Big news for Canucks fans.
The Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers have completed a multi-player trade involving some big names on the eve of the NHL Draft.
The Panthers have confirmed that they acquired Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld from the Canucks in exchange for Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek and a 2006 sixth round pick. [tsn]
Personally, I am sad to see Auld go. That is my initial reaction at least. I’m a goalie nerd and wannabe, but his filling in for Cloutier last season made me a fan. Bertuzzi? You kinda knew that it was coming, but replacing such a player won’t be easy. Sure, his performance has slacked from the Bert that fans got accustomed to, but the strength he brought to the ice is not something that comes with filling in another body in his slot on the roster.
Luongo fills in that gap in the net that we’ve been looking for, and that makes this a pretty spectacular grab for the Canucks. Krajicek is young, not to mention that he is yet another man to add to the defence. With Bertuzzi off to the sunshine state, where does that put the team in terms of forwards, not to mention the big line?