If we have learned anything in the NHL it is this: When a player says he wouldn't have a problem waiving his No Trade Clause the phrase, "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear" comes to mind.
Is it possible Luongo was just being cool with it all and showing us his character when he said "I don't want to be one of those guys who is going to stand in the way of anything. I always want to put the team ahead of me first. I don't want to be one of those selfish guys?"
I would say yes. And I would commend Lu for saying the right words and even more for being a hockey player who just wants to play the game. I have said for years that 95% of hockey players when asked to waive their NTC will do so if for no other reason than the basic fact that once your wife asks you if it's OK to date other people, the next words out of your mouth are probably not "sure thing, sounds good, what's for dinner?"
Players are emotional, ego driven beings. Pro players have been told their whole lives they are special and when they feel unwanted they want out. If you are a hockey player with any real sense of pride you want out yesterday. So why then are No Movements and No Trades negotiated into contracts in the first place? In my opinion it's nicer than negotiating a "Let me tell you which franchises I think suck and won't accept a trade to" clause.
But essentially that's what they are. They give the player a choice regarding his future so that he knows he isn't going to sign the kind of deal he loves with his current team but could feel like an albatross for the next 5-15 years with a team he has no desire to play for.
While it is true I am not the world's biggest Luongo fan on the ice, I have met the guy and completely respect him. He is a classy guy. His words about Thomas last season during the finals were blown way out of proportion and just another by-product of his competitiveness. It wasn't Luongo's fault that Vigneault listened to him in game 3 when Lu was getting shelled and told Vigneault, "don't you even think about pulling me."
That is what a real hockey player will ALWAYS say. We have coaches to save themselves from embarrassment. We have coaches to pull a guy without placing blame on him and making him feel as if he is the reason for the loss. Players will play every shift until their feet bleed through their laces. NHL players didn't arrive at the show because they shy'd away from wanting ice time. We have coaches to keep them in line and to show them how much better they can be if they are confident players. Vigneault is whole different story though...
Luongo said more...and the more was even more telling...
"Even though I have a no-trade, it's not my decision. It's a very unique circumstance I think that we are in where we have an elite guy, a young guy who is up and coming, who is probably going to dominate the league for many years. I'm not sure what I would do if I was GM."
There is the story. Luongo and Schneider are close friends. Schneider is about to negotiate his big contract and Luongo essentially opened the talks for him, which on one hand could be viewed as humility but also is about as close as a player can come to saying the time has come to trade me or him.
I got the craziest email this past week from a Canucks fan saying, "I am really concerned about Schneider playing in the playoffs...." (so you are probably thinking as I was, "sure he hasn't played in nearly as many games as Luongo he might struggle" but read on) and he continued, "What if Schneider plays so well we win the Cup with him? What will we do with Luongo next year? With his contract being so long, etc?"
What happens??? "You win the freaking CUP is what happens!" I responded. geesh! I have heard rumblings like this when I covered the Canucks in the Final but I never thought this kind of Canucks fan ACTUALLY existed?!?! We all play GM. We all look at Cap space and want players to play the kind of hockey their contracts pay them for. We all get upset when a GM signs a guy to a contract we fear the team will be saddled with...but when fans started looking at contracts and tradability ABOVE the goal of it all...winning...then I question what the hell we are fans of in the first place? Unless you are just a fan of the business of the sport, individual contracts and their details should only come into question when the team is losing.
I have a good friend who always says, "What do I care what each of the Flyers are making individually? More power to them. I just want a parade."
But back to Lu and who wants him?
Luongo, even with his big contract, will have his share of suitors. For all his playoff issues the guy has put forth a great career and some serious accomplishments...none greater than winning Gold in Vancouver. And remember what we saw this past summer. Teams willing and flat out needing to take on big contracts to get to the floor. Florida was the best example in trading for Brian Campbell, who many felt couldn't be traded. Yet he was traded and we learned something we too often forget in the process. Guys with big contracts don't suck. They may not put up the stats we all feel they should given their paycheck, but it wasn't too long ago these players were sought after and demanded the kind of money they are making. Brian Campbell, big contract and all, is largely responsible for Florida still being in these playoffs as well as Chicago playing golf today. So for as "terrible" as everyone calls the money Brian Campbell is making his play has equated to money made by Florida and maybe lost by Chicago.
Yes Luongo will find a team or two willing to take him aboard...possible destinations for Luongo include
*Florida. Yes Ironic as it might be, and depending on what happens two nights from now...
*Tampa. A team who truly could benefit from Luongo's game because there was a time when Luongo was lights out when he got tons of shots on him...something he hasn't seen in Vancouver.
*Chicago. Crawford is a strong goalie, but not the answer. However, I can't imagine Vancouver moving Luongo to the hated Hawks unless they were blown away by the offer.
*NJ. Yes, NJ. I talked to a source at length yesterday about this. You heard it here first.
*Toronto. Something you didn't hear here first is Luongo tied to the Leafs. However, while I include them on this early list I truly don't buy it. I am reporting a rumor here, but talking to my sources I trust I would say the Leafs are looking elsewhere.
*Detroit. There is not a team in the NHL who will be more interesting this summer or more active than the Wings. Promise you that. Howard has been good at times, but questions remain.
*Ottawa. Hard to look at right now with Anderson standing on his head, but Luongo has some major fans in high places in Ottawa.
*Washington. Same story here with Holtby. If the Caps lose game 7 there could be major changes I am told...and the Canucks may get blown away by the Caps in need of a major splash as well.
What's the buzz?
What say you on the Luongo situation?
Coming up...I will preview tonight's big game in bean town.
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