Shame on the Vancouver media. No really, you should be ashamed. The negativity of those that cover the Canucks and many of the followers have more or less reached an all-time low. Luongo doesn't read local newspapers all that much I suppose because on Wednesday he was "tipped off" by a local parking attendant about all of the "trade Luongo" talk going on in the papers. In reply, Luongo said yesterday:
"I don’t know what to say to that, honestly."
“Obviously, the fans are passionate about their team and I understand that 100 per cent. It’s a great city and a great market and when you’re winning, it’s awesome. I get that whole thing. It’s just, obviously, we’re all human. And things like that [debate], I don’t know if anybody can really put it aside without it affecting them.”
“I don’t know guys, I really don’t,” Luongo said. “It’s too early to talk about that stuff for me because I’m still trying to get over what happened a couple of days ago.
“That’s something that I think I’ll never understand. I don’t know what happened. You get a few bad bounces, and few unlucky goals and then all of a sudden you don’t know what the hell is going on anymore out there.”
“I don’t have an answer right now,” he said. “This elimination is still fresh and it’s hurting inside. It’s not a good time to make a decision, you know? Sometimes you don’t know why certain things happen. The toughest part almost is to accept it and move on.”
Luongo commented further on possibly signing an extension:
“Obviously, I understand that situation,” Luongo said.. “This is something that’s going to have to be discussed this summer with my agent and my family and we’ll see where it goes from there. Right now, I don’t have any answers for you guys.
“They’re in charge of the team, and whatever they feel is best for the team they’ll make that decision in time. Why would they trade me? If they want to trade me they can come and ask me.”
I was angered about this bullshit talk surfacing so early after the Canucks were eliminated. There is no doubt that it's going to bother Luongo as well.
I understand that Luongo has not committed beyond next season and that he didn't have the greatest series against the Hawks. But all this jabber just seems so fucking insensitive and ill-timed. Are we going to run this guy out of town? Are we going to scrutinize him to the point of him leaving? I don't care about the logistics of us "getting fair value in return rather than letting him leave via free agency." I really don't.
A) We got him for practically nothing in the first place.
B) I'd like to see the Canucks take another stab at a Cup in 2009-10 WITH Luongo not WITHOUT.
Some of the fanbase and media here needs a kick in the teeth. Like I said before, we've already gone through our fair share of half-assed goalies over the last decade and beyond. Now we're going to crucify the one superstar netminder that we could land over all these years? Give your fucking head a shake.
And no, I really don't care about the money invested in him either. I would do the same thing.
Mike Gillis is apparently going to address the media today. What do you think he is going to say? He sure as hell isn't going to be mentioning (and I'd bet some serious money) that he intends to ask Luongo to waive his no trade clause so he can be moved. He'll probably say the opposite, with an angry tone directed at the fools with the mics. Luongo is a part of the core of this team. You want to roll the dice with someone like Martin Biron in net? Sorry, I'll take Luongo any day of the year.
This is all a shame. It's worth addressing at some point, but why right now? Give the guy a break!
It's times like these where I really wonder if this market even deserves to win a Cup. There's so many cut throats here. Unreal. This really is Toronto West isn't it?
Bring on the banter. I can take it.
Hey Lou, don't listen to these guys. Some of us here still back you 100%.