Luongo non-trade all the rage

The NHL and the NHL Players Association officially offered no comment on Roberto Luongo’s analysis of why he remains a Canuck.

But forgive commissioner Gary Bettman if he uttered an “I told you so” under his breath or deputy commissioner Bill Daly if he was looking down his nose from that hill he said he would die on.

The league, remember, locked out its players in part because it believed the salary cap wasn’t working. The length of contract and back-diving deals — the very things that have enriched Luongo — were hurting the system by circumventing it.

Luongo, for example, earned $10 million (U.S.) in the first year of his deal and will earn $1 million in each of the last two years of his deal for an average cap hit of $5.3 million. The Maple Leafs’ James van Riemsdyk said the veteran goaltender should be careful what he wishes for.

“Maybe he wouldn’t be saying that if it was a year ago and he was still the starter,” said van Riemsdyk.

Bettman and Co. were no doubt protecting owners by winning provisions that limit contract length to seven years for free agents switching teams and eight years for teams retaining their own free agents. The new CBA has built in provisions that prevent contracts that have incredible highs that drop off to comparatively ridiculous lows.

But maybe the new provisions protect players, too, saving themselves from cap-circumventing deals that turn into career killers.

The Leafs have banished Jeff Finger, Mike Komisarek and Tim Connolly.

After having been banished to the minors with hefty contracts, the likes of Wade Redden and Sheldon Souray have found NHL homes with more modest deals.

The Leafs apparently offered Ben Scrivens and two draft picks — a second-rounder and a third-rounder — for Luongo.

The Canucks balked because the Leafs wanted them to retain some of his salary.