Nothing More Than Feelings

Luongo still feels bitter toward the Panthers, saying they made him out to "be the bad guy" during the past negotiating period. Florida had been trying to get Luongo to sign a long-term contract, although Luongo's agent publicly said his client only wanted a one-year deal.

With Luongo facing unrestricted free agency after this coming season, the Panthers didn't want to go into another season with uncertainty and rumors swirling around their franchise goalie.

On the day of the trade, however, Luongo said he told the Panthers he would sign a four-year deal with the team. According to Luongo, he wanted $1 million more over the course of the contract than was offered.

He also wanted a number of concessions -- including Florida re-signing backup goalie Jamie McLennan, hiring a new goalie coach and saying publicly Luongo wouldn't be traded until his no-trade clause kicked in.

"I really don't know what happened in those final hours,'' he said. "You never know what can happen in the future and I don't want to burn any bridges. I feel bad because of what happened, but that's part of the business and things happen. . . . I was portrayed as a greedy player. People who know me know that's not how I am. I basically agreed to the deal. And that's hard to take."

The Panthers ended up trading Luongo, defenseman Lukas Krajicek and a draft pick to the Canucks. Less than a week after the trade, Luongo signed a four-year, $27 million deal with the Canucks. The Panthers maintain the trade wasn't personal and was made to improve a franchise that hasn't been to the postseason since 2000.

"We made some choices that we think can improve the Panthers," general manager Mike Keenan said then.