After a couple months of constant chatter, it is getting to the point where no one knows for certain if the Maple Leafs are interested in obtaining Roberto Luongo from the Vancouver Canucks or if the veteran goaltender is interested in coming to another pressure packed Canadian market.
Rumors of the 33-year-old goaltender be unwilling to waive his no trade clause to go to Toronto a few weeks ago were refuted by Vancouver GM Mike Gillis in an article in The Sporting News yesterday:
Canucks general manager Mike Gillis says the veteran goaltender has not tried to block any trades that would send him to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team Luongo has been linked to the most in trade rumors.
"My understanding is that Roberto said he'd do what was in his best interest and what was in the best interest of the team," Gillis said in a weekly interview with Vancouver radio station, TEAM 1040-AM.
About reports that Luongo is not interested in a deal to Toronto, Gillis said, "That report was not correct. Until you have something we would like to do, there is no sense in talking about which teams.
"We've had discussions with him about different possibilities but nothing that was really firm. It was just open discussions about 'this could happen or this is a possibility, what do you think?'"
Luongo also stepped into the fray on Vancouver radio this morning saying that a second go around with the Panthers would be acceptable, “Florida is definitely one of the spots I'd be willing to go to”, and was playfully dismissive at the prospect of going to the Windy City was brought up, "I've always said I like playing Chicago(laughs)(to which host Jeff O’Neil responded "in a Canucks jersey….”), he then said “Exactly!”, but the possibility of going to Toronto was not mentioned in the 22 minute interview.
From the Toronto side of things, the signals are mixed. GM Brian Burke indicated in an interview with Fan 590 host Bob McCown that the price for a “certain” goalie available in the trade market would have made fans scratch their heads at the cost. The following day McCown stated that he had it on good authority that the rumors of great interest in bringing Luongo to Toronto were off base and that the chances of a trade were remote at best.
Conversely, TSN’s Darren Dreger stated that while things were all quiet on the Leafs front at the current moment, that they would likely revisit a possible deal for Luongo later in the summer since there are not many viable options out there. Dreger did mention the possibility of Minnesota trading veteran Niklas Backstrom’s $6 Million contract with one year remaining, since they had signed backup Josh Harding to a three year extension.
Should the Leafs concentrate on getting someone like Backstrom or Tim Thomas(if they can talk him out of taking a year off), or should they bid their time and try to get Luongo?
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