LATEST | Former Canucks GM reveals reasons behind Roberto Luongo's departure
Former Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo was traded from the team to the Florida Panthers on March 4th, 2014. The return centered around goaltender Jacob Markstrom. This marked his second stint with in South Florida.
Luongo, now 44, had been with the Canucks since 2006 and had signed a 12-year, $64 million contract with the team. However, the emergence of young goaltender Cory Schneider along with Luongo's lengthy contract seemed to make him expendable.
Former Canucks GM Mike Gillis appeared on the Sekeres & Price podcast on Wednesday prior to Luongo's induction into the Canucks Ring of Honor:
Former GM Mike Gillis takes us behind the scenes on Roberto Luongo's 12-year contract & Luongo's ultimate departure:
"His contract didn't suck...[Toronto] I think was among a few places that he didn't really want to go." #Canucks@GreatClips | https://t.co/cJDRTvYYmt� Sekeres and Price (@sekeresandprice) December 14, 2023
Gillis reveals that the reason for Luongo being moved was a culmination of his wishes, Schneider's emergence, and an overall tumultuous final years in Vancouver � including new head coach John Tortorella starting rookie Eddie Läck in the 2014 Heritage Classic as opposed to his veteran goaltender.
Luongo enters the Canucks Ring of Honor as one of the most accomplished and recognizable players in franchise history.
| POLL | ||
Was it the right call to trade Luongo at that point? | ||
| Yes | 288 | 55.4 % |
| No | 232 | 44.6 % |
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