JerkFace
(Formerly offset) i have a special purpose
The Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers have completed a multi-player trade involving some big names on the eve of the NHL Draft.
The Panthers have confirmed that they acquired Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld from the Canucks in exchange for Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek.
Luongo is a restricted free agent, and the Panthers had been unable to work out a long-term deal with the star netminder. The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that Panthers general manager Mike Keenan said that the team would explore all options when it came to Luongo.
On Friday night, Keenan pulled the trigger on a mega-deal with the Canucks.
"This is a trade that addresses a number of needs for our hockey club," Keenan said. "We’ve added an experienced and talented forward, a skilled goaltender and a strong defenceman that we expect to help our team immediately."
Following his suspension for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore near the end of the 2004 regular season, Bertuzzi had 25 goals and 71 points last season. That was a significant drop from his best season in 2002-2003, when he scored 46 goals and 51 assists.
With the Moore incident still resonating, Bertuzzi took a lot of heat in Vancouver last season as the team failed to make the playoffs.
Before news of the deal broke, Canucks GM Dave Nonis made no bones about the fact that he was shopping his assests, including the 31-year-old Bertuzzi.
"He's in the same spot as everyone else, but the media loves to focus on one player," said Nonis of Bertuzzi. "We have a group of players that as a group underachieved which means the majority of those players are available."
The Canucks are hoping that Luongo, 27, is the answer to their goaltending concerns. He had a 2.97 goals-against average and .914 save percentage last season and has emerged as one of Canada's future stars in international play.
Still, the Panthers finished 11th in the Eastern Conference last season and never made the playoffs during Luongo's five seasons with the team.
Krajicek, 23, has star potential, too. The former first rounder had 2 goals and 16 points in 67 games last season, but his smooth skating and play-making ability suggest bigger numbers could be on the way.
Auld, 25, played well in place of injured starter Dan Cloutier last season, but the Canucks obviously felt he was not the answer. As of now, he will be battling Jamie McLennan for the number one job in Florida.
That represents a big drop-off for the Panthers, unless they find another goaltender in free agency starting July 1.
Allen, 25, is another former first rounder, though he has not quite lived up to the potential that made him the fourth overall pick in 1998. At 6-4 and 220 pounds, he has size and strength, but does not have the offensive upside of a potential powerplay quarterback like Krajicek.
Still, Allen contributed 7 goals and 17 points in 77 games last season and was also a +4.
The Panthers have confirmed that they acquired Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld from the Canucks in exchange for Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek.
Luongo is a restricted free agent, and the Panthers had been unable to work out a long-term deal with the star netminder. The Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that Panthers general manager Mike Keenan said that the team would explore all options when it came to Luongo.
On Friday night, Keenan pulled the trigger on a mega-deal with the Canucks.
"This is a trade that addresses a number of needs for our hockey club," Keenan said. "We’ve added an experienced and talented forward, a skilled goaltender and a strong defenceman that we expect to help our team immediately."
Following his suspension for attacking Colorado's Steve Moore near the end of the 2004 regular season, Bertuzzi had 25 goals and 71 points last season. That was a significant drop from his best season in 2002-2003, when he scored 46 goals and 51 assists.
With the Moore incident still resonating, Bertuzzi took a lot of heat in Vancouver last season as the team failed to make the playoffs.
Before news of the deal broke, Canucks GM Dave Nonis made no bones about the fact that he was shopping his assests, including the 31-year-old Bertuzzi.
"He's in the same spot as everyone else, but the media loves to focus on one player," said Nonis of Bertuzzi. "We have a group of players that as a group underachieved which means the majority of those players are available."
The Canucks are hoping that Luongo, 27, is the answer to their goaltending concerns. He had a 2.97 goals-against average and .914 save percentage last season and has emerged as one of Canada's future stars in international play.
Still, the Panthers finished 11th in the Eastern Conference last season and never made the playoffs during Luongo's five seasons with the team.
Krajicek, 23, has star potential, too. The former first rounder had 2 goals and 16 points in 67 games last season, but his smooth skating and play-making ability suggest bigger numbers could be on the way.
Auld, 25, played well in place of injured starter Dan Cloutier last season, but the Canucks obviously felt he was not the answer. As of now, he will be battling Jamie McLennan for the number one job in Florida.
That represents a big drop-off for the Panthers, unless they find another goaltender in free agency starting July 1.
Allen, 25, is another former first rounder, though he has not quite lived up to the potential that made him the fourth overall pick in 1998. At 6-4 and 220 pounds, he has size and strength, but does not have the offensive upside of a potential powerplay quarterback like Krajicek.
Still, Allen contributed 7 goals and 17 points in 77 games last season and was also a +4.
