One of the biggest questions of the NHL offseason has been about Roberto Luongo's response to remaining in Vancouver. According to Canucks general manager Mike Gillis, the two parties are set to converse about the transition.
"I've only spoken to him on the phone," Gillis said during an interview with Team 1040 Radio on Thursday. "I'm going to go and have a visit with him in the next little bit."
"Roberto and I have a very good relationship, and we'll be able to talk about all of the issues, and I'll know more when I see him... He's always been a professional, and I'm sure he'll remain a professional and he'll act in the best interest of his hockey team and himself," Gillis said.
The Canadian keeper was once the franchise keeper for the Canucks before being supplanted by Cory Schneider during the 2012 playoffs. After that run, Luongo was expected to be traded during the 2012 offseason but the team never settled on a deal with another club. Throughout the shortened 2012-13 season, speculation over a Luongo trade ran rampant to the point that the goalie gave an official press conference after the trade deadline to lament his lengthy contract.
"My contract sucks -- that's what's the problem," Luongo said. "I'd scrap it if I could now."
Luongo is signed with the club until 2022 for a cap hit of $5.33 million.
A Luongo deal was expected during the NHL draft, but the biggest surprise came when the Canucks announced that they had opted to trade Schneider to the New Jersey Devils for the ninth pick in the first round. That trade returned to position of starting goalie to Luongo.
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