Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Bernier Still Available: Why Hasn’t Burke pulled The Trig

When the 2011-12 season opened Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke was optimistic that James Reimer and the goaltender formally known as “The Monster” Jonas Gustavsson could hold the fort between the pipes for the Blue and White.

Injuries to Reimer and inconsistent play from both netminders proved Burke wrong and now, 12 months later, Burke seems content to start the season with two relatively unproven goaltenders again.

Of course Burke is on the record as saying he would like to start the season with a more experienced puck stopper in place, but his actions (or lack thereof) continue to say quite the opposite.

For much of the summer the Toronto Maple Leafs have been the subject of many trade rumors. Included in those rumors are a deal that would send disgruntled netminder Roberto Luongo from the Vancouver Canucks to the Leafs, while another rumor suggests Burke has interest in youngster Jonathan Bernier out of Los Angeles.

It has been suggested that Canucks general manager Mike Gillis is asking too much for Luongo, or at least enough that Burke scoffed at the deal, while the Bernier rumors seem unsubstantiated at this point.

The acquisition of Luongo would also be complicated by the ten-years remaining on a 12-year deal that will see the veteran netminder pocket $5,333,333 in each of the next ten seasons and the fact that he is on the record as saying that Florida would be the destination of his choice.

http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/ar...igger/11328922