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So rumours are rampant in Toronto that a deal has been reached to send Roberto Luongo to the Toronto Maple Leafs. I find these rumours a little hard to believe, because Luongo has a NTC in place and would have to approve any trade. Right now that cannot happen because Mike Gillis is not allowed to talk to him because of the lockout, so how do these "sources" truly know the deal is in place?

I'm sure Burke and Gillis have talked about it, and it wouldn't surprise me if the framework for the deal was there. After all, if the season ever does start, both GMs know they will have a very short amount of time to get this deal done. But until Luongo waives, any deal involving him is on hold.

On that note, why would Roberto Luongo want to become a Maple Leaf anyways? Everyone has said all summer long that there is no way in hell Luongo would approve a deal to Columbus, and Toronto hasn't been a whole lot better over the past five seasons.


Toronto

11/12- 35 wins, 80points
10/11- 37 wins, 85 points
09/10- 30 wins, 74 points
08/09- 34 wins, 81 points
07/08- 36 wins, 83 points
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Avg. 34.4 wins, 80.6 points


Columbus
11/12- 29 wins, 65 points
10/11- 34 wins, 81 points
09/10- 32 wins, 79 points
08/09- 41 wins, 92 points
07/08- 34 wins, 80 points
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avg. 34 wins, 79.4 points


Maybe it's just me, but I don't see a whole lot of difference in those two teams. But then again, maybe the lure to work on his skating with Barb Underhill means more to Lu then it does to me. After all, The Blue Jacket only employ the man that Lu has gone on record in the past and called the best goaltending coach he has ever had. But I'm sure he has no desire to work with Ian Clark again.

And this fallacy that Vancouver is in a position of weakness is something else I don't buy. Vancouver is under the cap right now. They have no need to make a deal. Having two all star goalies is not really a problem when they both seem to work well together and get along. If the season was to start today, I firmly believe that Schneider and Luongo would have no issue splitting the starts as long as the team is winning. I mean, wouldn't you rather start 30 games on a winner then play 60 on a loser? I know I would.

And something else Leafs fans need to wrap their head around is they are not the only pony in this race. There are four teams with an interest in Luongo, and that is just the teams we know of. After the first month of the season, maybe that number grows to six or eight because of injuries and slow starts. Trust me when I say this, Gillis is not moving Luongo for crap. He will get value back.

The notion that Vancouver HAS to take back one or even two of Tim Connolly, Matthew Lombardi or Mike Komisarek is absurd.


Tim Connolly- expensive and injury plagued, no thanks

Matthew Lombardi- really not a whole lot better than Malhotra, no thanks

Mike Komisarek- unless they're taking Ballard with Lu, why?


I simply can't see a fit for any of those guys in Vancouver. Do you?

I agree with Leafs fans when they say we aren't getting Gardiner. I agree with Leafs fans when they say we won't be getting a first-round-pick, unless there is a guarantee that they make the playoffs. But I do see Vancouver landing a player like Joffrey Lupul IF THE LEAFS FEEL THEY CAN'T RE-SIGN HIM.

Lupul and Carlyle have a history of not really being on the same page. Maybe Joffrey wants to look at moving on at the season's end, so why wouldn't the Leafs look at getting a guy who can give them five good years in goal in return for him. There would be other parts likely going each way, but a Lu for Lu type deal just makes so much sense for both teams.

And if the leafs aren't aboard with that option, send Lu to the Blue Jackets for Mason, Prospal and a late 1st or a decent prospect. In my opinion, that deal is the one we will see happen.

That’s a wrap.

Ian

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