Canadian Press

 

1/17/2006 4:20:44 PM

 

Roberto Luongo wants to set the record straight.

 

The NHL star goaltender said Tuesday he wants to remain with the Florida Panthers and will, in time, consider the latest contract offer from the team.

 

But he reiterated that he doesn't want to sign anything until the season is over.

 

"Last week came off wrong," Luongo told The Canadian Press before boarding a flight for Phoenix. "My main goal is to stay with the Florida Panthers. I don't want to leave here. Right now my main focus is getting this team in the playoffs."

 

A story in last Saturday's Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said Luongo had rejected an offer of close to $30 million US over five years. And Luongo was quoted as saying he didn't want to commit his future to the franchise until it proved it was serious about winning.

 

 

 

But Luongo said Tuesday he regretted coming off that way.

 

"Definitely I think people got the wrong impression," said the 26-year-old Montreal native. "That's not the way I wanted it to come across at all. I love it in Florida, it's a great organization and we're headed in the right direction. I don't want people to think that I want to leave Florida."

 

But Luongo remained firm on one point. He doesn't want to sign a contract until the summer.

 

"To me, there's no rush to sign right away," he said. "Next summer I'm still a restricted free agent. So once the season is over I'll sit down with my agent (Gilles Lupien), discuss things and make a good decision about it."

 

Luongo can't become an unrestricted free agent until July 2007. The lucrative offer from the Panthers would see him locked up until July 2011.

 

Luongo says he just doesn't want to put pen to paper right now.

 

"There's no point in making a rash decision right away," said Luongo. "For me there's more important things right now than signing a contract."

 

Trade rumours involving Luongo have been rampant this season despite the fact that Panthers GM Keenan repeatedly has shot them down. He insists he hasn't talked to a single team about the star goalie. His focus is on signing Luongo to a contract extension.

 

But with Luongo's decision to wait until the summer to talk contract, Keenan could be forced to change his stance.

 

"I haven't spoken to Mike since last week," said Luongo. "I've just been trying to keep things as calm as possible down here because it's been a little crazy."

 

Before the season, an angry Luongo was forced into salary arbitration by the Panthers, who wanted to ensure his presence at training camp. Then Keenan offered Luongo $25 million over five years on the eve of the arbitration hearing but it was rejected. The arbitrator awarded Luongo $3.2 million for this season.

 

For now, the Canadian Olympic goalie is focused on trying to get the Panthers in the playoff race.

 

"Yeah, we're right there. This is a big road trip we're headed on," Luongo said. "These are important games. The thing is to stay in the race until the Olympic break and then make a big push after that."

 

The Panthers (18-22-7) sit 11th in the Eastern Conference, six points behind New Jersey for the final playoff spot before the Devils took on St. Louis on Tuesday night.

 

Florida plays at Phoenix on Thursday night, followed by stops in Anaheim on Saturday and Tampa Bay next Tuesday.

 

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=151203&hubname=nhl

If he's smart he would go to a team with a chance of winning, but I admire his devotion to the team.

He contradicts himself many times.

 

1) He says that the organization is great and going in the right direction, only to say that he won't sign until the team shows to him that it can be a winner and that he wants signs that the team is going in the right direction.

 

2) He says that he wants to stay in South Florida with the Panthers, but that there's no rush in signing the contract, and he wants to sit down and examine everything in the offseason.

 

Please, Luongo, just go back to your stance of "show me something more than just money," I'll have a hell of a lot more respect.

He contradicts himself many times.

 

1) He says that the organization is great and going in the right direction, only to say that he won't sign until the team shows to him that it can be a winner and that he wants signs that the team is going in the right direction.

 

2) He says that he wants to stay in South Florida with the Panthers, but that there's no rush in signing the contract, and he wants to sit down and examine everything in the offseason.

 

Please, Luongo, just go back to your stance of "show me something more than just money," I'll have a hell of a lot more respect.

You must really be suspicious. Luongo said that he would take less money to play for a winning team. What the hell is wrong with that?

 

 

He does say the Panthers are moving in the right direction but he wants to win now. Panthers make the playoffs this year, I'll guarentee Luongo resigns here. If the Panthers miss by a few points, I guarentee he stays here.

 

 

Not to call you out but its really getting lame that argument that all athletes are greedy sons of bitches. And why can't he wait till the offseason. We hold his rights for another year. There is really no rush to sign right at this moment.

He contradicts himself many times.

 

1) He says that the organization is great and going in the right direction, only to say that he won't sign until the team shows to him that it can be a winner and that he wants signs that the team is going in the right direction.

 

2) He says that he wants to stay in South Florida with the Panthers, but that there's no rush in signing the contract, and he wants to sit down and examine everything in the offseason.

 

Please, Luongo, just go back to your stance of "show me something more than just money," I'll have a hell of a lot more respect.

You must really be suspicious. Luongo said that he would take less money to play for a winning team. What the hell is wrong with that?

 

 

He does say the Panthers are moving in the right direction but he wants to win now. Panthers make the playoffs this year, I'll guarentee Luongo resigns here. If the Panthers miss by a few points, I guarentee he stays here.

 

 

Not to call you out but its really getting lame that argument that all athletes are greedy sons of bitches. And why can't he wait till the offseason. We hold his rights for another year. There is really no rush to sign right at this moment.

 

I never said that there was anything wrong with Luongo wanting to play for a winner, or that he was greedy, or that this needs to be done.

 

All I said was that he really is just making himself look ridiculous. He needs to admit that this is about one thing and one thing only: winning. No trying to pander to the fans and saying that he "loves" it here. Let's be honest, he doesn't love it here, he's sick of losing and he wants to win. The only thing that is even keeping South Florida in the picture is his wife's being from here.

How do you know he doesn't love it here? His wife, I believe, is from South Florida. His uncle owns a restaurant. He is a fan favorite. Who doesn't like playing hockey one night and going to the beach the next? No, the only thing stopping Luongo from signing this contract is the fact the Cats haven't been to the playoffs since 2000.

How do you know he doesn't love it here? His wife, I believe, is from South Florida. His uncle owns a restaurant. He is a fan favorite. Who doesn't like playing hockey one night and going to the beach the next? No, the only thing stopping Luongo from signing this contract is the fact the Cats haven't been to the playoffs since 2000.

 

 

And since he's made it clear he'd take less to play for a winner, it's safe to assume he's not happy living in South Florida and losing.

How do you know he doesn't love it here? His wife, I believe, is from South Florida. His uncle owns a restaurant. He is a fan favorite. Who doesn't like playing hockey one night and going to the beach the next? No, the only thing stopping Luongo from signing this contract is the fact the Cats haven't been to the playoffs since 2000.

 

 

And since he's made it clear he'd take less to play for a winner, it's safe to assume he's not happy living in South Florida and losing. That is why Luongo is waiting. He wants to see if the Panthers are for real and are back to contending forms.

He should sign long term and make his offseason home down here. Who would want to live in crappy Montreal when they can live down here? :eyebrow

dude tswift, your posts have really been off the wall lately.

1) He says that the organization is great and going in the right direction, only to say that he won't sign until the team shows to him that it can be a winner and that he wants signs that the team is going in the right direction.

 

what he's saying here is that he believes the team is getting better, but he wants commitment from the FO with other players. he wants them to see the team improve besides him. sign Olli to a long term deal. pick up some quality defenders along with bouwmeester and van ryn...thats why he's waiting for the summer...hence your ansewr for number 2..

 

stop trying to alienate him into a jeremy roenick or terrel owens.

He should sign long term and make his offseason home down here. Who would want to live in crappy Montreal when they can live down here? :eyebrow

 

Montreal is a thousand times better than any city in Florida.