Luongo changing his tune

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/09/2012 (4837 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SURREY, B.C. — Roberto Luongo was happy being a Vancouver Canuck — at least for one day.

The veteran goaltender has been in limbo since the end of last season, when he lost the starting job in Vancouver to Cory Schneider and said he would waive his no-trade clause if the Canucks could work out a deal to send him to an approved destination.

But Luongo was at a Canucks charity golf tournament on Wednesday and he said he would have no trouble playing alongside his friend Schneider again and will attend Vancouver’s training camp, if necessary.

“Two months ago, after what had happened, and Schneids had just signed, I didn’t really see myself being here for training camp,” Luongo said. “But I realized once we got into August, that that was a possibility, and that I was OK with that.”

He showed he was OK by participating in the Canucks’ annual event, golfing with teammates and team staff at Northview Golf Course.

“The fact that I have a lot of good friends on the team, in the staff and the coaching staff and the organization, makes it a lot easier for me to be here,” he said. “That’s why I’m here today and I didn’t really hesitate in deciding whether I should come or not.”

Under collective bargaining rules, Luongo must be traded before Saturday’s NHL lockout deadline or wait until the labour dispute is resolved.

Luongo was displaced by Schneider as Vancouver’s starting goaltender in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs as they bowed 4-1 to the eventual champion Los Angeles Kings. The Canucks subsequently signed Schneider to a new three-year, US$12-million contract.

 

— The Canadian Press