Prior to the elimination of the Vancouver Canucks Sunday, speculation over the future of goaltender Roberto Luongo was already well underway.
It continued throughout this past weekend and centered on potential destinations where he could end up if he is shopped this summer.
David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail listed the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Columbus Blue Jackets and Edmonton Oilers as teams in dire need of an upgrade between the pipes.
He also suggested the New Jersey Devils, given Martin Brodeur's age, could be in the market for a goalie this summer. However, he believes their financial problems rule them out as being the ones to take on Luongo's big contract.
CBC.ca's Chris Iorfida included the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers, along with Toronto, Tampa Bay and New Jersey, in his list.
The Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson also listed the Lightning, Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets and Panthers and tossed in the Chicago Blackhawks for good measure.
But these pundits also listed reasons why Luongo wouldn’t end up in any of these destinations.
Of those on Shoalts’ list, he considers the Oilers the least likely to have interest in Luongo, which is understandable given their focus on rebuilding with affordable young talent.
Oilers GM Steve Tambellini indicated in his end-of-season press conference the tandem of Devan Dubnyk and Nikolai Khabibulin would return next season.
It's believed there's bad blood between the Canucks and Maple Leafs management teams, which would rule out Toronto as a destination.
Another factor, as Larry Brooks of the New York Post pointed out, is Leafs GM Brian Burke abhors expensive, heavily front-loaded, long-term contracts like Luongo's, so it's doubtful he'll make an exception in this case.
The Lightning were rumored to have interest in Cory Schneider, Luongo's backup, but if he's not available, Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times wondered if GM Steve Yzerman would give consideration to Luongo.
Cristodero points out the Lightning already have considerable cap space tied up in forwards Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, Martin St-Louis and Ryan Malone. Adding Luongo would mean more than $30 million in payroll would be invested in five players.
Unless Yzerman sheds one of those other big contracts, Luongo won't be going to Tampa Bay.
Given Braden Holtby's performance for the Capitals in their first round series against Boston, he and Michal Neuvirth should be the goalie tandem for Washington next season.
The Panthers are already committed to Jose Theodore for another season and his solid playoff performance against New Jersey leaves management with little reason to replace him. They also have promising Jacob Markstrom waiting in the wings, so reuniting Luongo with his former team seems unlikely.
As for the Blackhawks, they've already re-signed Ray Emery to an extension and will give young Corey Crawford another shot to prove himself as a starter. Like the Lightning, they also have a number of players under expensive, long-term deals, all but ruling them out as a trade partner.
The Blue Jackets seem to be a prime destination and have the cap space to take on Luongo’s contract. The stumbling block, however, would be his no-trade clause, as he might be unwilling to go to a rebuilding team in Columbus.
Suggesting potential destinations for Luongo is easy. Making them a reality is another story.
