Roberto Luongo admits Heritage Classic snub set 'wheels in motion' for trade
In a media scrum ironically bookended by a win over Cory Schneider and the New Jersey Devils on Friday night, and a date with the visiting Canucks scheduled for Sunday, Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo admitted what many had expected: the Heritage Classic snub led to his departure from Vancouver.
Luongo conceeds Heritage Classic snub set wheels in motion for trade. Adds: "Something weird was going on when I got back from the Olympics"
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) March 15, 2014
While it's no real surprise that the disappointment of missing the novelty showcase contributed to his undoing with the Canucks, the belief that "something weird was going on" when he returned from Sochi seems a little inconsistent with his initial reaction to the trade.
Hours after being awoken by the news of his pending departure, Luongo admitted that he was "stunned" by Canucks general manager Mike Gillis' decision to trade him.
“Was not expecting it,” Luongo told reporters then, via Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post. “Go figure, right? I mean, I don’t have many words right now. You caught me off guard. Just happy for myself and my family, and obviously a little bit sad to be leaving Vancouver.”
That said, if you're held hostage for the better part of two years, can you really believe it when the tape is finally removed from your wrists?