I hope this happens - I love watching Holmgren make idiotic managerial decisions. He fell in love with Bryz and ended up signing him to a 9-yr/$51M contract. Now he's rumored to be looking at a goalie who was given a 12-yr/$64M contract back in 09. He would also be trading for a guy who can hold down the fort during the regular season, but folds like a cheap suit come playoff time. Aside from cost and playoff performance, I can only imagine what they would have to give up to bring him to Philly.
I also don't believe Holmgren for one second when he denies the rumor. Unlike Shero (thankfully), he's an impulse buyer, on the level of the Sather's and Clarke's of the GM world, only younger - some Pens fans would love him. If he glances at a player he likes, he signs or trades for him - no matter the cost, compensation from his end or how it will affect team chemistry and cap space in the long run. Then they wonder why they haven't won a cup since 74-75.
Quote:
It appears that there's another team in the Roberto Luongo sweepstakes.
According to Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, hockey analyst and former NHL player Enrico Ciccone of TVA Sports, and confirmed by TSN's James Duthie on Twitter, the Philadelphia Flyers are interested in acquiring the services of the veteran goaltender.
Duthie tweeted that the Flyers have inquired about the Canucks goalie, and are in a position where they could buy out current netminder Ilya Bryzgalov in June.
On Thursday, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren shot down the rumours.
"That made me chuckle," Holmgren told the Daily News. "It's safe to say those rumours aren't true. They have no basis or merit."
Trade rumours surrounding Luongo have been front and center with this week's announcement of a new CBA for the NHL and its players. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers have been the two teams tied most closely to potentially acquiring Luongo.
Luongo fell out of favour in Vancouver when he was replaced by Cory Schneider for the last three games of the Canucks' first-round series loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
Last May, the 33-year-old told reporters he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause if Canucks general manager Mike Gillis asked him to.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=413187