Luongo going to the Maple Leafs?

Transcription

1 Luongo going to the Maple Leafs? By Jason Botchford, The Province October 18, 2012 Roberto Luongo is all but gone, and will be traded to a Canadian rival when the collective bargaining agreement is ratified, according to a Sportsnet report. At least you ll still get to see him plenty of Saturday nights, if Sportsnet is on point. Well, let s face it, you ll see him just about every Saturday night. Toronto has been our betting favourite when handicapping Luongo s most likely destination since Steve Yzerman and Tampa Bay refused to enter the sweepstakes which began the moment Cory Schneider started consecutive playoff games. Toronto was closest to a deal for Luongo at the draft, in a negotiation which included the Leafs offering Luke Schenn and the Canucks countering by asking for Jake Gardiner-plus-plus-plus. There were was a moment in there where Vancouver thought they were about to get a deal done. But there were rumours Luongo was unwilling to waive his no-trade to go to the Leafs. Really, to go anywhere but Florida. Luongo then was still hopeful a deal to the Panthers could work out and his agent was working the angle behind the scenes. But Luongo had something of an epiphany in September when he met with Canucks management in Vancouver and was told Florida was all but out. Near the same time as the summit meeting, Vancouver GM Mike Gillis said the Leafs had several assets which could get a trade for Luongo done. Sportsnet s John Shannon reported Wednesday night the Leafs have agreed to move one of those assets and as a result the two teams have agreed to a deal in principle which will be announced sometime after the CBA is done. Multiple Canucks sources played down the report, including Gillis. But they had reactions which needled more toward the category of a non-denial denials. The Province asked Gillis if the deal with Toronto was close, citing the Sportsnet report. He managed to both deny the report and dance around it all in one answer. The definition of close is different for everybody, Gillis told The Province and TEAM 1040.

2 I m not sure why John would say that because that s certainly not the case. Everybody is also entitled to speculate on whatever they want to speculate on. We ve moved very slowly on any discussions with Roberto - we ll trade him when we get want we want to get for him, or we won t trade him, and either way it s fine with me. You know, if we can get something that s going to help us and move our team forward in different areas, we re certainly going to consider it. But that hasn t occurred yet, so I m not sure why that would be said. The type of player the Canucks have been seeking in return isn t a secret. They have wanted a promising young player who can contribute in the NHL soon on an entry-level contract. The Canucks need two things cap space and youth. Before negotiations with Florida fell totally off the rails, the Canucks were chasing highly touted 6-foot-4 centre Nick Bjugstad. The Leafs closest comparable is probably 6-foot-5 centre Joe Colborne. Any deal still has to go through Luongo, who has final say with his no-trade. But he wants to start and move on from Vancouver. It leaves him with limited options. Interestingly, in the weeks leading up to the CBA expiring, the Canucks were still entertaining offers, including a bid for Luongo from the Edmonton Oilers and another from a mystery team which got involved late. And by mystery team we mean not one of the usual suspects, including Chicago and Columbus. It s conceivable that, even if the Toronto deal is close, one of these teams could still win over the Canucks with a terrific offer at the midnight hour. So, even if the trade isn t quite wrapped up, it certainly doesn t hurt the Canucks that other suitors believe it is. The Canucks up until now have taken their time with the Luongo trade and this report creates urgency. Copyright (c) The Province No Lack of ability in prospect He's tall, talented and extroverted - and playing for the Chicago Wolves

3 By Ben Kuzma, The Province October 19, 2012 There is Eddie's Meatballs, an NFL fantasy football league team that's off to a surprising start. "A Swedish guy with his first fantasy team is 5-1. How embarrassing is that?" chortled the fun-loving Chicago Wolves goaltender. "There has been a lot of trash-talking, so it's been a pretty good couple of weeks here." There is also the Lack Ness Monsters, towering white goal pads that - when aligned - greet opposition shooters with a huge growling Wolves logo. "I just got them and I need three or four practices to break them in," said the gregarious 6-foot-5 stopper. "Maybe I'll even wear them around the house and to bed. Just joking, I think." He's Eddie the Entertainer, who also tweets and blogs, but most importantly he's Eddie Lack, the promising Vancouver Canucks prospect who's proving that his quick wit matches his quickness in the AHL crease. He made 25 saves in a season-opening 1-0 overtime victory over the Rockford IceHogs and will see the net again this weekend in Abbotsford during a two-game series against the Heat. Even though Lack allowed three goals in his second outing during a 5-3 win over the IceHogs - including a pair in under two minutes - the way he rebounded has given the Wolves a top tandem. Matt Climie made 20 saves Wednesday to backstop a 2-1 decision over the Peoria Rivermen and push the Wolves to 3-0. "I really liked how confident I was out there, especially this early in the season," said the 24- year-old Lack. "I didn't let things rattle me and I just thought about what I had to do. Right from the first practices, I really trust myself now and really don't think too much if I'm doing anything wrong or anything like that. I'm just thinking about little notes I make before the game." Those notes are pointers from Canucks goalie coach Rollie Melan-son, because as much as Lack loves to laugh, he soaks up instruction like a sponge. His game mirrors what Cory Schneider has come to trust in a more neutral style that emphasizes being closer to the goal-line and working out from that stance. It should help keep Lack from slumping like he did at the midway point of last season, and keep him on track to becoming the backup to Schneider next season. Lack's contract extension backs that faith with a split of $650,000/$85,000 US between the NHL and AHL this season and then, next season, a one-way deal at $850,000.

4 "I don't think I'd be here if it wasn't for Rollie," added Lack. "He helped me a lot when I first came and to compare that to the goalie I am now - it's a huge difference. Rollie wanted me deep in the net and now I can go out and challenge more and read those situations, too." There's a lot to read into Lack's love of the game and goaltending. Unlike most scenarios, where the fat kid or the most untalented guy would be plopped between the pipes, Lack would get to the rink hours early in his native Norrtalje, Sweden, to make sure he got the goalie gear. "I would hide the pads from the other kids," said Lack, laughing. "When I first tried it, I just fell in love with it. I really like the fact you're either the best guy on the ice or the worst guy on the ice. I like the spotlight." Lack didn't shy away from it last season. His 2.31 goals-against average, four shutouts and.925 saves percentage during a roller-coaster season spoke of consistency. And even in the pressurepacked playoffs, Lack responded with a 2.19 GAA and.916 saves percentage. "I'm really comfortable in Chicago and if they (Canucks) want me to play here a little longer, then I really want to try and win a (Calder) Cup. If they want me up there in a couple of months or so, I'm ready for that, too. "But I need to play a lot of games and be good day in and day out. Baumer (assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner) tried to teach me to be a pro for three years. Andrew Ebbett has taken over and we'll see how that works out." All kidding aside, Lack was serious about getting a contract extension done in August. "He was patient and very concerned because he wants to be a Canuck and there were some conversations because other clubs had interest," said Lack's agent, Kurt Overhardt. "Having represented a dozen goalies over the last 20 years, his personality is a real positive. What endears you to your teammates as a goalie is the ability to stop the puck on a consistent basis, and your work ethic, because players like to be challenged, and then comes your character. He doesn't treat anybody differently and he's very respectful." And funny, too. HEAT ARE SOARING The Chicago Wolves might be off to a great start, but so are their hosts this weekend, the Abbotsford Heat. Ben Kuzma chatted with head coach Troy Ward about the early season and the team's new star, Sven Baertschi. Check out the story at thewhitetowel.ca or provincesports.com/blogs. Copyright (c) The Province

5 Aquilinis optimistic about water licences Requests for water allocations from the North Alouette River could be given the go-ahead by the end of the year, according to an Aquilini group spokesman. John Negrin, with Aquilini Investment Group, said he has reason to be optimistic the permits will be granted by the end of the year. The six applications, dating from 2007 to pump water from the river for flood harvesting of cranberries, irrigation and storage are the same applications that were in process when Aquilini companies were charged in 2011 under the Water Act, the Fisheries Act and Dike Maintenance Act. Charges include diverting water without authority, illegal use of water, and installing a pump into the river without authorization. A notice of intention to enter guilty pleas on some of those charges has been filed for the next court appearance, Oct. 23. According to a spokesman, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is still reviewing those same applications for water licences submitted by the six companies that are all part of the Golden Eagle Group, which operates thousands of acres of berry fields in Pitt Meadows. Golden Eagle Group is part of the Aquilini Investment Group, which also owns the Vancouver Canucks. A definite date, however, as to when the permits will be issued, hasn't been set, said the ministry. "In order to maintain fairness in the application process, we are not able to speculate on the timing of this decision." As soon as water licences are granted, details are published on the website. If the permits are granted, the same withdrawal pipe over which charges initially were laid, would be used for pumping the water. Alouette River Management Society spokesman Geoff Clayton said in a letter to the ministry that the applications seem to be moving toward approval. But he renewed his call for wireless monitoring of the withdrawals so the public can keep an eye on the flows. Clayton notes the branch doesn't have the manpower to do that task and says Golden Eagle Group already uses that technology throughout its berry operations. Golden Eagle Group said in 2009 that it pumped water from the river briefly to save young cranberry plants during a dry spring.

6 The counts, considered regulatory offences rather than criminal matters, are filed against five individuals, two companies, as well as six numbered companies, by the Ministry of Environment's conservation officer service. Named in the charges are Elisa Aquilini, Francesco Aquilini, Paulo Aquilini, Roberto Aquilini and Richard Matis, as well as CPI Cranberry Plantation, and Global Coin Corp.