We touched on the Robert Luongo to Toronto rumor earlier this morning.
- Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: There are multiple reports that a Luongo to the Maple Leafs could be close or completed in principle. It’s not true, well at least not yet. The Maple Leafs remain interested, and have spoke as recently as 2 weeks ago. The demands from the Canucks has come down from the draft, but not enough for the Leafs to act on it. At the draft there were reports that the Canucks asked for Tyler Bozak, Jake Gardiner, Matt Frattin and a 1st round pick for Luongo.
The Canucks need to move Luongo. Talks have been on and off since the draft, and center around Tyler Bozak. The Canucks see Bozak as a nice fit as their 3rd line center behind Sedin and Kesler. The Leafs may be willing to go more than Bozak, but it’s not known how much more.
The NHL’s most recent CBA proposal may alter the talks. Luongo’s salary is $6.714 million for the next 6 years, then starts dropping to $1 million in the remaining 4 years. In the NHL’s latest offer, if Luongo was traded and then retire after 6 years, the $5.33 million cap hit would go back on the Canucks books.