Category Archives: Vancouver Canucks

What if Luongo tells the Canucks he wants to stay?

What was once a foregone conclusion may not be so certain anymore in Vancouver, where all of a sudden Canucks GM Mike Gillis is answering questions about goalie Roberto Luongo not being traded.

Gillis was a guest on FAN 590 today and was floated an intriguing scenario from host Nick Kypreos.

“Hypothetically speaking,” asked Kypreos, “let’s say [Luongo] comes into your office tomorrow and says, ‘Let’s end this talk about me moving. I want to stay. If you’re comfortable having me stay, can we put an end to this and stop these talks?’”

February 11, 2013 NHL Trade Rumors

Derick Brassard and Penner Available?

Who is available? Well, a few teams would love Ryan O’Reilly, but God knows how that ends. Once again, Derick Brassard’s name is coming up. That’s been an uneasy marriage, to say the least. The Columbus Blue Jackets have three first-round picks next year — their own and one each from the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers. I can’t imagine they’d trade their own for anything less than a superstud, but the other two are strong commodities in a deep draft.

Another player of interest is Dustin Penner. He’s really in the doghouse with just three games played. If the Kings so desired, there would certainly be a market. He’s on a one-year deal. Hard to pin down many more names. Some teams don’t want to deal excess players because depth is critical. Very few teams are out of it, which prevents fire sales, and with the cap going down to $64.3 million US in 2013-14, you don’t want to add a big salary if you can avoid it. Maybe things loosen up in the next week or so.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2013/02/30-thoughts-devils-out-to-prove-last-year-no-fluke.html

Speaking of trades, rumours will heat up on Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Stephen Weiss and Jarome Iginla. But the Anaheim Ducks have looked good with Getzlaf and Perry.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/02/10/surprises_emerge_as_nhl_season_hits_quarter_pole.html

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HTR Believes that this is leading to more speculation that he could be on this way out of town.

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Kessler to return to the Canucks lineup soon.

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Flames claim goaltender Joey MacDonald off waivers from Red Wings

The Calgary Flames have claimed goaltender Joey MacDonald off waivers today.

MacDonald was cleared to play today after being out since March 14 due to a bulging disc.

The Flames needed a goalie after started Mikka Kiprusoff sprained his MCL last Tuesday in a game against the Red Wings. He is listed as day-to-day.

MacDonald, who turned 33 last Thursday, went 8-5-1, with a 2.16 goals-against average and .912 save percentage for the Red Wings in 2011-12. He stepped in when Jimmy Howard was injured and won seven games in a row at one point, winning the back-up job from Ty Conklin.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/02/flames_claim_goaltender_joey_m.html

Roberto Luongo could help Caps, others

There was hardly even time for fun speculation, Washington Capitals GM George McPhee made sure of that. On Sunday afternoon, both Vancouver GM Mike Gillis and Canucks assistant GM Laurence Gilman were in Washington, D.C., among those scouting the matinee game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Capitals. When asked what brought the two executives so far east, especially in a season in which the Canucks won’t have to face either team until the Stanley Cup finals, Gilman smiled. Just watching some hockey.

Cory Schneider’s agent hopes Roberto Luongo trade comes sooner rather than later

Just like his client, the agent for goalie Cory Schneider is not about to criticize the Vancouver Canucks for the team’s handling of its goaltending situation.

But Mike Liut, himself a former goalie, clearly hopes the uncertainty regarding a possible trade of Roberto Luongo does not hang over the team and Schneider all season.

“Our concern is we were hoping that this would be the year that Cory would play 75 per cent of the games,” Liut said in a phone interview Monday from his Michigan office.

Roberto Luongo trade rumors: Would Canucks deal with Capitals?

The issue for the Capitals is whether adding Luongo, at his age and cap hit, makes sense this season and in the immediate future. They are already behind the eight-ball in the Eastern Conference, and the Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-Mike Green core hasn’t contended since 2010.

Players Gillis could be interested in: young defenseman Dmitry Orlov and prospect Filip Forsberg. If he’s looking for immediate help along the second line, though, the Capitals don’t have much to offer.

Kesler takes first full practice

Ryan Kesler is finally back at practice. His teammates good-natured ribbing of him is in playoff form, mind you.

Kesler took to the ice in a Vancouver Canucks’ full workout for the first time this season on Sunday. He led the opening stretch sequence, prompting both a rousing stick tapping from his teammates and Kevin Bieska to sneak up from behind him and drape a white cape with Kesler’s No. 17 on over his back.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports …..

Nonis may consider moving F Phil Kessel. Just one problem: Somebody has to be willing to take him. Not easy finding a fit because he is making $5.4 million and is one year away from being a UFA … Once the New York Islanders are officially out of the playoff picture, expect D Mark Streit to get dealt.

Luongo shrugs off trade rumours to Maple Leafs: Cox

Luongo has done a very good job so far of playing the good soldier while GM Mike Gillis sorts out potential trade scenarios. The Maple Leafs still are interested in the 33-year-old netminder despite his nightmarish contract, but aren’t willing to pay the price in players and prospects that Vancouver is demanding.

Florida may or may not be interested. Washington? Just speculation at the moment.

Could Doan be on the Canucks radar come deadline time?

Roberto Luongo perfect as Canucks shut out Avalanche 3-0

Roberto Luongo threw a little gasoline on the goaltending controversy with another strong performance Wednesday night. A surprise starter, Luongo turned aside all 24 shots he faced to record his 61st NHL shutout.

He’s now played more minutes this season than Cory Schneider, who had been anointed Vancouver’s new starter last spring.

Many expect Schneider will start Friday night against the Blackhawks, who are 6-0-1 after losing 3-2 in a shootout to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night. But many observers also thought coach Alain Vigneault would start Schneider against the Avalanche.

Vigneault wasn’t saying anything about his Friday starter after the game.

Luongo’s save percentage this season is .938 and his goals-against average is 1.61. Both are fourth best in the NHL.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Roberto+Luongo+perfect+Canucks+shut+Avalanche+with+video/7896378/story.html#ixzz2JZSIizlK

Would you trade Luongo and Ballard for Kessel

With all of the trade talk out there with Kessel and Luongo  it would be interesting to see fans reaction to a possible trade that could benefit both teams. Would you be willing to do this deal? What else would have to be done to sweeten the pot?

Please comment and have your say.

RUMOURS DU JOUR – By Bruce Garrioch ,Ottawa Sun

After Montreal GM Marc Bergevin sat down with agent Don Meehan for a meeting Friday, the future of Habs blueliner P.K. Subban is all the rage. The two sides have gotten nowhere and many wouldn’t be surprised if this ended in a trade demand from the Subban camp in the near future. As reported last week, Subban wants a five-year, $27.5-million deal at $5.5 million per season. Sources say Bergevin used Florida D Dmitry Kulikov (two years, $5 million) and New York D Michael Del Zotto (two years, $5.1 million) as comparisons. That won’t wash with Subban. If the Habs decide to deal Subban, Detroit, Philadelphia and the Rangers will make a push. But sources insist there is a surprise candidate that could have the assets to acquire Subban — the Winnipeg Jets. League sources say GM Kevin Cheveldayoff wants to make a splash to get an impact player. The problem for Bergevin is simple: As mad as the Habs’ camp is at Subban, he’s a thoroughbred and they don’t come along often … Lots of teams are waiting to see where the dominos fall with Vancouver G Roberto Luongo before making a move for a netminder. Canucks GM Mike Gillis has told several teams he’s not doing anything until he gets his asking price. Yes, the Edmonton Oilers have what it takes to acquire Luongo, but he wouldn’t approve a trade there. The Panthers don’t want to make a deal unless Gillis is willing to take cash back. The Canucks know the pressure is mounting in some markets to win and they’ll find a desperate GM trying to save his job, maybe even Washington or Philly.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/01/26/washington-capitals-gm-george-mcphee-feeling-head-after-slow-start

 

Gillis would trade Luongo to a Western Conference team

If the best offer the Vancouver Canucks get for goalie Roberto Luongo happens to come from a fellow Western Conference team, then that’s the offer general manager Mike Gillis says he’ll give the most consideration.

“I’m pretty pragmatic,” Gillis told TEAM 1040 radio today.