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Grapes Gripes About Luongo-To-Leafs Rumors

November 5, 2012, 11:27 PM ET [447 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
For those who needed their fix of Don Cherry’s strong opinions, the Hockey Night In Canada commentator told Fan 590 morning show hosts Jim Lang and Mike Farwell that in spite of most Maple Leafs fans wanting to see them acquire veteran goalie Roberto Luongo, his belief is that the Olympic gold medal winner has no desire to play in another high pressure hockey environment.

"To tell you the truth, I don’t think he wants to come here. Why would he want to come here and step into the same thing as Vancouver? Every time they lose, it's his fault. He only took them to the seventh game (of the Stanley Cup final in 2011). How many goaltenders have taken them to the seventh game?”

The rumors of the 33 year old netminder being dealt began even before the Canucks had been eliminated from the playoffs, as understudy Cory Schneider took over from Luongo after losing the first two games of their first round series against the eventual Stanley Cup Champion L.A. Kings.

Luongo has made it known that his preferred destination is to return to the Florida Panthers, the team that traded him to Vancouver in 2006.

"I don't think he wants to step into a real hot-spot like here.” Cherry said “I think he wants to go to Florida because his wife comes from Florida. I think he’s had enough with a gun to his head and if he comes here, he will."

While Cherry is correct that Luongo’s first choice would be to return to the Sunshine State, he did not take into consideration that Florida would not likely be not enthused about taking on a contract averaging $5.3 Million until 2022 with a no-trade clause attached to it. Florida has Jose Theodore, Scott Clemmensen and young Jacob Markstrom in goal, so there is no great need to bring the former Panther back into the fold.

Once in Florida, it would be hard to imagine Luongo ever waiving his no-trade clause to go anyplace else and hence an organization that has struggled financially in recent years would have an albatross-like contract around their neck.

Sportsnet’s John Shannon reported recently that a Luongo to Toronto deal was a fait accompli once the lockout had ended, but that rumor was quickly refuted by Vancouver GM Mike Gillis.

What kind of market there will be for Luongo will be determined in part by his willingness to waive his no-trade clause, but may also rely on what flexibility Vancouver has under the new CBA to pay a part of his deal or trade cap space to the acquiring team. Toronto makes the most sense for a number of reasons, including the club’s financial strength to handle the amount of money due to him, as well as the prior relationship between the netminder and former Canucks GM and Leafs Senior Vice President Dave Nonis, who made the deal to acquire him in 2006.

Luongo may prefer to go to elsewhere, but the only team that appears to be prepared and willing to take on the burden of trading for and paying him right now is Toronto.



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