Steve Shields?

[canucks]

Shields backing up Luongo?

Vancouver is looking for a backup goalie who will be happy playing in maybe 15 games this season, is a solid locker room guy, and still commands respect despite the limited playing time. That goalie may be Steve Shields.

According to the Vancouver Province, Shields would be happy with the backup role in Vancouver and wouldn't be a disruptive influence, which Mika Noronen turned out to be.

"He's totally healthy, wants to back up Luongo and wants to be a supporter," Shields' agent Kurt Overhardt told the Province. "He's a great guy in the locker-room and being a backup to Luongo in Florida worked out well. They're friends.

Shields, who has also served as a backup to Andrew Raycroft, Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Evgeni Nabokov, appeared in just five games with Atlanta last season and suffered a knee injury in January.

In other Canucks news, Ryan Kesler turned down his qualifying offer and is looking for a major pay raise. The restricted free agent has little bargaining power though, not having qualified as yet for arbitration.

Since Nonis has become GM, the Canucks have crushed other free agents in Kesler's position, reports the Vancouver Sun, and only the Sedin twins have successfully negotiated a big raise after rejecting their qualiying offers under Nonis' tenure.

"We've had some pretty positive discussions with Dave and we've got a good relationship," Overhardt said from his base in Denver. "The best way I could describe it is, philosophically, we're on the same page, but we're apart on the numbers."

www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/hockey_hearsay/2006/08/15/shields_backing_up_luongo/

[Cementhead]

Since Nonis has become GM, the Canucks have crushed other free agents in Kesler's position.


;D

[CCF23]

With Shields it all boils down to dollars. If he's willing to play here for anything less than $600,000 then it makes sense. I'd kind of like to see Flaherty get a shot though.

[IceStick77]

Between Shields and Flaherty, I'd be happy with whoever takes less cash.

[JasonBayMVP]

There basically the same type of player.

[concussionkid]

yeah I like whoever signs for the lowest deal too. Its foolish to pay a guy too much to only play in 15 games.

[HockeyGuru]

I'd kind of like to see Flaherty get a shot though.

Flats!! He used to own the Stars. I remember the Sharks winning the Stars 4 to 1, with only 10 shots on goal. Flats took over 40 shots that night. Sharks had no business winning that game.

[Judge Oscar aka oscarheyman]

concussionkid said:

yeah I like whoever signs for the lowest deal too. Its foolish to pay a guy too much to only play in 15 games.

Depends on how much the difference is. If it's only a 100,000 or 200,000, I'd prefer a guy like Dunham. He actually could step in for a period of time and play like a starter, rather than a backup.

Anything more, I'd say pass. Money would be better spent elsewhere.