January 17, 200620 yr Rumors continue to fly in the media that the Florida Panthers could trade goaltender Roberto Luongo and/or center Olli Jokinen before the trade deadline but recent reports out of Florida contradict these stories. A report in Fridays' Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel suggested Luongo had rejected a five-year, $30 million contract offer from the team. The paper quoted the netminder saying he wanted to ensure the Panthers' management was committed to building a winner and that he didn't want to spend the next five years watching the playoffs on television. On Sunday, however, the Palm Beach Post reported Luongo's agent, Gilles Lupien, disputed that his client rejected the offer, claiming Luongo had yet to respond to the club's offer. Lupien also insisted the goalie wanted to remain with the Panthers and hoped to get a deal done by June, but also stated their preference not to engage in serious contract negotiations during the season as they could prove to be a distraction. Meanwhile, the Miami Herald reported Sunday that Jokinen, eligible for UFA status this summer, was very keen to get a new contract in place with the club as soon as possible, rather than have talks drag throughout the season. The paper claimed Jokinen hopes a new long-term deal in place by the Olympic break. http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/5253496
January 17, 200620 yr nice Jokin's resigning might look good and all for making Luongo to wanna come back. my friend talked to luongo's uncle and he told me that he would take less if the panthers will spend it on folks to be competitive. All he wants to do is make the playoffs and try to win it all.
January 17, 200620 yr Jokinen's got to stay. Simple as that. As for Luongo, he's not a UFA until next offseason, don't let this drag out into a massive soap-opera. Worry about that in the offseason, worry about winning now. Step one would be seeing about re-entry waivers with Mogilny.
January 17, 200620 yr I think if they keep at the pace they have been going and pick up one or two good players (a defenseman to assist would be nice). Then they could make the playoffs.
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