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Finally, it appears that Roberto Luongo is getting his wish: a return to South Florida. Dustin Colquitt Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the deal sending Luongo back to Florida, leaving the Canucks with a decidedly different goaltending picture than they had one year ago. The Panthers Get: G Roberto Luongo and LW Steven Anthony. Luongo, 34, has been a strong starting goaltender for a long time. Even this season, as he has been dealing with a challenge for playing time from Eddie Lack, Luongo has a .917 save percentage, which ranks 16th out of 37 goaltenders to play in at least 25 games this season. Over the past four seasons, Luongos even-strength save percentage (.929) ranks sixth among goaltenders with at least 5000 minutes played. Now, that Luongo has been effective to this point is no great secret, but the question is how long he will remain an effective starter. Hes under contract, at a cap hit of $5.333M per season, through 2021-2022 and its pretty easy to forecast that Luongo wont be playing at such a high level at that point. Can he be an above-average starter through 37 or 38-years-old? That would probably be the best-case scenario. Aside from Luongos level of play, there is some value to his contract for the Panthers. Even with the Canucks picking up a portion of the contract, Florida is a team that, to this point, has faced more challenges getting to the floor than staying under the cap. If that means that five years from now their backup goaltender costs more than $5-million, then it may not be a huge issue. Where the finances get especially tricky is if Luongo retires before the end of his contract, because it is a prime candidate for the recapturing device implemented in the latest collective bargaining agreement and, according to Cap Geek, the Canucks could face a hefty cap hit if Luongo doesnt play out his entire deal. So, taking a step past the financial ramifications and getting back on the ice, the Panthers have upgraded their goaltending and for a team with improving possession numbers, an above average goaltender could be enough to put them back in the playoff hunt as soon as next season. Anthony is a 22-year-old winger who has been buried in the low minors, scoring 45 points in 108 games between the ECHL and CHL over the past three seasons. He played junior with Jonathan Huberdeau, but Anthony is too far away from the NHL to think thats going to be a factor that will increase his stature in the organization. The Canucks Get: G Jacob Markstrom and C Shawn Matthias. Markstrom is a 24-year-old who has long been considered a top prospect since he was the 31st overall pick in 2008, but there have been some bumps in the road that have put his future into question. In 43 career games, Markstrom has an .898 save percentage. Since 2005-2006, that ranks 88th out of 105 goaltenders with at least 40 games played, numbers brought down by an abysmal start (.874 SV% in 12 GP) to this season. Since he was returned to the AHL, Markstrom has posted a .918 save percentage in 29 games and has a .917 save percentage in 131 career AHL games, which is decent enough to get another look in the NHL, particularly with a new team that has an opening on the NHL roster. Markstrom currently has to be considered behind Eddie Lack on the depth chart. 26-year-old Lack, who has a .924 save percentage in 25 games this season, isnt nearly established enough in the starters role that the job wont be up for a more open competition in the future. Markstrom has the pedigree and was the starter for Brynas IF Gavle in the Swedish Elite League in 2009-2010, when Lack was his backup. Matthias, 26, is a 6-foot-4 centre who teases every so often (like scoring five points in the past two games, or tying for second on the Panthers with 14 goals last season) with occasional offensive ability, but he hasnt been terribly productive, scoring 97 points in 312 career games. His puck possession stats have been subpar even while facing lesser opposition. With the Canucks apparently heading toward rebuilding, there should be some opportunity for Matthias to play regular minutes and establish whether or not hes a legitimate top-nine forward. To this point in his career, the answer to that very much depends on the day. Matthias is under contract through next season with a cap hit of $1.75-million. In the end, the Canucks have precious little to show for what was once one of the games top goaltending tandems. A year ago, they had Cory Schneider and Luongo, now both are gone and the Canucks have Matthias and a couple of prospects (Markstrom and ninth overall pick Bo Horvat) in return. If the Canucks take a hit on the salary cap because of recapture five or six years down the road, well, thats just a bitter aftertaste to a situation that hasnt been very pleasant for the past couple seasons anyway. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Patrick Mahomes Jersey . Doug Fister allowed two runs over seven innings and Washington hit three solo homers in a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. Morris Claiborne Jersey . LOUIS -- The St. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Larry-John...te-Jers ey/ . -- So much for concern that running back Marshawn Lynch would be absent from the Seattle Seahawks minicamp.MONTREAL -- The Hamilton Bulldogs couldnt recover from two goals in quick succession. Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Buddy Robinson scored 43 seconds apart in the second period to lead the Binghamton Senators to a 4-1 victory over the Bulldogs in American Hockey League action Friday night at the Bell Centre. The goals came off defensive lapses - missed coverage, and a mistake by goaltender Dustin Tokarski. Pageau was left alone in the slot for the equalizer, and Robinson benefited from Tokarskis lax play for the winner. "Those were two gifts. We gave them those goals," said Bulldogs coach Sylvain Lefebvre. "Those were glaring mistakes." With Hamilton leading 1-0 in the second period, the Senators tied the game at 15:00 when Pageau beat Tokarski above the glove into a gaping top corner. Pageau was left unmarked just outside the crease following a defensive breakdown, and could make no mistake from such close range. Robinson put Binghamton ahead less than a minute later, slotting home his ninth of the year past a sprawling Bulldogs goaltender. After an initial shot from the point, Tokarksi tried to smother the puck with his glove, but Senators forward Derek Grant got to it before him. Grant poked it out to a wide-open Robinson. "Its tough to come back from that," said Lefebvre. "Those really hurt your confidence. And were in a tough stretch right now, so confidence isnt coming easy to us. Sometimes we get discouraged too easily." The Bulldogs (22-24-5) found no way back after the abrupt turnaround. Instead, they were kept at bay by Binghamton (33-15-4) netminder Andrew Hammond, who was in fine form. Hammond made 31 saves, including 10 in the third period, for his 17th win of the season. Hamilton is slumping of late. Theyve gone 2-7-1 in their last 10 games, and have only scored four times in their last three. "Thats the story of our season so far," said forward Gabriel Dumont, who was kept off the score sheet for the fourth straight game. "Were trying to keep it simple and drive to the net, put pucks on the net, but were having trouble finding the back of the net." Dumont, whos played two games with the Montreal Canadiens this seasonn, has been a Bulldog for the last four years. Tyreek Hill Jersey . His struggling team has fallen to 13th in the Western Conference, and is eight points out of a playoff spot. "Its a frustrating season with some highs, and a lot of lows," he added. "Were still looking for consistency. Tonight, we were only able to score one goal." The goal was Nick Tarnaskys, and it opened the scoring at 4:18 of the second period. The six-foot-two Bulldogs forward used defenceman Mike Sdao as a screen to fool Hammond with a shot between the legs. "I got a lucky bounce at the blue-line," said Tarnasky, who was on a partial breakaway when he entered the Binghamton zone. "I heard somebody yelling: Youre on a two-on-one. But I wasnt. I was going to pass, but there was nobody there. "It was lucky enough that (Sdao) was coming across at the same time as I shot it. I dont think the goaltender was able to see it. That play gave us a little lift at the time." But it was all Binghamton after their two quick strikes later in the frame. Andre Petersson scored on a great individual effort at 12:29 of the third period to seal the victory, and Mike Hoffman added another in an empty net in the games final two minutes. Hoffman has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his past five games. Hes second in the AHL in points with 65. Tokarski made 18 saves. There was little love lost between the teams to start the game. Tarnasky and Binghamtons Darren Kramer set the tone before the encounter even got underway, exchanging words and a few slashes during the pre-game warm-up. Tarnasky and Kramer waited only seven minutes into the game to solve their differences, dropping the gloves to earn fighting majors. Jarred Tinordi and the Senators Mark Borowiecki also fought in a first period that saw 34 penalty-minutes doled out by the referees. Notes: The attendance at the Bell Centre was 8,771. a The Senators, Ottawas AHL affiliate, are in first place in the East Division. Theyve won four games in a row. a This was the second and last matchup of the season between Hamilton and Binghamton. Tinordi scored in overtime to lead the Bulldogs to victory over the Senators on Feb. 8. ' ' '
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