Both Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider were given their fare share of opportunities to grab the reins in goal and get the Canucks back in the series.  They each started two games in the four game sweep and neither of them were able to steal a game that would have gotten the series back to Vancouver for game 5.

Now the off-season is upon the Canucks and it’s just a matter of time before the trade rumors surrounding Roberto Luongo will again start to blow.  Only this time the winds of trade will be stronger than a slight breeze; more comparable to that of gale force winds.

It has become evident that Luongo will be the odd man out in Vancouver.  GM Mike Gillis was apparently close to a deal at this year’s April trade deadline and aside from him not wanting to absorb any of Luongo’s ridiculous contract, a trade was said to be in place with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With the Leafs on the brink of elimination in their opening round series, it’s hard to say if they’ll take another run at Luongo this summer.  James Reimer has been good for the buds, but he hasn’t been great, leaving many to wonder if he’s the answer in Toronto.

A market will surely develop for Luongo given every team is in the same boat come July 3 when free agency opens up.  Every club will have playoff aspirations and plans on upgrading their roster by shelling out barrels of cash to try and land the top fish on the market.

With the list of free-agent goaltenders being somewhat shallow this summer, Luongo’s trade value could increase should multiple teams show interest.  Where he will end up is any one’s guess but one thing is almost certain, Roberto Luongo will be traded.

Perhaps one of the biggest NHL dramas is about to finally draw the curtain on it’s production. All we have to do now is hurry up and wait for the deal to happen which possibly means months of hearing about the rumors.

Leading up to the deadline the Toronto Maple Leafs were said to be in on Luongo, as we had heard for most of the season.  Miikka Kiprusoff of the Flames was said to be available in the days prior to yesterday which then shifted the Leafs interest.  Suddenly the steep asking price for Luongo could be ignored and then Dave Nonis tried to convince Kiprusoff to come to Toronto.

Alas that plan fell through and Nonis once again set his sites on Luongo and according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com, the two sides were close to a deal that would have seen Bobby Lou wearing Maple Leaf colors.

LeBrun states that a deal was so close that the Canucks pulled Luongo from their Wednesday morning practice early so he could waive his no-trade clause.

But Dave Nonis of the Leafs was not willing to meet the asking price that Canucks’ GM Mike Gillis was seeking for his former number one netminder; a price of two-second round draft picks and goaltender Ben Scrivens according to LeBrun.

The ESPN analyst then mentions that had the Vancouver Canucks been willing to eat some of Luongo’s remaining salary for what feels like the next fifty years, a deal may have gotten done.

But the Canucks never moved Luongo yesterday and now they are saddled with that dark cloud that is the battle over the crease.  Corey Schneider appears to have won the starting job outright, forcing Luongo and his $5.33 million dollar cap hit to the bench where he is clearly not happy.

When addressing the media after learning that he would be staying in Vancouver for the rest of this year, Luongo did not mince his words.  When asked why he was still a member of the Canucks he replied “because my contract sucks.”

Some advice for Mike Gillis – clean out your ears and listen to your unhappy netminder.

How hard would it have been for the Canucks to retain some of Luongo’s salary which may have been enough for Nonis to cough up Scrivens and the two picks.

The Canucks now have this dark, lingering storyline that will hover them like a nasty hangover from drinking cheap red wine.  It will be that painful for the remainder of the regular season and will get twice as bad in the playoffs.

Clearly Luongo is tired of talking about it, let alone sick of playing backup.  Earlier in the year when Luongo was getting the consecutive starts it was Schneider who voiced his displeasure through the media about not having regular playing time.

If Mike Gillis truly wanted to improve his hockey club at this year’s trade deadline, he would have found a way to move Roberto Luongo.  Get rid of the questions that will hound this team as they move forward and focus on playing hockey, winning games and securing the division title.

It is likely that Luongo will be dealt this summer, then again we thought that last summer.  But for the time being the Canucks still have the highest paid back up in what is surely to be the league’s history and the distraction will follow suit.  Have fun trying to focus on the playoffs when the majority of the questions will revolve around their netminders.  Let’s hope that Schneider doesn’t struggle in the first few games or the debate will really be on.

Mar 30, 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Ben Bishop (30) makes a save on a shot from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

According to Bruce Garrioch the Carolina Hurricanes may be looking to move Jussi Jokinen today. He also said that the Hurricanes are one of six teams that have inquired about Ottawa Senators goalie Ben Bishop. Also among those teams are the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Oilers are unlikely to make a move today according to Darren Dreger unless an an unpredictable offer comes in.

Phoenix Coyotes will need to be offered significant pieces if they are going to move Keith Yandle according to Nick Kypreos. David Pagnotta said that if the Flyers are looking to acquire Yandle it will likely take Sean Couturier plus. Pagnotta also said that the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks have looked into Yandle but no other teams have shown interest.