The chance Roberto Luongo finishes the season with the Vancouver Canucks seems less likely with each passing day. He is trade bait and it is only a matter of the Canucks getting the right deal in place. While trade talks between the team and the potential landing spot, Toronto Maple Leafs, have been hot and cold to this point. General manager Mike Gillis has several backup plans in place in case the Leafs back out of the trade at the last minute.
Luongo is currently signed through the 2021-2022 season. At 33, it is unlikely he will finish out that contract. The type of contract Luongo is signed to is now outlawed under the new CBA, which is hurting possible trade negotiations with other teams. An organization must be willing to take on such a hefty deal for a veteran. As Cory Schneider emerged as the team's starting goalie at the end of last season, the Canucks have been trying to hand Luongo and his contract off for some time.
The team believed they had a deal in place prior to the start of the season to deal Luongo to Toronto. That never happened. Then trade talks heated up again but the Leafs do not like the terms and are now targeting Miikka Kiprusoff. The two parties have talked directly and the team feels they can get a better deal for the Flames' veteran than Luongo.
Vancouver is not looking to trade Luongo for just any player. They want someone that will be with the team for years to come, not just someone that can help them this season.
"We need a third-line center, but no one is going to steal Roberto from us. We're not moving him for a rental. We need something for today and tomorrow," assistant general manager Laurence Gilman said.
The other team likely making a pull for Luongo is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gillis has said to be in brief discussions with a few other teams and the Lightning have expressed interest. The team's future with goaltenders is unsettled and Luongo could provide the team with some stability.
If the Canucks do not get a deal done for Luongo by the trade deadline, they will have over $10 million of their cap space dedicated to just goalies. If a trade does not happen now, they will certainly drop Luongo at the end of the season.
