Cory Schneider leaves Vancouver

The New Jersey Devils electrified the Prudential Center crowd at the 2013 NHL Draft on Sunday when they dealt their first-round pick (No. 9) to the Vancouver Canucks for goaltender Cory Schneider. The Canucks used the choice to select Bo Horvat, a center from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. The trade leaves Roberto Luongo as the No. 1 goaltender in Vancouver after a season in which he backed up Schneider, who signed a three-year, $12 million contract last summer. Schneider, 27, was 17-9-4 for the Canucks in 2012-13 with a 2.11 goals-against average, a save percentage of .927 and five shutouts, helping Vancouver win the Northwest Division title.

"Today's decision was made after a thorough review of our options and in the interest of improving this team long-term through the draft and development of players," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said in a statement. "We appreciate the high level of professionalism and conduct both Cory and Roberto have shown while continuing to help this team be competitive. I would like to personally thank Cory for his contributions to our team and wish him the very best and a bright future."

Gillis told TSN getting into the top 10 in the draft was a key. "We explored every option we possibly could with our goaltending situation, and we felt strongly enough to make this move to get a great young player like Bo."

Martin Brodeur, who's 41, has one season remaining on his contract with New Jersey. His backup, 40-year-old Johan Hedberg, also has one year remaining. Luongo, 34, has nine years remaining with an annual salary-cap charge of $5.33 million. At the NHL Trade Deadline, he admitted he would be difficult to trade because of that contract. He was 9-6-3 with a 2.56 GAA and .907 save percentage in 2012-13. He now returns to the No. 1 spot in Vancouver.

Gillis said. "Roberto has been excellent throughout this entire ordeal. A lot of people like to forget that it became awfully complicated with the lockout and with a new [Collective Bargaining Agreement], that changed the rules regarding contracts. So we had two great goaltenders, we've had two great goaltenders. I think Roberto will be a unanimous selection to be perhaps the starting goaltender in Team Canada this year. So we have every bit of confidence in him and I don't see that being an issue."