Luongo

[Redleaf]

I would much rather Luongo and his contract go to Florida and then if the Panthers want to deal Theodore to us, I would be pleased to take on his one year $1.5M contract.

Who's to say Theodore doesn't go to Vancouver in a deal like that?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm still convinced strombone1 on twitter is Luongo.  The account said they were going to the WSOP event in Vegas, and then some poker guy mentioned strombone1 with a picture of Luongo wearing a WSOP bracelet.

Either that or it's a good friend of his who is extremely dedicated.  Has all the major hockey guys following too.

Regardless, it's one of the more enjoyable twitter feeds, especially if you let yourself believe it is Luongo.

 

[Rebel_1812]

There was an interesting aside by Bob McCown after he concluded his interview with Burke.

During the interview, McCown prefaced one of his questions by referencing  an off air discussion he had had with Burke.

After Burke left and as he was going to commercial, McCown made a remark to the effect that Luongo to the Leafs was not going to happen because Burke doesn't want him. Since nothing to that effect came out of the on air interview, it would appear that it was part of the off air conversation.

I'd be a little surprised if Burke was just going out and telling radio personalities things like that, especially McCown who I never really thought Burke was particularly fond of.

I don't think anyone is fond of Bob McCown.  It is a wonder he got married and procreated.

 

[cw]

There was an interesting aside by Bob McCown after he concluded his interview with Burke.

During the interview, McCown prefaced one of his questions by referencing  an off air discussion he had had with Burke.

After Burke left and as he was going to commercial, McCown made a remark to the effect that Luongo to the Leafs was not going to happen because Burke doesn't want him. Since nothing to that effect came out of the on air interview, it would appear that it was part of the off air conversation.

I'd be a little surprised if Burke was just going out and telling radio personalities things like that, especially McCown who I never really thought Burke was particularly fond of.

I've heard Burke say in the recent past to an interviewer that he can't say he's interested in a player because that's tampering but he can say when he's not interested in a player and then he went ahead and named the player he wasn't interested in (I can't recall which player off hand).

I'm sure Burke would be interested in Luongo's talent to play goal. I strongly suspect it is his contract (and not the cap circumvention part of it) that gives him the most trouble. There's risk in any pro sports contract. But there's a higher risk with Luongo in terms of his recent indifferent play and in terms of his age relative to the guaranteed $50 mil or so that is outstanding.

I'm not the biggest fan of McCown but I really doubt he'd make something like that up.

So I think it's quite plausible and it doesn't surprise me. In fact, I hope it's true.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

I'm still convinced strombone1 on twitter is Luongo.  The account said they were going to the WSOP event in Vegas, and then some poker guy mentioned strombone1 with a picture of Luongo wearing a WSOP bracelet.

Either that or it's a good friend of his who is extremely dedicated.  Has all the major hockey guys following too.

Regardless, it's one of the more enjoyable twitter feeds, especially if you let yourself believe it is Luongo.

Yeah, he has a lot of hockey people convinced that's for sure.

This one is great:

Strombone‏@strombone1

Remember though, I'm signed until 2054 ?@louie8413: Roberto Luongo has 9th highest cap hit among active starting NHL goaltenders"

 

[bustaheims]

As for the negotiations, what negotiations?

Yes, they talked but it would be stretch to say there were negotiations. It seems clear from Burke's repeated references to being asked to "strip mine" his roster, that any discussions died at the preliminary stage and were likely pro forma in any event.

I didn't say they were extensive or promising, but, they happened - and, if Burke flat out did not want him, they wouldn't have even gotten that far. Bob's speculating, and poorly at that.

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm torn on Luongo. I desparately want someone of his talent level on the team, but the contract is length is scary. There's no problem with the cap hit for now.

 

[Joe S.]

I'm torn on Luongo. I desparately want someone of his talent level on the team, but the contract is length is scary. There's no problem with the cap hit for now.

The thing is if he didn't have that contract then there would be no speculation at all about him coming to the leafs.

 

[#1PilarFan]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=400063

In an interview with Vancouver's CFOX Morning Show on Friday, Luongo - in his first one-on-one since the end of the season - said that he enjoyed his time with the team and was resigned to the fact that it's time to move on.

"(And) I'm okay with that," Luongo told the radio station. "I had a great six years in Vancouver. I think it's a wonderful city, I really enjoyed my time there. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to bring a Stanley Cup there, which was probably my biggest regret. But it will be remembered for six great years."

And Gillis' position weakens even more. Luongo has all but demanded a trade. Not saying he'll go to the Leafs, but if he's with Vancouver by the time the season starts, his trade value will only go down from there.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

That to me, sounds like he'd rather play in Toronto (hockey market) over Florida (relative obscurity).

Am I reading into that too much?

 

[#1PilarFan]

That to me, sounds like he'd rather play in Toronto (hockey market) over Florida (relative obscurity).

Am I reading into that too much?

Probably yeah.

"I think playing in a hockey market is great," said Luongo. "Playing in one is a preference for sure. Playing in a place like Florida with anonymity - to go out somewhere and have a dinner with your family and relax and stuff is great. When you're on the ice, being able to play in a building that's rocking, sold out and the fans are passionate about their team - as a hockey player you always want to be in that type of market."

It sounds like he thinks both kinds of markets have their upsides.

 

[Zee]

He must know a trade is close if he's giving interviews like that.  Will it be Florida or Toronto?

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

That to me, sounds like he'd rather play in Toronto (hockey market) over Florida (relative obscurity).

Am I reading into that too much?

Probably yeah.

"I think playing in a hockey market is great," said Luongo. "Playing in one is a preference for sure. Playing in a place like Florida with anonymity - to go out somewhere and have a dinner with your family and relax and stuff is great. When you're on the ice, being able to play in a building that's rocking, sold out and the fans are passionate about their team - as a hockey player you always want to be in that type of market."

It sounds like he thinks both kinds of markets have their upsides.

He does say "I think playing in a hockey market is great," said Luongo. "Playing in one is a preference for sure."

It's his preference to play in a hockey market, so if there's indeed only two teams, it seems like Toronto is it, unless you talk to his wife I guess.

 

[Stronger Than All]

Awesome!  Now what if he's untradeable?  He just said he's leaving publicly.  Hilarious.

 

[princedpw]

That to me, sounds like he'd rather play in Toronto (hockey market) over Florida (relative obscurity).

Am I reading into that too much?

Probably yeah.

"I think playing in a hockey market is great," said Luongo. "Playing in one is a preference for sure. Playing in a place like Florida with anonymity - to go out somewhere and have a dinner with your family and relax and stuff is great. When you're on the ice, being able to play in a building that's rocking, sold out and the fans are passionate about their team - as a hockey player you always want to be in that type of market."

It sounds like he thinks both kinds of markets have their upsides.

He does say "I think playing in a hockey market is great," said Luongo. "Playing in one is a preference for sure."

It's his preference to play in a hockey market, so if there's indeed only two teams, it seems like Toronto is it, unless you talk to his wife I guess.

It sounds a little like it might be a weird sort of garbelled  attempt to hedge hits bets.  He's both saying that it is nice to have a private dinner and it is nice to play in a rocking building.  You can't have it both ways.

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

That to me, sounds like he'd rather play in Toronto (hockey market) over Florida (relative obscurity).

Am I reading into that too much?

Probably yeah.

"I think playing in a hockey market is great," said Luongo. "Playing in one is a preference for sure. Playing in a place like Florida with anonymity - to go out somewhere and have a dinner with your family and relax and stuff is great. When you're on the ice, being able to play in a building that's rocking, sold out and the fans are passionate about their team - as a hockey player you always want to be in that type of market."

It sounds like he thinks both kinds of markets have their upsides.

He does say "I think playing in a hockey market is great," said Luongo. "Playing in one is a preference for sure."

It's his preference to play in a hockey market, so if there's indeed only two teams, it seems like Toronto is it, unless you talk to his wife I guess.

It sounds a little like it might be a weird sort of garbelled  attempt to hedge hits bets.  He's both saying that it is nice to have a private dinner and it is nice to play in a rocking building.  You can't have it both ways.

actually toronto fails him on both counts ....toronto is the kind of place where everyone on the street will know who you are....but the arena itself will be kind of quiet

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

It sounds a little like it might be a weird sort of garbelled  attempt to hedge hits bets.  He's both saying that it is nice to have a private dinner and it is nice to play in a rocking building.  You can't have it both ways.

Maybe he was still in character? #strombone1

 

[mc]

That to me, sounds like he'd rather play in Toronto (hockey market) over Florida (relative obscurity).

Am I reading into that too much?

Probably yeah.

"I think playing in a hockey market is great," said Luongo. "Playing in one is a preference for sure. Playing in a place like Florida with anonymity - to go out somewhere and have a dinner with your family and relax and stuff is great. When you're on the ice, being able to play in a building that's rocking, sold out and the fans are passionate about their team - as a hockey player you always want to be in that type of market."

It sounds like he thinks both kinds of markets have their upsides.

He does say "I think playing in a hockey market is great," said Luongo. "Playing in one is a preference for sure."

It's his preference to play in a hockey market, so if there's indeed only two teams, it seems like Toronto is it, unless you talk to his wife I guess.

It sounds a little like it might be a weird sort of garbelled  attempt to hedge hits bets.  He's both saying that it is nice to have a private dinner and it is nice to play in a rocking building.  You can't have it both ways.

actually toronto fails him on both counts ....toronto is the kind of place where everyone on the street will know who you are....but the arena itself will be kind of quiet

So true!

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

actually toronto fails him on both counts ....toronto is the kind of place where everyone on the street will know who you are....but the arena itself will be kind of quiet

He means when the Leafs are winning and he probably thinks he can be a big part to make that happen?

 

[jonlleafs]

actually toronto fails him on both counts ....toronto is the kind of place where everyone on the street will know who you are....but the arena itself will be kind of quiet

He means when the Leafs are winning and he probably thinks he can be a big part to make that happen?

But it'll still be relatively quiet with all of the sushi in people's mouths.