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TSN.ca Staff
6/28/2006 6:58:01 PM

Is goaltender Roberto Luongo on the verge of signing a four-year, $28 million US with the Vancouver Canucks?

Sources close to the recently traded netminder suggest he is close to finalizing a long-term agreement for $7 million US a year, but Canucks General Manager Dave Nonis says reports of a new contract for Luongo are premature.

"It's not done," he said. "I've had some conversations with (Luongo's agent) Gilles Lupien and we are continuing to work toward getting something done. But it's not done, not yet."

"From the time we traded for Roberto I have been optimistic and confident we'll get something done and I feel the same way now."

The Canucks and Florida Panthers completed a multi-player trade involving Luongo last week, with Vancouver sending Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld to Florida for Luongo, Lukas Krajicek and a 2006 sixth round pick.

 

[panoo]

Reports indicate......

TSN.ca Staff

6/29/2006 12:33:30 PM

"Reports indicate that goaltender Roberto Luongo has agreed to terms on a four-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

According to RDS, the Canucks will hold a news conference on Thursday afternoon to announce the deal.

CKNW Radio in Vancouver adds that the deal will pay Luongo $6 million US in the first year, $6.5 million US in the second year, $7 million in the third year, and $7.5 million in the final year. The contract also contains a no-trade clause for the final three years.

Sources close to the recently traded netminder suggested on Wednesday that Luongo was close to finalizing a long-term agreement, but Canucks General Manager Dave Nonis said reports of a new contract were premature at the time.

The Canucks and Florida Panthers completed a multi-player trade involving Luongo last week, with Vancouver sending Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld to Florida for Luongo, Lukas Krajicek and a 2006 sixth round pick.

The Canucks qualified Luongo at $3.2 million US earlier this week, which gave the club his rights for the 2006-07 season, but Luongo's agent Gilles Lupien also met with his client in Montreal this week to discuss the prospects of a long term deal.

Luongo, 27, played 75 games with the Florida Panthers in 2005-06, posting a record of 35-30-9 with a 2.97 GAA and a .914 save percentage. Over his five-year NHL career, Luongo has played a total of 341 games, with a record of 115-168-41, a 2.72 GAA and a .919 save percentage.

More to follow. "