If there is one theme that has emerged from the early part of the Vancouver Canucks' season, it is the supposed goalie "controversy" between Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider. Although it is a great topic to discuss among fans, and at times can appear to be the go to scapegoat when the team is not performing, the battle between the two goaltenders should not impact the rest of the Canucks' lineup. 

Sure, media distractions can exist within a team. However, this story has not and will not create a divide in the Canucks' lineup. The Canucks have made it perfectly clear that they are here to win, and not get involved in petty distractions or controversies.

If anything, the adversity these players have faced over the past number of seasons—which include anything from injuries to suspensions to personal issues—has made them stronger and more focused on the game at hand, not the coaches' decision for that certain game.

Have Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider played themselves into a goalie controversy? Not yet. With Luongo playing 19 games and Schneider playing 15, the goalie rotation has been pretty balanced so far this season. Until Luongo truly starts to struggle night in and night out, he will be head coach Alain Vigneault's starter, but Vigneault will also stick to his preseason plans to play Schneider once every four or five games.

As long as this planned schedule continues, it's hard to see the goaltender "controversy" picking up any more steam and causing issues within the locker room.

The style of play may change in front of the goalie depending on which one it is, but that is what happens when a team is used to playing in front of one goalie for a long period of time. The only impact this controversy has on the team is their defensive strategy dependent purely on whether it's Luongo or Schneider between the pipes.

Strategy aside, the starting goaltender "controversy" should and will be left to the coaching staff and management to work on, not for the players to be concerned with. They will believe in whoever is in net each game and continue to work their hardest to win hockey games on their way to what they hope to be another extended playoff run.

John Bain is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist

Follow him on Twitter: @JohnBainSports