Luongo’s Return

Depending on whom you ask, the return of Luongo to Vancouver is something that many hockey fans have been waiting for since the trade.

Of course the saga for Luongo and how he was treated by former Canucks Coach John Tortorella is at best a joke, thus the trade.

The move for Luongo goes far behind the fact he was benched for the Winter Classic when the Canucks faced-off against Ottawa Senators.

This is the only time that the Panthers visit Rogers Arena this season and with them (Panthers) having a stat of 17-11-9, while the Canucks are at 23-12-3 through 38 games. .

As far as what Luongo told the media, he stated “It’ll be Loos and boos all sound the same, so I won’t be able to tell the difference and hopefully it’s good, but that’s not up to me.”.

Yes, it’s true that he did request a trade after losing the No 1 position to Cory Schneider in the late stages of the 2011-12 season.

Not surprising considering the “Day’s of Luongo’s Life” as written by the GM Mike Gillis at that time, which eventually ended a two-year soap opera.

Luongo had set his sights on staying in Vancouver, maybe even finishing his career with the Canucks after Schneider was traded to the Devils at the 2013 NHL Draft.

So for a short while he was number one again after returning from the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but from the day he returned he watched as Eddie Lack play Eddie three consecutive games, one that also included the Tim Horton’s NHL Heritage Classic.

Being centre stage with the game being played at BC Place, you would have thought that he would naturally get the start, something everyone except Tortorella understood.

To no one’s surprise calls were made later that evening to see what interest there might be Luongo again requested a trade and two days later got it.

Luongo mentioned “There’s no hiding it, I did want to play that game,” and of course he was talking about the outdoor Heritage Classic. “That goes without saying, and if I would have played I probably would maybe still be here. Who knows?”

So we all know what the results were following the game and after setting Canucks records for wins (233) and shutouts (35) during his eight seasons in Vancouver, he was dealt back to Florida.

The trade saw Shawn Matthias and goaltender prospect Jacob Markstrom go the other way and some still question which one worked.

He come back to Vancouver and took part in a Hockey Canada gala celebrating the 2014 Olympic Gold Medal, as well as receive his Championship ring.

Let’s not kid ourselves; he’s been looking forward to this week all season and with the Club arriving Sunday night he had and three full days to catch up with old friends before the game.

Alex Burrows was only one of his former teammates to have lunch with him earlier in the week.

I think for the most part this was for him to bring the trade, plus all other situations to provide him with “a close to the chapter in Vancouver.” But the goalie isn’t looking at it that way.”

In my mind there is no question that Luongo was the greatest goaltender in Canucks history after winning six division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies and a William Jennings Trophy.

He was a finalist for the Hart Trophy once and Vezina Trophy twice, won Gold with Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and helped the Canucks to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

No need to let anyone know who they lost out to in the finals that year, but they are known as the “Big Bad Bruins”!

He let everyone know that not winning the Cup as his only regret in Vancouver.

“I am just disappointed I wasn’t able to bring a Cup here,” he said. “This market wants one more than anything, and if anything that’s the main thing I am disappointed about.”

He seems to be in a better mind-set than he had during his early years in Vancouver, in part because of the failures. Learning how to handle the pressure and spotlight that came with playing in a hockey-crazed city took time.

But it says something that Luongo, who endured a lot of early criticism from Canucks fans, was more popular after requesting the trade in 2012, in part because his @strombone1 Twitter account allowed him to reveal his sense of humor.

“It was important,” Luongo said. “It did feel good for people to finally see what kind of person I am and the way I am around the guys.”

It’s just too bad it didn’t happen sooner.

“I kind of figured that whole thing out towards the tail end of my stay here,” he said. “It’s kind of a shame that’s the way it happened.”

Luongo said he is better for having gone through it.

Willie Mitchell arrived with Luongo in Vancouver in 2006 and played four seasons with him and also mentioned that both enjoyed the time here.

Luongo is one of the top goalies all-time with a .919 career SV% (ranked fourth among goalies to play more than 250 NHL games).

Luongo is currently 15-7-7 with a .924 SV% behind the Panthers team this season.

Should the Panthers win against the Canucks this would be Luongo’s 389^th which would tie him with Dominik Hasek for 11th on the all-time list.

Burrows made the following remarks about Luongo’s return saying “People are going to say, ‘Oh this game he could have been better, or this playoffs,’ but it’s a team game.”

“He wanted to do so well and brought us to a lot of division titles, Presidents’ Trophies, Game 7 of the Stanley Cup. He was great for us.”

Regardless he was treated unfair according to any fan you ask, but regardless he acted like a pro at all times.

Sportswave wishes him all the best in Florida.