No, Roberto Luongo hasn't been traded yet. And how could Bruins fans truly hate Luongo? His ability to motivate Tim Thomas in last year's Stanley Cup Final, not to mention his own sieve-like netminding in the three games at the Garden, were instrumental in Boston winning its first Cup in 39 years.
Aaron Rome played a key role too. He also galvanized the Bruins' effort and helped turn the series around, but Boston fans were far less appreciative of that as it came at the cost of Nathan Horton's health.
Rome was responsible for one of the most controversial hits of the 2011 playoffs, delivering a late shot to Horton early in Game 3 that knocked the Bruins winger out for the rest of the series with a concussion. It also ended Rome's postseason, as he was suspended for the last four games of the Final. Horton struggled to regain his form early this past season, then suffered another concussion in Philadelphia in January that sidelined him for the rest of the year.
Rome, meanwhile, battled through his own series of less serious injuries, playing just 43 games with hand, thumb and knee ailments. Among the games he missed was Vancouver's return to the Garden on Jan. 7, denying the Bruins any chance to avenge the hit.
Any revenge now won't come against the Canucks. Despite Rome's career-best 4-6-10 totals last year, Vancouver will not be bringing the unrestricted free agent back next season. That news was revealed by his agent, Kevin Epp, on the NEWS 1130 in Vancouver on Monday.
Vancouver already has six defensemen under contract for next season with Alexander Edler, Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis, Keith Ballard, Chris Tanev and Andrew Alberts, plus restricted free agent Marc-Andre Gragnani. They may also retain veteran unrestricted free agent Sami Salo, giving them plenty of depth of defense without the journeyman Rome.
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Photo via Facebook/Aaron Rome – Vancouver Canucks
