So, who would you like in a return for Luongo

[BigTuna]

There's no pressure at all for Florida to make the playoffs. They won't cave. They made the playoffs last year thanks to being in the weakest division and many of their veterans they brought in having great years. That's not the case this season at all.

And does anyone have a direct quote from Florida ownership saying Luongo's contract is not a problem? Or are you just going by a media report that may be incorrect? Because that contract does not make sense for a financially struggling team.

[Blob Mckenzie]

There's no pressure at all for Florida to make the playoffs. They won't cave.

Says who ?

[Uncle dans leg]

Florida is toast this year. They might as well go 1 more year and try for a top 5 pick where you can almost guarantee a franchise player is available. If nobody grabs Luo Gillis might be forced to buy him out and they get him for nothing anyway.
Honestly this is a possibility.

[dbr]

Dan, granting (purely for the sake of argument) the (laughable) notion that nobody wants to trade for a star player because he gets paid a couple million too much per year over a few too many years... there is simply no way that 29 teams pass on Luongo on waivers.

And does anyone have a direct quote from Florida ownership saying Luongo's contract is not a problem? Or are you just going by a media report that may be incorrect? Because that contract does not make sense for a financially struggling team.

There is no way there'd be a quote directly from the Panthers on that. Everyone is going on Pierre Lebrun's word which as far as hockey reporters go is pretty decent.

As for the contract not making sense for the Panthers, neither does the one attached to Brian Campbell - in theory anyway. As for whether it actually makes sense for the Panthers or not, I'll take third hand information from Pierre Lebrun over first hand information from you.

[Uncle dans leg]

Dan, granting (purely for the sake of argument) the (laughable) notion that nobody wants to trade for a star player because he gets paid a couple million too much per year over a few too many years... there is simply no way that 29 teams pass on Luongo on waivers.

Ok...I agree he wont clear waivers but if he is waived we still get nothing back. Colour me a pessimist on this one but seeing as he's been on the market forever and is still a Canuck, it's not a stretch to foresee nobody coming up with an offer worthy of this player. How long can it go on? What if he's still a Canuck next September? No way we go into another year with both.

[Brick Tamland]

I'm reading between the lines here a bit, but GIllis seemed to indicate last night on After Hours that things were a little dry at the moment (that should be pretty obvious). The reported trade that he had in the works doens't seem to be there right now, and as many people have assumed, he also indicated that it involved a loftyish contract coming back.

I don't think we see a situation were we still have 2 goalies by next September. It is far more likely IMO that he takes less in return, perhaps more of a rough around the edges prospect as opposed to a blue chipper. I still expect to get a decent return, but my guess is that it wouldn't help us this season anyway.

[the Dogsalmon]

sell Schneider to Florida for their 1st round choice in the next amateur draft...

[Jovocop]

Dan, granting (purely for the sake of argument) the (laughable) notion that nobody wants to trade for a star player because he gets paid a couple million too much per year over a few too many years... there is simply no way that 29 teams pass on Luongo on waivers.

Ok...I agree he wont clear waivers but if he is waived we still get nothing back. Colour me a pessimist on this one but seeing as he's been on the market forever and is still a Canuck, it's not a stretch to foresee nobody coming up with an offer worthy of this player. How long can it go on? What if he's still a Canuck next September? No way we go into another year with both.

Dan, trading Luongo is like selling a Ferrari or a multimillion mansion. Not everyone can afford them but there is certainly a market for them. You just have to be patient.

[Arachnid]

this thread is starting to smell like canine feces pasta....

[BigTuna]

Dan, granting (purely for the sake of argument) the (laughable) notion that nobody wants to trade for a star player because he gets paid a couple million too much per year over a few too many years... there is simply no way that 29 teams pass on Luongo on waivers.

And does anyone have a direct quote from Florida ownership saying Luongo's contract is not a problem? Or are you just going by a media report that may be incorrect? Because that contract does not make sense for a financially struggling team.

There is no way there'd be a quote directly from the Panthers on that. Everyone is going on Pierre Lebrun's word which as far as hockey reporters go is pretty decent.

As for the contract not making sense for the Panthers, neither does the one attached to Brian Campbell - in theory anyway. As for whether it actually makes sense for the Panthers or not, I'll take third hand information from Pierre Lebrun over first hand information from you.

They actually needed to take on the Campbell contract to reach the cap floor. And his contract was less than half the years as Luongo.

[BigTuna]

There's no pressure at all for Florida to make the playoffs. They won't cave.

Says who ?

Says me. It's over for Florida this year. Too many players/hurt having terrible years. And their division is tougher this season.

[dbr]

Dan, granting (purely for the sake of argument) the (laughable) notion that nobody wants to trade for a star player because he gets paid a couple million too much per year over a few too many years... there is simply no way that 29 teams pass on Luongo on waivers.

And does anyone have a direct quote from Florida ownership saying Luongo's contract is not a problem? Or are you just going by a media report that may be incorrect? Because that contract does not make sense for a financially struggling team.

There is no way there'd be a quote directly from the Panthers on that. Everyone is going on Pierre Lebrun's word which as far as hockey reporters go is pretty decent.

As for the contract not making sense for the Panthers, neither does the one attached to Brian Campbell - in theory anyway. As for whether it actually makes sense for the Panthers or not, I'll take third hand information from Pierre Lebrun over first hand information from you.

They actually needed to take on the Campbell contract to reach the cap floor. And his contract was less than half the years as Luongo.

According to capgeek they hit over $55m in cap and about $51-2m in salary last year, with a $48m floor they could have easily kept Olesz. They could have also just signed another FA but their GM (likely with consent of ownership) decided that a $7m salary with several years left made sense for that franchise.

That being said they can't use contracts like Gudbranson and Huberdeau's to make the floor anymore either..

[dangler]

I'm reading between the lines here a bit, but GIllis seemed to indicate last night on After Hours that things were a little dry at the moment (that should be pretty obvious). The reported trade that he had in the works doens't seem to be there right now, and as many people have assumed, he also indicated that it involved a loftyish contract coming back.

I don't think we see a situation were we still have 2 goalies by next September. It is far more likely IMO that he takes less in return, perhaps more of a rough around the edges prospect as opposed to a blue chipper. I still expect to get a decent return, but my guess is that it wouldn't help us this season anyway.

I felt Gillis was indicating keeping both goaltenders for this season might be the best option as far as giving the Canucks a chance to win this season,and it would have to be something significant coming back to make it worthwhile giving up that advantage.
As far as the reported trade Friedman asked him about,that sounded like it was awhile back,so it's not surprising " that it doesn't seem to be there right now" and doubt it has much to do with a softening Luongo market.
right now, it"s looking like the Gillis plans on riding both goaltenders for this season and they'll take what the market bears in the offseason for Luongo

[Hockey Widow]

His position all along has been he will only trade one of the goalies if the trade makes us better today and/or in the future. He won't do a salary dump and he doesn't want bad contracts back. Nothing in his position has changed from day one.

I think the longer the season goes the more likely that the trade would have to make us significantly better this year for a deal to happen this season. A deal that will make us better in the future can be done in the summer.

I'm sure if he is offered a top 2 centre and a pick/prospect and a back up goalie he may pull the trigger now. He has the cap space to take a salary dump for this year but does not want a salary dump on a long term contract. We have our own cap concerns next season already so we don't need another one.

Theodore has a torn groin and likely done for the season word is today. So unless the Panthers think Luongo can get them back into the playoff hunt I see no reason for them to pull the trigger now, unless they feel someone else may.

I still think a team like the Flyers may bite in the off season once they can buy that Russian guy out. The caps extended Hotlby and they seem to think he is the real deal but I think him backing up Luongo is a better deal

I don't think there is a good market today for Luongo. Never say never but it does look more and more like an off season move. For sure MG will not move him just to do so at the trade deadline.

[Blob Mckenzie]

There's no pressure at all for Florida to make the playoffs. They won't cave.

Says who ?

Says me. It's over for Florida this year. Too many players/hurt having terrible years. And their division is tougher this season.

The next time you are right will be the first time. You have been bumping your gums about how good the Laffs are every time they race out to a decent start. You tell us how this year it's different and tht they will cruise to the playoffs. Don't think i have forgotten your act here or at central.

Your credibility rivals that of a politician.