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New York Islanders Examples of Lou Finding Great Goalies

ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 17: Dainius Zubrus #9 of the San Jose Sharks (not pictured) scores an empty net goal during the third period against the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference Final during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center on May 17, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - MAY 17: Dainius Zubrus #9 of the San Jose Sharks (not pictured) scores an empty net goal during the third period against the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference Final during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scottrade Center on May 17, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NJ – APRIL 16: Cory Schneider #35 of the New Jersey Devils makes the third period save on Ryan McDonagh #27 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 16, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Lightning 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – APRIL 16: Cory Schneider #35 of the New Jersey Devils makes the third period save on Ryan McDonagh #27 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 16, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Lightning 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Corey Schneider

Before Lou acquired him: 98 GP, 0.927 SV%, 2.20 GAA
After Lou acquired him: 272 GP, 0.917 SV%, 2.41 GAA

In 2013, the New Jersey Devils needed someone to come in a take Martin Brodeur’s spot. He wasn’t retiring yet, but at 41-years-old Brodeur was well past his prime.

So when rumblings of issues surfaced in Vancouver Lou Lamoriello acted. If you remember correctly, it was Roberto Luongo who wanted out of Vancouver. It’s just no one wanted any part of that 12 year $64 million deal. In 2013, there were still nine years let on his deal.

So instead of finding a new home for Luongo, Canucks GM Mike Gillis sent outstanding backup Corey Schneider, the guy he was supposed to keep, to the New Jersey Devils. In return, he got the ninth overall pick in 2013 from Lou.

Lou pried a .927 SV% and 2.20 GAA backup with less than 100 games under his belt through five seasons for Bo Horvat (selected with the ninth pick). It was risky, Schneider, even though having less than 100 games in the NHL was still untested as a starter.

No worries. Schneider would pull through. In fact, Schneider was the only quality player the Devils had until Taylor Hall arrived.

Since joining the Devils Schneider has played 272 games in five seasons. He has a 106-114-44 record on a team, again, devout of any quality for years. He finished sixth in Vezina voting two seasons ago.

The Devils were terrible before this last season where they made the playoffs. The only reason they held any sort of respectability during those awful years was because of what Corey Schneider was doing in nets.

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