Likable Sanford likely odd man out
Goaltending: Canucks' crease becoming crowded
By Ben Kuzma, The ProvinceJanuary 12, 2009 8:00 AM
The math is simple and so is the solution. Three goaltenders don't divide evenly into two roster positions and the odd man out of what will soon be a crowded Vancouver Canucks crease is likely Curtis Sanford.
With workhorse starter Roberto Luongo possibly returning Thursday from seven weeks on the sidelines with a groin strain -- and Jason LaBarbera backstopping the club to points in four of his five starts since being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings -- the amiable yet inconsistent Sanford is expected to be dangled as trade bait.
Yet, in that respect, the loser could be the winner.
Dallas and Columbus are both in the market for a backup starter and Sanford would play more for either club than here if retained.
Marty Turco is shouldering too much of the load for the Stars and coach Dave Tippett has little confidence in rookie Tobias Stephan, who has logged just three starts.
The Blue Jackets are riding red-hot rookie Steve Mason, but Pascal Leclaire has a wonky ankle that has been slow to heal and could threaten his season.
At 29, Sanford has enough presence to play the position and with half of his $650,000-US salary already eaten up, the pending unrestricted free agent has some market value.
Asked if he has thought of what could transpire this week, Sanford was open and honest -- a trait that has won him the support of his teammates and admiration from the media.
"Absolutely," he said. "I'm only human and I've got to put that in the back of my mind. Anything is possible and the worst thing I can do is worry. It's about resiliency and battling through all types of adversity. I've been through it my whole career and it's probably going to be like that until I decide to hang them [skates] up."
One goal doesn't define a career, but a 41-foot Wiffle Ball that eluded Sanford's grasp on Saturday went a long way to sealing his fate.
With the Canucks in a 1-1 deadlock with the San Jose Sharks, the backup looked like a confused catcher trying to corral a Tim Wakefield knuckleball. A Mike Grier shot fluttered over his shoulder and was a painful reminder that Sanford is a game goalie who never quite got it done -- even though he strung together consecutive wins over Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Detroit in November and blanked Ottawa in December.
The again, Sanford allowed five goals in a loss at Buffalo, surrendered six goals and was yanked in a setback at Detroit and injured his groin Dec. 30 against Philadelphia.
However, the Grier goal was telling, especially with Luongo sidelined and coach Alain Vigneault looking for Sanford or Cory Schneider to carry the ball -- and not fumble it -- in the starter's absence.
So, how did Sanford see the Grier goal?
"It switched direction 21/2 feet, but was on edge and I saw it," he shrugged. "Maybe, if I step out an extra six inches I get a piece of it. It did curve in there, but still it's no excuse on my part. It was a clean, open shot and I must stop those."
The 4-2 setback included two deflected goals, but the defeat was deflating. A win could have given Sanford the start Tuesday against New Jersey and maybe even Thursday against Phoenix -- if Luongo isn't quite ready for prime time. Now? The next start will likely be elsewhere.
"It would have been a huge win on a personal level," admitted Sanford, who sports a 7-7-0 record, 2.62 goals-against average and .906 save percentage. "But the moment I start worrying about it [future], I just can't let that sink in. You can think and ponder, but worrying is a different thing."
Canucks general manager Mike Gillis was understandably diplomatic when asked how he'll decide which backup stays.
On one hand, how do you dump on Sanford, who took a paltry $50,000 pay increase to be the Maytag repairman to Luongo? How can you knock how good he is in the room? And how can you do anything but praise LaBarbera, who was rushed into the spotlight and didn't back down from its glare?
"What's going to factor in is the assessment of their play and we're not there yet," said Gillis. "Jason has played very well and Curtis had played well in opportunities that he's had. Goaltending is a function of different factors and any decision won't be made in isolation."
Still, you'd think Gillis would gladly take the extra sixth or seventh-round pick Columbus owns in return for Sanford. After all, the Canucks gave up a seventh-round selection to Los Angeles for LaBarbera.
But it's hard not to have a soft spot for Sanford.
"I was never the most talented guy or the biggest guy, obviously," said the 5-foot-10 Owen Sound, Ont. native. "It's a position that's as much about thinking as reacting. You start to over-think and analyze and you find yourself in trouble."
Or with another
team.bkuzma@theprovince.com
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That's what homer glasses do for ya.
a few friends and I were talking about this on saturday
