Panthers may trade Luongo

[russian sniper]

Goaltender Roberto Luongo is the face of the Florida Panthers franchise.
Perhaps not for long.

Florida general manager Mike Keenan said Monday that the team would explore all options with the All-Star goaltender -- including working a trade during this weekend's draft in Vancouver. A source...
Full Article

[BtownJay]

lol, the Flyers don't want him. He would cost too much against their cap and demand too much in return.

I'm so tired of these Luongo rumors... if they are going to do it, i hope they get it done soon. The rumors get worse and worse every time. I mean really.. the Rangers being interested? Is that a joke?

[BtownJay]

KINGS MAKE OFFER FOR LUONGO.
LOS ANGELES TIMES: Chris Foster reports a league source claims the Kings have made a pitch for Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo. "The Kings are believed to be discussing a multi-player package, with forwards Alexander Frolov and Dustin Brown and goaltender Mathieu Garon among the names being discussed. Dean Lombardi, the Kings' general manager, declined to comment", reports Foster.
PALM BEACH POST: Brian Biggane also reports on the Kings offer, and suggests it appears the Panthers are making Luongo available after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract.

http://spectorshockey.tripod.com/spe...e_rumours.html

[russian sniper]

I want him out of the SE division. Roberto probably wants to go to a team that will make the playoffs. It's the only thing missing from his resume.

======================================

The Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers have completed a multi-player trade involving some big names on the eve of the NHL Draft.

The Panthers have confirmed that they acquired Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld from the Canucks in exchange for Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek and a 2006 sixth round pick.

Luongo is a restricted free agent, and the Panthers had been unable to work out a long-term deal with the star netminder. The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that Panthers general manager Mike Keenan said that the team would explore all options when it came to Luongo.

On Friday night, Keenan pulled the trigger on a mega-deal with the Canucks.

"This is a trade that addresses a number of needs for our hockey club," Keenan said. "We’ve added an experienced and talented forward, a skilled goaltender and a strong defenceman that we expect to help our team immediately."

Following his suspension for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore near the end of the 2004 regular season, Bertuzzi had 25 goals and 71 points last season. That was a significant drop from his best season in 2002-2003, when he scored 46 goals and 51 assists.

With the Moore incident still resonating, Bertuzzi took a lot of heat in Vancouver last season as the team failed to make the playoffs.

Before news of the deal broke, Canucks GM Dave Nonis made no bones about the fact that he was shopping his assests, including the 31-year-old Bertuzzi.

"He's in the same spot as everyone else, but the media loves to focus on one player," said Nonis of Bertuzzi. "We have a group of players that as a group underachieved which means the majority of those players are available."

The Canucks are hoping that Luongo, 27, is the answer to their goaltending concerns. He had a 2.97 goals-against average and .914 save percentage last season and has emerged as one of Canada's future stars in international play.

Still, the Panthers finished 11th in the Eastern Conference last season and never made the playoffs during Luongo's five seasons with the team.

The problem of signing him to a long-term deal now rests with Nonis.

Krajicek, 23, has star potential, too. The former first rounder had 2 goals and 16 points in 67 games last season, but his smooth skating and play-making ability suggest bigger numbers could be on the way.

"We believe that in Roberto we are getting a player who has represented his country at the highest level, has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy and has proven that he is among the elite goaltenders in the world," said Nonis. "Lukas is a young, skilled, puck-moving defenceman who has a very bright future in this League."

Auld, 25, played well in place of injured starter Dan Cloutier last season, but the Canucks obviously felt he was not the answer. As of now, he will be battling Jamie McLennan for the number one job in Florida.

That represents a big drop-off for the Panthers, unless they find another goaltender in free agency starting July 1.

Allen, 25, is another former first rounder, though he has not quite lived up to the potential that made him the fourth overall pick in 1998. At 6-4 and 220 pounds, he has size and strength, but does not have the offensive upside of a potential powerplay quarterback like Krajicek.

Still, Allen contributed 7 goals and 17 points in 77 games last season and was also a +4.


==================

^^^ from TSN

[Shane]

Originally Posted by russian sniper

I want him out of the SE division. Roberto probably wants to go to a team that will make the playoffs. It's the only thing missing from his resume.

======================================

The Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers have completed a multi-player trade involving some big names on the eve of the NHL Draft.

The Panthers have confirmed that they acquired Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld from the Canucks in exchange for Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek and a 2006 sixth round pick.

Luongo is a restricted free agent, and the Panthers had been unable to work out a long-term deal with the star netminder. The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that Panthers general manager Mike Keenan said that the team would explore all options when it came to Luongo.

On Friday night, Keenan pulled the trigger on a mega-deal with the Canucks.

"This is a trade that addresses a number of needs for our hockey club," Keenan said. "We’ve added an experienced and talented forward, a skilled goaltender and a strong defenceman that we expect to help our team immediately."

Following his suspension for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore near the end of the 2004 regular season, Bertuzzi had 25 goals and 71 points last season. That was a significant drop from his best season in 2002-2003, when he scored 46 goals and 51 assists.

With the Moore incident still resonating, Bertuzzi took a lot of heat in Vancouver last season as the team failed to make the playoffs.

Before news of the deal broke, Canucks GM Dave Nonis made no bones about the fact that he was shopping his assests, including the 31-year-old Bertuzzi.

"He's in the same spot as everyone else, but the media loves to focus on one player," said Nonis of Bertuzzi. "We have a group of players that as a group underachieved which means the majority of those players are available."

The Canucks are hoping that Luongo, 27, is the answer to their goaltending concerns. He had a 2.97 goals-against average and .914 save percentage last season and has emerged as one of Canada's future stars in international play.

Still, the Panthers finished 11th in the Eastern Conference last season and never made the playoffs during Luongo's five seasons with the team.

The problem of signing him to a long-term deal now rests with Nonis.

Krajicek, 23, has star potential, too. The former first rounder had 2 goals and 16 points in 67 games last season, but his smooth skating and play-making ability suggest bigger numbers could be on the way.

"We believe that in Roberto we are getting a player who has represented his country at the highest level, has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy and has proven that he is among the elite goaltenders in the world," said Nonis. "Lukas is a young, skilled, puck-moving defenceman who has a very bright future in this League."

Auld, 25, played well in place of injured starter Dan Cloutier last season, but the Canucks obviously felt he was not the answer. As of now, he will be battling Jamie McLennan for the number one job in Florida.

That represents a big drop-off for the Panthers, unless they find another goaltender in free agency starting July 1.

Allen, 25, is another former first rounder, though he has not quite lived up to the potential that made him the fourth overall pick in 1998. At 6-4 and 220 pounds, he has size and strength, but does not have the offensive upside of a potential powerplay quarterback like Krajicek.

Still, Allen contributed 7 goals and 17 points in 77 games last season and was also a +4.


==================

^^^ from TSN

Whoa wait. WTF???

[nhannaford]

That would be correct. FLA traded him to Vancouver for Bertuzzi and some other guy. I just read the article. I think that is a solid trade for both teams, as long as Vancouver can sign him.

[Shane]

I just read it too. Holy Shit Batman.

[russian sniper]

I do believe Danny Boy in 'nuckland is about to be over. He might as well be traded. He's too much of a starter to play second fiddles to Roberto.


Now, the bolts don't have to face Roberto who can make bolt players look bad. Downside, don't make Todd go crazy! I'm not too worried about Auld.

[Ishkur]

In 1985 Craig MacTavish, then a defencemen for the Boston Bruins, got into a drunk driving accident where he killed a 16 year old girl. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, served two years in prison and, when he got out, stricken with grief and remorse, needed a clean slate, and so the Bruins organization traded him to Edmonton, where he was given a second chance.....he is now head coach of the team that came within a game of winning the Stanley Cup.

When Dany Heatley accidently killed his friend in a car accident, he needed also to be moved to get over his psychological grief, and so the Thrashers felt fit to trade him to Ottawa, where he is enjoying a second chance.

And now, Todd Bertuzzi, also, needs a second chance to hopefully get out of this funk. Florida may very well be that team. I wish him all the best, and hopefully the rest of the fans around the league can feel fit to forgive him.

As for Luongo.....about damn time the Canucks made a blockbuster trade. This coming season is going to be interesting.

[russian sniper]

From NHL site:

"After missing out on Ed Jovanovski, Florida GM Mike Keenan said finding defencemen remains a "priority" and that bolstering the position would not necessarily come via free agency. Keenan, though, was noncommittal about whether he will continue to pursue a trade for Chris Pronger. - Miami Herald"

What the heck can the panthers offer for Pronger? Weiss isn't enough? J-bow + first round or more picks? Crapo. I don't want to see PRonger in the SE division protecting Auld.

Ask the Flyers! Gagne + d-man + pick(s) . . . j/k on the instant cup run . . . Chris' last salary was about 6.2 mil for about 4 years left in the contract.