The Canuck Way
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Canucks Rewind: The 2014 Heritage Classic and Luongo’s trade

By Zaahid Lalani

VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 2: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Goalie Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks watches the game from the bench during NHL action against the Ottawa Senators on March 02, 2014 at the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 2: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Goalie Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks watches the game from the bench during NHL action against the Ottawa Senators on March 02, 2014 at the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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A view of BC Place prior to the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
A view of BC Place prior to the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

The Canucks were set to face off against the Ottawa Senators at BC Place. The “outdoor” regular-season game was televised nationally, and garnered huge amounts of attention throughout the league. The Canucks dressed in their vintage Millionaires jersey, and it was another opportunity for the rest of Canada to watch some of Vancouver’s most skilled superstars in action.

Or so they thought.

Hours before puck drop, Tortorella made the unexpected decision to bench fan-favourite goaltender Roberto Luongo, which sent shock waves throughout the city and the bench.

There was no question that Luongo had faced immense heat and pressure while playing in Vancouver, particularly throughout his final two seasons with the club. During that span, Luongo split the net with former-Canuck Cory Schneider, although many believed that it was time for no. 35 to take over full-time, based on Luongo’s injury history and overall performance.

The Canucks had also signed Schneider to a much friendlier three-year, $12 million contract in June 2012, prompting many to believe that Luongo would be out the door as soon as they could find a club that didn’t think that his “contract sucked” too much.

As we all know, sooner turned into later.

One year after inking his deal, Schneider was unexpectedly traded to the New Jersey Devils, thrusting Luongo back into the spotlight as the team’s bonafide number one goaltender for the start of the 2013-14 season.

There was quite a bit riding on Luongo going into what-would-be his last campaign in Vancouver.

Like most of the core, Luongo was approaching the back nine of his career, and the trade rumours did not cease. To make matters worse, the team had lost eight of their previous nine games heading into the Heritage Classic, and were dipping their toes into the “rebuild” pool.

Despite all this, Luongo was still able to put up elite numbers between the pipes that season, posting a .917 SV and a 2.38 GAA in 48 games played, and there was no question that he earned his time as a starter.

John Tortorella clearly didn’t agree.

Under normal circumstances, the team’s winless ways would be reason enough for a coach to have a change of scenery between the pipes. But the Canucks’ struggles went well beyond their goaltending during that losing stretch, and it was no secret that Luongo wanted to suit up for his club that day, so it made sense to start Bobby Lou.

Of course, that didn’t matter for the bench boss.

Instead, Tortorella went with back-up goalie Eddie Lack, much to the displeasure of Vancouver fans and media. Lack was showered with boos as soon as he stepped onto the ice (to no fault of his own, of course), and the broadcast crew made sure to pan to Luongo’s angry, disappointed expression on the bench as often as they could.

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