Canucks general manager Mike Gillis will speak with star goaltender Roberto Luongo in the next few days.
Luongo has declared a willingness to waive his no-trade clause - if the Canucks ask him to do so.
It's believed Luongo would prefer moving back to Florida, provided there's interest from either the Florida Panthers or the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks are also on the 33-year-old goalie's list, although Luongo could have reservations accepting a trade to either team given the fiercely competitive market that feeds off the Maple Leafs and the emotional scars that may still exist from his battles with the Blackhawks.
And Chicago, Toronto and Tampa Bay are in need of stability in goal.
The Leafs will show an interest in Luongo, but his status as an elite goaltender is fading. The team that lands him should expect quality play for the next 3-5 years, which leaves the additional six years remaining on his contract of predictable risk.
So the Canucks may have to take a contract back to sweeten the pot.
If we use the Maple Leafs as the example, perhaps defenceman Mike Komisarek (who has two years remaining at $4.5 million per) is asked to be part of such a deal?
The bottom line is that there will be trade interest in Luongo.
How much depends in how creative the Canucks are willing to get to move him.
With Cory Schneider about to become a restricted free agent and a year away out from unrestricted free agency, much of the Canucks' offseason will be spent focused on its crease.
