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On To The Next One: Roberto Luongo

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo (1) makes a save against a shot by the San Jose Sharks during the second period of game two of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo has switched agents and is now represented by J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey. Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran NHL goalie Roberto Luongo is on to the next one.  He recently terminated his agency contract with Gilles Lupien and signed with J.P. Barry and Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey.

The timing of the switch of agents (and the fact that Luongo changed agents at all prior to eventual retirement — he is 34-years-old) has led to questions concerning his happiness with the Vancouver Canucks. On September 2, 2009, Luongo signed a whopping 12-year, $64 million contract with the club, which means that Luongo will not become an unrestricted free agent until the 2020-21 NHL season.  Further, Luongo formerly agreed to a no-trade clause.

Maybe now Luongo is second-guessing his decision concerning the no-trade clause and thinks that the addition of high-profile agents will help him either find a new home or renegotiate his current very long deal.  Luongo is due to make $6.714 million this coming season, so it is not as if the long term contract poses a pressing concern to the goalie.

The following quotes were contained in an article from The Province:

“We’ve got a bit of work to do to get up to speed and listen to Roberto and then talk to Mike (Canucks general manager Gillis) and Laurence (assistant GM Gilman),” said Barry, who also represents Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Barry said he would leave it to Luongo to comment on his reasons for changing agents, and his intentions for camp.

“He’s under contract,” said Barry. “We have to give him advice about his contract.”

By Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Heitner now runs Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., which is a law firm with many practice areas, including sports law and contract law. Heitner has represented numerous athletes and sports agents as legal counsel. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington from 2011-2014, where he created and taught a course titled, Sport Agency Management, which included subjects ranging from NCAA regulations to athlete agent certification and the rules governing the profession. Heitner serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he teaches a Sports Law class that includes case law surrounding athlete agents and the NCAA rules.