Gillis claims to have a deal for Luongo...kind of

[transplant99]

"We have a potential deal in place with one team that has to do something with another player that they have — and it's not who anybody thinks it is — and so we have to wait. (But) we've been offered packages that don't fit what our plan is, what we need," Gillis told the Sun.

Gillis explained how the offers have not suited the Canucks' needs.
"(Teams would offer) excess salary coming back with a [throw-in] player who can't play in our lineup. They say, 'OK, we'll do this, but you've got to take this.' Well, we're not taking it. We've had lots of proposals like that with good pieces that can help us but the other part doesn't help us, and oftentimes they have term attached to them, so we'd just be turning around and buying out a guy.

"I'd rather keep the guy we know, who's a good person."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=414190

[AR_Six]

Begin conspiracy theories: the team is Philadelphia, and the player they have to do something with is Bryzgalov.

[H2SO4(aq)]

i liked your packers avi better

gilles is just an annoying lipjob. doubt there is really a deal, just trying to get another gm to panic

[zukes]

Could be a team with someone out with an injury and they are waiting for a prognosis

[psicodude]

Pretty obvious that he is slowly getting their fanbase to accept the fact that they are going to have a $5.3m cap hit for a backup goalie.

[SportsJunky]

Well, I can't see it being Colorado ( O'Reilly and Varlamov) or Dallas (Benn and Lehtonen) or Montreal (Subban and Price). I'm assuming that he is referring to a RFA player like one of the three above. I don't see how Luongo could get any of those three skaters anyway so maybe he is referring to a player with a NMC?

[Super-Rye]

I call BS. Gillis has been doing a lot of talking. To me it feels as if he is doing some posturing in the media. Trying to create a bidding war as the likes.

I suspect when a deal goes through the Canucks will end up with
1. A veteran backup goalie (along the lines of Theodore)
2. A big contract for an under-achieving player. (Gillis will sell this as a player they have wanted. Someone who needs a fresh start and will play well in Canucks system.)
3. A mid tier prospect or 2. (Gillis will comment on how high they are on the prospects coming back.)

[AR_Six]

^Very possibly. Although that hasn't been his M.O. in the past, he's not Burke, doesn't usually negotiate through the media.

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Well, I can't see it being Colorado ( O'Reilly and Varlamov)

I could see this in terms of Varlamov really not being all that great a starter, and they have 3 top 2 centres. But Colorado's in the division, so probably not.

or Dallas (Benn and Lehtonen)

Not a chance. Getting Benn out of Dallas would take... probably Kesler and a high pick.

or Montreal (Subban and Price).

It would be interesting if Montreal didn't have a goalie because a home-town guy is totally their MO. But there is no way.

I'm assuming that he is referring to a RFA player like one of the three above.

I'm assuming it's either a guy they need to trade to free up cap space, or a guy with an injury they need evaluated, or a contract they want extended. I.e. if I am a team with an extra centre but my #1 guy goes UFA in the summer, I want to make sure I extend him before I trade my insurance policy.

[Vinny01]

I assume one team is trying to dump their starter and then make a move to bring Lu in.

I could see it being the Sharks or Wings

Franzen for Luongo makes sense to me for both sides.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Super-Rye

I call BS. Gillis has been doing a lot of talking. To me it feels as if he is doing some posturing in the media. Trying to create a bidding war as the likes.

I suspect when a deal goes through the Canucks will end up with
1. A veteran backup goalie (along the lines of Theodore)
2. A big contract for an under-achieving player. (Gillis will sell this as a player they have wanted. Someone who needs a fresh start and will play well in Canucks system.)
3. A mid tier prospect or 2. (Gillis will comment on how high they are on the prospects coming back.)

I agree. He's trying to turn up the heat on the Leafs and maybe Panthers. He essentially is working on those media released Flyers rumours in hopes that other teams would panic as as crazy as it sounds the Flyers are the one organization that would part with good players just to get a goaltender saddled with a bad contract. I don't think people realize how much money Snider would be flushing down the toilet if they bought out Bryzgalov so I just don't know if that's possible.

What he does say that I believe is that like most predicted any team interested in Luongo will want to send salary and a bad contract the other way. I'm not sure how Gillis wouldn't see this coming given the current economics of the NHL.

[Tinordi]

Statements like this are basic politics.

Appease the fans anxious about a lack of action. Set yourself yourself up as the defender of what's good for the franchise. But then temper fan expectations of what you're getting back if a deal happens.

Gillis is really having to wear that ridiculous contact he gave.

[The Yen Man]

Could Philly be looking to buy out Bryzgalov at the end of this season? That'd be crazy, and Bryzgalov would make out like a bandit.

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Appease the fans anxious about a lack of action. Set yourself yourself up as the defender of what's good for the franchise. But then temper fan expectations of what you're getting back if a deal happens.

I don't see this at all. First, everything he's said has been in the vein of "we're not taking other teams' garbage, this is an all-star player and we expect a return that will help the team", basically RAISING expectations of what they'll get in return.

Second, Vancouver fans being the fickle lot they are are currently not at all anxious about the lack of action because the last time they saw their new starter he let in 5 goals on 14 shots. The buzz around Van since Saturday was "you know, on second thought, maybe we should just keep Luongo around for a while and see how this goes".

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Could Philly be looking to buy out Bryzgalov at the end of this season? That'd be crazy, and Bryzgalov would make out like a bandit.

I prefer NHLNumbers' idea:

1. Philly acquires Luongo.
2. Philly trades Bryzgalov to the Islanders in exchange for Rick Dipietro and Calvin de Haan (or another prospect, or a high draft pick).
3. Philly buys out Rick Dipietro (same $ as Bryzgalov, more or less).

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by AR_Six

I don't see this at all. First, everything he's said has been in the vein of "we're not taking other teams' garbage, this is an all-star player and we expect a return that will help the team", basically RAISING expectations of what they'll get in return.

Second, Vancouver fans being the fickle lot they are are currently not at all anxious about the lack of action because the last time they saw their new starter he let in 5 goals on 14 shots. The buzz around Van since Saturday was "you know, on second thought, maybe we should just keep Luongo around for a while and see how this goes".

I prefer NHLNumbers' idea:

1. Philly acquires Luongo.
2. Philly trades Bryzgalov to the Islanders in exchange for Rick Dipietro and Calvin de Haan (or another prospect, or a high draft pick).
3. Philly buys out Rick Dipietro (same $ as Bryzgalov, more or less).

You run the risk of Mr. Glass getting hurt and not being able to buy him out.

[AR_Six]

The key is not to play him.

... Or let him practice.

... Actually you know what just wrap the guy in bubble wrap for the season.

[kyuss275]

What a moronic play by Gillis. I didn't think it was possible to increase the trade speculation that hovers the nucks, but he just did. Players were probably already getting tired of answering questions about Loungo, and this will not help.

Since he put it out there i will play his guessing game. My take is he is waiting to see if Vinny Lecavalier will waive his no trade clause.

[SuperMatt18]

That was the worst possible thing Gillis could do, that is almost grounds for being fired.

There is huge speculation around your team, there is a goaltending controversy and what does he do...he says he has a deal in place for Luongo and that its held up because of the other team.

Way to put even more attention on the goaltending sideshow.

[Igster]

LOL...brutal. Nice going Gillis.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

So he is saying he is going to hold on to an asset until he gets the deal he wants. Luongo is still an elite level goaltender (despite what people here think) who can help a team get into the playoffs at the very least and has some success in the playoffs (admittedly with some awful games as well). I still think he makes his way to the Leafs who desperately need to actually make the playoffs in the next year or two and I don't think Riemer or Scrivens are the guys to get them there.

[sevenarms]

Who is he? Kevin Lowe?