Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?

Kind of what the Vancouver Canucks were thinking when they unceremoniously dumped 20-year veteran Mathieu Schneider at year’s end.

From Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun:

Schneider was unhappy with his limited role and the Canucks were unhappy with his attitude. General manager Mike Gillis, Schneider’s former agent, met with his ex-client after the walkout and the sides agreed it would be best for the player to go elsewhere.

Unable to trade Schneider, the Canucks placed him on waivers Tuesday morning but no team was willing to pick up a 40-year-old making a base salary of $1.55 million US.

“I would assume he’ll be sent to Manitoba,” Vigneault said before the Canucks travelled to St. Louis for Thursday’s game against the Blues. “Kevin’s injury does not change a thing. This was a decision made by the team and Schneider in the interest of both parties and we’re going to leave it at that.

“We’ve given this a lot of consideration. Both parties have. This is the best for ourselves and for Mathieu Schneider. Mathieu’s had a real good career in the NHL, we wish him the best of luck and we’re going to leave it at that.”

And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Sure enough, the 40-year-old Schneider did sign with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey Association (kind of the AAA of the sport). He broke in with the Montreal Canadiens and has played for the NY Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, NY Rangers, LA Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Montreal again, and, most recently, the Canucks. In 1,281 games, the Manhattan-born defenseman scored 223 goals and notched 516 assists.

Thanks, again, to Ari for the heads-up.

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