Well that does open things up a tad, no? I was under the impression that, no offense to a team he no doubt quite likes, he was a goner one way or another this season due to his family and all. If he is willing to stick it out another couple of years until his contractually-offered trade window opens up... that's worth considering if he keeps up his play. Even if he forces Gillis' hand at that time and Gillis doesn't get much in return, the situation may be different: The team may have won a Cup, the Twins may well be at the end of their prime, and Lack may be ready to take the reins.Hockey Widow wrote:Luongo can demand a trade year 7 or 8 which I think is after next season. Maybe the next one. In any event if he demands a trade the Canucks must accommodate. I don't know how the small details work but it is a risk since he has already stated he would prefer to be closer to his family back east. I don't know if his wife and kids made the trip to Vancouver this year. But I know that when things started to blow up his wife had returned to Florida with the kids. This coincided with Cory "stealing" the number one job in the LA playoffs series.
So I guess it depends upon whether Luongo really does want to stay if he is again the number one or if he still wants to get to the East somehow. Only he and his family know for sure but what I hear is he loves Vancouver, yes he wants to be a number one, but he still wants to get back east, preferably a Florida team. Whether that is enough for him to demand a trade when he contractually is able to I don't know but I think that is the risk with him right now.
I would trust that MG has had these conversations with Luongo and probably has a pretty good idea of what Luongo is thinking.
The complication for the Canucks is Lack injury and surgery. It could take him a year or two to get back to top performance, see Ray Emory. So their plan to trade Cory and have Lack back up is off the rails but I think the plan was to trade Cory, play Lack and Luongo and then go from there. At the trade deadline last year there were inquiries about Luongo which the Canucks entertained, that and the family situation and the Cory situation I think made Luongo start to consider leaving earlier. In fact I would venture that given Luongo's family situation that may have been a precipitating factor in them changing direction and thinking about keeping Cory.
Cory has not been lights out this year and we can see some of the warts in his game. I feel more confident with Luongo in net this year than with Cory but I'm banking on it being a result of the shortened season and the platooning of goalies. I'd still trade Luongo over Cory but then again if trading Cory gets us what we need then I guess you go that route and that still gives you at least one more year with Luongo. After that....Who knows.
Whole lotta ifs there, but if his play and mindset are such that he becomes the more viable option then Gillis could have a field-day either at the deadline or this summer. Still, Luongo's cap hit will be a huge one to swallow vice Ginger's. Next year's cap may have as much or more of a say as to which goalie goes than any other factor.