REVscene Automotive Forum - View Single Post

stuff99 · 06-26-2009, 09:25 AM

Just chill out over the fate of Luongo

Many fans can't wait to know if ace will sign an extension with eager Canucks

By Jason Botchford, The Province
June 26, 2009 8:22 AM

Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo stands in his crease during Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canucks won 5-3.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo stands in his crease during Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canucks won 5-3.
Photograph by: Jeff Vinnick file photo, NHLI via Getty Images

Take a deep breath and relax, Canucks followers.

That's the advice from Roberto Luongo's agent Gilles Lupien. It's some sage stuff for a wired market speeding down information highways -- such as Twitter, message boards and talk radio -- with no clue where they are going and little in the way of actual information to feed this city's rabid hunger for offseason Canucks news.

In took just two days for the market to chew through the Province exclusive this week that Marian Gaborik has bought a house in the Vancouver area.

It was like watching the marauding biker gangs in those Mad Max movies terrorize a village, leaving behind scorched earth.

Every piece of info, rumour or real, is chewed to the bone in these parts, then dissected like a med-school cadaver.

Unsuspecting ESPN reporter John Buccigross didn't seem to know what he was wading into when he dropped a flammable, unsubstantiated report on TEAM 1040 Thursday afternoon. Essentially, in a hit-and-run interview, he said he was "hearing" goaltender Luongo had agreed to an extension with the Canucks which would be announced July 1.

Welcome to Vancouver.

Now get ready for your dissection, Buccigross.

The report was news to Lupien, who quickly and decisively denied and dismissed it.

"I have six players in the NHL draft. I haven't had any time to talk to anyone about Roberto's future," Lupien said from Montreal. "I was hoping to talk to [Canucks GM Mike] Gillis on Friday morning.

"I haven't talked to Roberto in more than a month. He told me he wanted to sit down with his wife and spend some time thinking about all of this. It all depends on how he thinks."

Maybe Buccigross is right and what he's "hearing" is accurate. But it does seem unlikely given everything on GM Mike Gillis's plate, including the Sedin twins, the draft, unrestricted free agency and his crop of restricted free agents.

Even Lupien said the first week of July isn't the right time to be talking about a Luongo extension. There will be plenty of time this summer, he said, adding that Vancouver needs to chill and let things unfold over time.

"It seems like everyone in [Vancouver] wants something done yesterday," Lupien said. "Everybody wants to push. Everybody wants a scoop. Well, there is no scoop here. This is something that is going to take some time. Everyone needs to relax.

"Stop pushing. We're taking our time with this, and we aren't pushing anybody. We are relaxed, like we're on a boat. When the boat is ready to dock, we'll dock it."

Lupien's adamant he wasn't hiding a secret deal. He said he doesn't even know yet how a possible deal would look. He said if Luongo wants to stay, everything will be on the table when he talks to the Canucks, even a short-term extension which could be ideal for the Canucks. That's like a hanging curveball for Gillis, given his aversion for long-term deals.

"It could be a one-, two-, or three-year deal," Lupien said. "It all depends on how much. If the money is good, then short-term is fine. Is it long-term, or is it short-term? I don't know, I haven't seen the numbers."

For his part, Gillis dismissed the Buccigross report, leaving the ESPN reporter twisting in the wind by telling The Province: "It's not true."

But maybe Gillis and Lupien are hiding something, and it would be something big.

To find out, we'll just have to relax and wait for July 1.

- - -

06-26-2009, 09:25 AM	#222
stuff99 I subscribe to the Fight Club ONLY Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver Posts: 7,316 Thanked 212 Times in 79 Posts Failed 35 Times in 23 Posts	Just chill out over the fate of Luongo Many fans can't wait to know if ace will sign an extension with eager Canucks By Jason Botchford, The Province June 26, 2009 8:22 AM Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo stands in his crease during Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canucks won 5-3. Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo stands in his crease during Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canucks won 5-3. Photograph by: Jeff Vinnick file photo, NHLI via Getty Images Take a deep breath and relax, Canucks followers. That's the advice from Roberto Luongo's agent Gilles Lupien. It's some sage stuff for a wired market speeding down information highways -- such as Twitter, message boards and talk radio -- with no clue where they are going and little in the way of actual information to feed this city's rabid hunger for offseason Canucks news. In took just two days for the market to chew through the Province exclusive this week that Marian Gaborik has bought a house in the Vancouver area. It was like watching the marauding biker gangs in those Mad Max movies terrorize a village, leaving behind scorched earth. Every piece of info, rumour or real, is chewed to the bone in these parts, then dissected like a med-school cadaver. Unsuspecting ESPN reporter John Buccigross didn't seem to know what he was wading into when he dropped a flammable, unsubstantiated report on TEAM 1040 Thursday afternoon. Essentially, in a hit-and-run interview, he said he was "hearing" goaltender Luongo had agreed to an extension with the Canucks which would be announced July 1. Welcome to Vancouver. Now get ready for your dissection, Buccigross. The report was news to Lupien, who quickly and decisively denied and dismissed it. "I have six players in the NHL draft. I haven't had any time to talk to anyone about Roberto's future," Lupien said from Montreal. "I was hoping to talk to [Canucks GM Mike] Gillis on Friday morning. "I haven't talked to Roberto in more than a month. He told me he wanted to sit down with his wife and spend some time thinking about all of this. It all depends on how he thinks." Maybe Buccigross is right and what he's "hearing" is accurate. But it does seem unlikely given everything on GM Mike Gillis's plate, including the Sedin twins, the draft, unrestricted free agency and his crop of restricted free agents. Even Lupien said the first week of July isn't the right time to be talking about a Luongo extension. There will be plenty of time this summer, he said, adding that Vancouver needs to chill and let things unfold over time. "It seems like everyone in [Vancouver] wants something done yesterday," Lupien said. "Everybody wants to push. Everybody wants a scoop. Well, there is no scoop here. This is something that is going to take some time. Everyone needs to relax. "Stop pushing. We're taking our time with this, and we aren't pushing anybody. We are relaxed, like we're on a boat. When the boat is ready to dock, we'll dock it." Lupien's adamant he wasn't hiding a secret deal. He said he doesn't even know yet how a possible deal would look. He said if Luongo wants to stay, everything will be on the table when he talks to the Canucks, even a short-term extension which could be ideal for the Canucks. That's like a hanging curveball for Gillis, given his aversion for long-term deals. "It could be a one-, two-, or three-year deal," Lupien said. "It all depends on how much. If the money is good, then short-term is fine. Is it long-term, or is it short-term? I don't know, I haven't seen the numbers." For his part, Gillis dismissed the Buccigross report, leaving the ESPN reporter twisting in the wind by telling The Province: "It's not true." But maybe Gillis and Lupien are hiding something, and it would be something big. To find out, we'll just have to relax and wait for July 1. - - - __________________ ....