborik is one of the top forwards in the league.
It’s hard to see Gaborik in a Canucks uniform if the Sedins are re-signed. All signs are pointing towards the Sedins leaving - no contract news have come up after the Sedins’ proposed 12-year offer and the Canucks remain linked to Gaborik, Jay Bouwmeester, and Dany Heatley (who, by the way, named the Canucks as one of the teams he would like to be dealt to - division rivals Edmonton and Minnesota appear to be of no interest to him).
EDIT June 25: Pavol Demitra is denying rumours that Gaborik has bought a house in Vancouver… See? Never put too much stock in this kind of stuff.
EDIT June 26: Luongo looks like he may stay after all…
Posted in Canucks
3 Responses to “Housing Markets”
By mark mueller on Jun 27, 2009
Jason
It’s pretty obviously Gillis has never had real intention’s on signing the Sedins. He knew going into this job roughly what they would be seeking in a long term deal and what did he do, offer sundin 2 years and 10 per . If sundin would have taken that offer there almost no way to fit in the sedins for this year with sundin getting 10.
Gillis is not a dumby He’s done an excellent job imo of restructuring the canucks more off the ice to begin with. Which appears to be setting up players to have a major interest in coming to vancouver. With the gaborik rumours he’s exactly the type of dangerous factor the canucks have lack since the steve moore events begin.
Gillis appears to have hit 1 home run with Hodgson already and now with Schroeder might have gone back to back the big indicator will come at the world juniors where he will be the go to man again for the us and not be there youngest player.
Honestly people who are panic about losing the sedins need to pull there heads out of the sands and see all the guys we can go after and unlike the 90’s and early 2000’s it’s no longer a pipedream of signing that big ufa.
Gaborik will be a Canuck and Cammalleri could also very easily be a Canuck and I’m sorry but those 2 can skate circles around the Sedins and better yet run a real top power play maybe our best need since the moore hit.
By Jason Chen on Jun 27, 2009
Saying that Gillis had no real intention of re-signing the Sedins is a bit of a stretch. Exactly why Sundin took a one-year offer instead of two-years is still unknown to the public, but my guess that Gillis offered two years was because he needed something extra to entice him because clearly the money was not enough. Whether or not the Sedins could’ve been re-signed had Sundin took up that two year offer is debatable because a couple of events, namely Edler, Burrows, and Bernier’s extensions, may have played out differently.
Gillis has done an excellent job of managing the Canucks, despite being only in his second year. He’s made his off-ice contributions to be sure, including a new draft strategy, off-season regimens, and traveling schedule. His on-ice contributions will be more clearly seen this summer.
I don’t think there’s any panic over losing the Sedins - headlines in Vancouver aren’t exactly outraged that Gillis hasn’t made a counter-offer - but I maintain the stance that it is difficult to build a winning team via free agency and that the Sedins’ production won’t be as easily replaced because there are 29 other teams bidding for Cammalleri and Gaborik’s services. All things considered, the Sedins are one of the more durable/consistent (hard to find in either Cammalleri or Gaborik) players in the league, but at 12 years and $63m each, it’s too expensive. They haven’t won nor proven anything and they’re already asking for a lifetime contract.
By is new jerssey a community property state on Jul 9, 2009
Is it new jerssey a community property state?any ideas?