Cory Schneider isn’t just replacing a goalie who took the Vancouver Canucks within a win of winning a Stanley Cup in 2011.
In replacing Roberto Luongo, he’ll follow an incredibly difficult act: arguably the greatest goalie in franchise history.
Just look at the major team records Luongo holds:
Wins: 224
Shutouts: 33
Most wins in a season: 47 (in 2006-07), also owns second place with 40 in 09-10
Most shutouts in a season: 9 (in 2008-09)
Most games played in a season: 76 (in 2006-07)
Longest single-season shutout streak: 242:36 (in 2008-09)
Tied for the most shutouts and wins in a single postseason: (15 wins and four shutouts in 2011)
Those numbers make one think of a certain hair metal song of questionable repute.
Schneider has produced excellent numbers as a backup in Vancouver, but he has a long way to go to truly top Luongo - even if many find that hard to believe.
Then again, to plenty of Canucks fans, merely winning 16 postseason games - and the franchise’s first Stanley Cup - would mean more than enough.
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