Leneveu signs with Phoenix?

[Tub(a)]

[q]I mean, you never know what could have happened this season, as far as injuries or less impressive stats, so I can't really blame the guy.[/q]

Also, with the NHL where it is, it was probably a good move by Leneveu to get a multi-year contract before the current CBA expires.

[mike]

is it me or didnt both schafer and leneveu say that he was going to stay for one more year at the season celebration thing. I am very mad at lene right now because he basicly said a complete lie to us. Maybe its cause im just alitle mad about him leaving and how cornell is going to be horible because of goltender issues next year but in my mind lene is a backstaber.

[Section A]

The goalie mentioned on that link, Dave McKee, is a 6'1'', 180 lb (so, same height as LeNeveu, 10 lbs heavier), 19 year old from Irving, Texas. He doesn't actually play for the Nanaimo Clippers right now, but for the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League. Previously, he played in a developmental league of the NHL's Dallas Stars.

This past season, in 35 games played, he went 26-7, with 3 shutouts, a GAA of 2.41, and a save percentage of .899 (713 saves, 80 goals allowed, in just under 2000 minutes of play).

[Section A]

Oh for God's sake, he's not a backstabber, stop it. Can't you just be happy for him? He's going to play in the NHL! He's been working towards this goal for his entire hockey life, so of course he is going to welcome the opportunity. His teammates are happy for him, and we should be too. He was one of the biggest reasons we had success the last two years. Of course it's bittersweet, but that's the way these things go. Just wondering - were people mad at Joe N. back in the day when he decided to leave early?

I wouldn't be too upset about the goaltender situation yet (we're certainly not going to be horrible We may get another one, and even if we don't, Marr is solid, and Chabot, though unproven aside from one right pad save , is supposedly very very good.



Post Edited (07-03-03 14:38)

[tom nachod \'63]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/0703yotescamp0703.html

"The Coyotes, a team with three top-echelon goalies already at the NHL level, added a potential future star on Tuesday when they signed college phenom David LeNeveu to a three-year contract"

"LeNeveu ....agreed to end his college career for a deal in the pro ranks that could net him as much as $3 million.  He is expected to spend next season with the Springfield (Mass) Falcons of the AHL, sharing time with another Cornell product, Jean-Marc Pelletier."

[Greg Berge]

Avash, go easy, I assume the poster's a kid, and I can understand why he'd be mad.

From what I know, Lenny played it straight all the way.  Adam and others must have asked him a hundred times whether he was going, and every time he said "after the season I'll decide what's in my best interests," which translates to a very honest and savy "let's see how much Phoenix ponies up."  Apparently the 'Yotes wanted him enough to lay a sweet deal in front of him.  Who wouldn't take it?  He can use a fraction of it to finish his degree summers if that's what he wants.

The very best of luck to Lenny -- we haven't had a strong goalie in the NHL since Hayward, and he'll be more valuable to us as a billboard for Goaltender U. then he would have been in a sweater for one more year.

Presumably, Mike and his assistants are already one a week into an aggressive search for our next blue chip goalie.  We'll be okay down the line.



Post Edited (07-03-03 18:36)

[Al DeFlorio]

Greg wrote:

The very best of luck to Lenny -- we haven't had a strong goalie in the NHL since Hayward, and he'll be more valuable to us as a billboard for Goaltender U. then he would have in a sweater for one more year.

Presumably, Mike and his assistants are already one a week into an aggressive searchy for our next blue chip goalie.  We'll be okay down the line.

Precisely right.  Somewhere there was speculation it was a $3 million deal.  Just about impossible to turn down.  The sun still came up this morning.

[Section A]

Yeah, I guess I didn't realize the poster might be a kid. Regardless, despite the initial disappointment at hearing this news, it's hard to stay mad for too long. Besides, now we all have a new NHL team to cheer for

Okay, so just wondering - is there some sort of deadline to recruit players for the upcoming season or does the May 1 decision deadline for undergraduates not apply to athletes?

[KeithK]

I suspect it's too late to get anyone in for the fall, but we could see someone come in in January, ala Eddie Skazyk after Duffus' departure.  But I think it might be hard to get a top goalie to do that since you give up half a year of eligibility and start in mid-year, which would have to make college harder on a number of levels.  If we pick up someone for January I think that's a sign that Schafer isn't too keen on Marr/Chabot.  But I could be wrong.

[kaelistus]

I think Schafer has always liked to have 3 goalies... So we'll see.

Anyway. Marr looked pretty damn solid during his December tournament, and Chabot was pretty highly touted so I think we will be okay.  

Good luck to Dave, this is an awesome opportunity! (I wish someone gave me 3 million dollars too :-) )

[Greg Berge]

I wonder if Phoenix could use an experienced center... ;-)

As a guess, we will see Marr and Chabot split time this season.  Marr has one more year and is solid.  Chabot will be our only goalie returning goalie and needs a lot of minutes.  It's a good situation to exploit both resources, and we shouldn't write Chabot off -- maybe he's great.

Recruiting the next incoming goalie just got easier, since no coach can undercut Schafer by insinuating that Lenny may stay on as a senior.

[Robb Newman]

Hmmm.  David McKee's team, the NAHL Texas Tornado plays their home games about 15 miles from my house.  Perhaps I'd better check out a game or two next year, unless he decides to jump to Cornell early.  If I don't join the boosters for next year, I could even take him out to dinner, right?  ::uptosomething::

[Greg Berge]

> David McKee

Who dat?

[Lenny]

Here's how I rationalized everything to myself:
I was upset at first, but realize it's great for Lene (and great for the value of the Cornell puck I have signed by him!!)

I think we have to realize that Cornell has always had great goalies.  Lene happened to be one of the best goalies ever in college hockey.  But, those don't come every year.  So we have to go back to have just a "great" goalie.

I realize it seems like we are going to be horrible, but I think that's it's we've gotten so used to having shutouts every game that having a GAA 2.0 seems horrible.  I'm sure Marr and Chabot will continue the tradition of great Cornell goalies, especially with Lynah behind them.

The Other Lenny

[ursusminor]

McKee has signed (or whatever the proper verb is) with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL for next year. That will put him a bit more than 15 miles from you. ;-)
 
Greg, David McKee is a goalie from Texas who was being recruited by Cornell according to a few sources. One is the link that I posted above. Another is a message that NCAA Watcher posted on USCHO. In the link that I posted, a Nanaimo fan wonders if the fact that LeNeveu has left Cornell means that McKee might be recruited now for this fall. It makes sense.