June 25, 2007
Good as Gone?
CHN Staff Report
Boston College goalie Cory Schneider, who has been mulling over whether to turn pro or stay for his senior season, is getting ready to ink an NHL deal with the Vancouver Canucks, according to reports.
Schneider, who helped lead the Eagles to back-to-back trips to the NCAA finals before coming up short in both, was drafted by Vancouver in the first round (26th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Schneider was also a member of the U.S. World Junior team two seasons ago. This season, he was picked for the U.S. team that competed in the World Championships.
There was talk around the recent NHL Draft that Vancouver, which features Roberto Luongo as its No. 1 goalie, could trade Schneider, who is highly regarded. But general manager Dave Nonis downplayed that talk.
"I've had teams inquire about him lots of times," Nonis said to the Vancouver Sun. "But we know what Cory is. He is a very good prospect who has worked hard to develop and come a long way."
Nonis acknowledged his team's goaltending depth, but has asserted that Schneider, for all his talent, would be spending time in the minors anyway.
"The decisions you are alluding to are still a long way away," Nonis told the paper. "Cory needs to spend more time developing, playing 50 or 60 games [in the minors] and being in a pro environment. If he can go to the world championships with the U.S., he's good enough to play in the American League. But that's a decision Cory and his family have to make."
