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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 Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.