Canucks Send Luongo to Florida - East Idaho News
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Canucks Send Luongo to Florida

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Luongo?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1393997982034Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — With the NHL trade deadline approaching, the Vancouver Canucks dealt goalie Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers. The four-player deal returns Luongo to his former home in Florida where he played parts of five seasons earlier in his career.

A three-time All-Star, Luongo said he was shocked about being traded but was excited about the prospect of playing for the Panthers again. Florida sent goalie Jacob Markstrom, and forward Shawn Matthias, while receiving both Luongo and forward Steven Anthony in return.

The 34-year-old netminder joins a team that sits 16 points out of a playoff hunt and is on the verge of missing the postseason for the 13th time in 14 seasons. Luongo will now battle for playing time behind Tim Thomas, the goalkeeper that defeated him and the Canucks in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals with Boston.

Luongo is under contract until the 2021-22 season after signing a 12-year deal with Vancouver in 2009. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is 19-16-6 on the year with a 2.38 goals-against average.

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