Report: Luongo trying to force Florida trade

The speculation regarding the fate of Roberto Luongo has heated up in the wake of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, where the league’s general managers, agents and reporters converged en masse.

The latest report regarding the movement of the Vancouver Canucks A-list netminder and his $50-million price tag comes from Columbus Blue Jackets beat reporter Aaron Portzline, who fired off three Luongo-related tweets on Monday morning.

Told by very good source #Canucks G Roberto Luongo has – to this point — declined to waive no-trade clause to go to #Blackhawks or #Leafs.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 25, 2012

Citing an unnamed but “very good source,” Portzline, who writes for the Columbus Dispatch, says that not only are Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke and Canucks GM Mike Gillis trying to decide Luongo’s future, but that the goaltender himself is asserting the power of his contract’s no-trade clause.

Only place Luongo is willing to be traded, as of today, is back to the Florida #Panthers.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 25, 2012

Before being traded by then Panthers GM Mike Keenan to Vancouver on June 23, 2006, Luongo played five seasons in Florida. It was there he was awarded his first Vezina Trophy nomination, in 2003-04.

It was also in Florida that Luonogo met his wife, Gina Cerbone. Within a month of moving into their new home together, Luongo was traded to Vancouver.

Despite moving to Vancouver, Luongo has spent much of his off-season time in Florida.

Luongo using the power of his no-trade to “steer” a trade to #Panthers as much as possible at this point in off-season.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 25, 2012

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