Canucks center Ryan Kesler has a broken right foot, the team said Wednesday.

The Panthers’ playoff chances may affect the team’s desire to trade Stephen Weiss before he becomes a free agent. (Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)

A 1-4 start to a shortened season has placed center and alternate captain Stephen Weiss in the middle of Florida Panthers trade talk, according to reports via The Hockey News.

Last week, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun pointed to the team’s lack of cash to re-sign their alternate captain in reporting trade “talk” about Weiss days after he was removed from the Panthers lineup on Jan. 24. The team responded to Twitter trade speculation with a report that he had suffered a lower-body injury.

The Panthers aren’t expected to shop Weiss and his six-year, $18.6 million contract in the event they can rebound and make a playoff run, but they will feel the weight of possibly losing him as a free agent if they continue to lose this season.

CBSSports.com’s Brian Stubits likens the Panthers’ dilemma to their situation with Jay Bouwmeester a few years ago.

The Panthers rolled the dice then and hung onto Bouwmeester in an attempt to make the playoffs. They just missed and Bouwmeester’s rights were traded to Calgary in the summer. It’s a different group in Florida’s front office now but surely they know the risks and potential rewards in this scenario.

If the Panthers opt to trade Weiss, their first choice might be the Canucks as part of a deal for goalie Roberto Luongo. Weiss’ control via a “no-movement” clause and the Canucks’ desire to re-sign him could be obstacles for such a swap.

The Canucks insisted they were in no rush to trade goaltender Roberto Luongo on Sunday. (Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Sunday that he was in no hurry to trade goaltender Roberto Luongo and that he did not think Luongo’s long-term contract would not be a major roadblock to a potential deal.

Gillis told reporters on Sunday that he has already had substantial discussion with teams about a trade for Luongo, despite a contract that has 10 years and $47.3 million left on it. Luongo was replaced by Cory Schneider as Vancouver’s starter in last season’s playoffs.

But Gillis insisted that he wouldn’t trade Luongo unless he got something substantial in return.

“There’s been a lot more interest in Roberto than people wanted to recognize because the contract was onerous or difficult,” Gillis said, according to The Vancouver Sun. “That has never been mentioned to me by one team. I know some people like to make a big deal of that but it’s a very friendly contract for a lot of reasons. That’s one of the reasons why in the new collective agreement there are penalties and you can’t sign these types of contracts because they are favourable. So contract is not an issue.

The Canucks have not officially announced who will be their starter this season. But the 33-year-old Luongo said before the NHL lockout began that he would waive his no-trade clause if asked. Since then, rumors have continually popped up about a potential trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Luongo indicated on Friday that he was in no rush to be shipped out of Vancouver, however.

“I told [Gillis] I was ready to go as long as it took,” Luongo said. “Whether it’s a couple days, next week, two weeks, at the end of the season, it’s totally fine with me.”

Roberto Luongo has been linked to the Maple Leafs and Panthers in trade scenarios. (Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

The end of the NHL lockout has jump-started trade rumors surrounding Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo. It’s the team’s top priority entering the lockout-shortened 2013 season.

Luongo, 33, was 31-14-8 with a 2.41 goals against average and a .919 save percentage with Vancouver last season, but has been deemed expendable after losing his starting job to Cory Schneider during the Canucks’ upset playoff failure to the Kings last spring. Luongo’s 12-year, $64 million contract is likely a deal-killer with most NHL teams, but his 259 wins since 2005 — second only to Miikka Kiprusoff’s 273 — will make him an attractive upgrade for some suitors.

The Maple Leafs have long been speculated to be the front-runners to obtain Luongo, but other teams — including the Panthers and Oilers — may be stepping up as they hastily begin camp.

“Getting assets for Luongo to repair the holes in their lineup is imperative,” said TSN Hockey Analyst Bob McKenzie.  “Ultimately, I think Luongo will be traded. I know the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested and the Florida Panthers have some interest as well, but the prices aren’t where Vancouver wants to get them so that’s  a work in progress.”

McKenzie also noted that the Edmonton Oilers were worth watching on the Luongo front.

Luongo is reported to favor a return to the Panthers, where he played from 2000-2006.

“I believe the Florida Panthers are going to do everything in their power to get Roberto Luongo,” said TSN Hockey Analyst Darren Pang. “The Panthers know he wants to be there.”

The Canucks could choose to start the season with both Luongo and Schneider on the roster, perhaps increasing Luongo’s trade value as teams moving up the standings look to add a proven veteran goalie for the postseason.

Free agent Shane Doan reportedly met with the New York Rangers on Friday. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

NHL free agent Shane Doan was in New York on Friday to meet with the New York Rangers, Arizona Sports’ Josh Gambadoro reported.

The Rangers don’t have a reported contract offer on the table for the Phoenix Coyotes captain Doan, who has drawn interest from as many as 16 teams — more than half the NHL. Six teams — the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins — have reportedly made contract offers. One of those offers is believed to be for four years and $30 million.

But the visit to New York was Doan’s first official visit as a free agent. He has professed a desire to remain in Phoenix, as long as the franchise is committed to staying there. He has spent his entire career with the organization, after the then-Winnipeg Jets drafted him in 1995.

Doan is also in New York for the collective bargaining negotiations between the owners and players. He told the New York Daily News that he wants to make a decision on where he’ll play next season “as soon as I can.”

Doan has put up more than 50 points in 11 of his past 12 seasons. He had 22 goals and 28 assists last season with the Coyotes.

Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo’s time in Vancouver may be coming to a close. (Jeff Vinnick/NHL/Getty Images)

Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo told a Vancouver radio station that his tenure with the team may be coming to an end.

When speaking on if he expects to be with the Canucks next season, Luongo said he didn’t know. Luongo, 33, has spent the last six seasons in Vancouver.

“I would never say never, you never know, but I think we all know what’s going on,” Luongo said. “We’ve all seen what’s developed. At the end of the day, I think it’s time to move on and I’m OK with that. I had a great six years in Vancouver. I think it’s a wonderful city, I really enjoyed my time there. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to bring a Stanley Cup there, which is probably my biggest regret. It will be remembered for six great years.”

Luongo, who had went 31-14 with a .919 GAA last season, said he and general manager Mike Gillis have not talked about trade possibilities.

“We never really had that discussion,” Luongo said. “[Gillis] kind of threw it out there when we had our meeting at the end of the year, and we never really discussed teams.”

Jeff Paterson of Team 1040 Radio in Vancouver tweeted on Thursday night the news that the Canucks have reached an agreement with goaltender Cory Schneider on a contract extension. Schneider would have become a restricted free agent on Sunday.

General manager Mike Gillis made the announcement to a group of season-ticket holders.

Gillis announces #Canucks have agreed in principle on new deal with Cory Schneider—
Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) June 29, 2012

Gillis says deal with Schneider reached 15 minutes before GM had to address #Canucks season ticket holders—
Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) June 29, 2012

Gillis declines fan's question to elaborate on terms of Schneider's deal in principle #Canucks—
Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) June 29, 2012

Schneider surpassed Roberto Luongo as Vancouver’s No. 1 netminder this season. Tying Schneider up for the immediate future will free the Canucks to more aggressively shop Luongo, who has 10 years remaining on his contract.

Schneider, who made just $900,000 this year, was second in the NHL with a .937 save percentage and third with a 1.96 GAA.

UPDATE: Gillis made it official on his own Twitter feed:

We have agreed in principle to a deal with Cory Schneider. More news in the next few days.—
Mike Gillis (@GMMikeGillis) June 29, 2012

ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun checks in with the terms:

Canucks have agreed in principle to three-year deal worth $12 million for Cory Schneider—
Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 29, 2012

Free agent defenseman Justin Schultz, a former Wisconsin Badger who exploited a loophole to gain his freedom from the team that drafted him, has reportedly narrowed the list of teams that he will consider down to five:

NYR are in on Justin Schultz. @DarrenDreger confirms TOR is in, @Real_ESPNLeBrun confirms OTT is in. That makes it VAN, EDM, NYR, TOR, OTT.—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 28, 2012

Schultz, an offensive defenseman, is considered by many scouts to be the best player in the world not yet in the NHL. Twenty-six of the 30 NHL teams reportedly expressed interest in his services, and many believe that his home-province Vancouver Canucks are the team to beat.

He’s expected to meet with representatives from his five finalists over the next few days, although he could sign on Sunday, the first day of free agency.

UPDATE: Bob McKenzie of TSN now reports that a sixth team could still be in the running. It was believed that Schultz would cut his list to five, but no one has ever confirmed such.

Strongly led to believe MIN, as in Wild, are in on shortlist for UFA dman Justin Schultz. That would make 6 teams we know of. Maybe more?—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 28, 2012

It certainly isn’t news that Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo is on the block. And although James Mirtle of Toronto’s The Globe and Mail writes that the Maple Leafs remain the only “plausible trading partner for the star netminder,” Vancouver assistant general manager Laurence Gilman tells a different story.

Gilman said that G.M. Mike Gillis has heard from “numerous” teams. “There is interest that’s in place right now,” Gilman said, according to Jason Botchford of Vancouver’s The Province. “It is conceivable that we could make a deal this weekend.”

If they don’t get a deal to their liking at the draft, however, the Canucks have plenty of time to still make a move before the season starts.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo is willing to waive the no-trade clause in his contract, according to the Globe and Mail.

Luongo met with Vancouver brass Tuesday, and afterwards spoke to reporters, saying he would be willing to waive the clause in his 12-year $64 million contract.

“It’s going to be what’s best for the team,” Luongo told the paper. “Whatever scenario that is, I’m okay with it – whether that involves me being here or not is okay. We’ve got a lot of potential in this locker room, there’s a great core of guys, and the chance to do something special.”

Luongo, 33, was benched in the playoffs in favor of the younger Cory Schneider.

“They’ve got a guy [Schneider] here that is going to be a superstar in this league for the next 10, 12, 15 years,” Luongo said, according to the report. “It is a business and that’s the way it goes. I loved being here the last six years. I think my career has really taken off and we did some incredible things. If I’m here in the future, then great. If I’m not, that’s good also.”

The Vancouver Canucks have had a tough go of it in their first two games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, turning in a pair of 4-2 losses to the Los Angeles Kings, and now they’re deciding it’s time for a change. The team has announced that Cory Schneider, and not Roberto Luongo, will start in goal when the Canucks play the Kings in Game 3 tonight.

#Canucks coach Alain Vigneault confirms Cory Schneider starts in Game 3.

—
Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) April 15, 2012

Luongo is off to a rocky start against the Kings, allowing three goals in the series opener and four in Game 2.

Schneider has yet to play in the postseason, but he was statistically the better goalie this year. The 26-year-old backup had a 1.96 goals-against average and .940 save percentage this season; Luongo posted a 2.41 and a .920.

The Canucks, down 2-0, return home to face the Kings tonight at 7:30 p.m. Pacific.

The Los Angeles Kings have apologized for sending a tweet shortly after their Game One victory over the Vancouver Canucks that was perceived as being in poor taste.

The tweet, sent from the official Twitter-feed of the Kings, said: “To everyone in Canada outside BC, you’re welcome.”

The tweet came off as offensive since the Canucks are considered hockey’s most hated team.

“We encourage our digital team to be creative, interactive and to apply a sense of humor whenever possible,” Michael Altieri, the team’s vice-president, communications and broadcasting, wrote in an email, according to the National Post. “To anyone who found it offensive we sincerely apologize.”

The Vancouver Canucks will be the top overall seed when they open the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight at Rogers Arena, but they’ll be without leading goal scorer Daniel Sedin for Game 1 against the Los Angeles Kings, according to ESPN.

Sedin, who powered the Canucks this season with 30 goals and 37 assists, missed the last nine games of the regular season with a concussion. He practiced Monday but began experiencing headaches shortly thereafter; he’s been limited ever since.

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said that Mason Raymond will likely join Sedin’s twin brother Henrik on the top line.

“We’ve never talked about elements that we don’t have in our lineup,” Vigneault said. “We’ve always played with the guys that are healthy and capable of helping this team. That line is going to have to find a way to do what they do.”

The Canucks were just fine this season without Sedin in the lineup, going 8-1-0. They went 49-22-11 overall, the best record in the NHL.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith has been suspended five games elbowing Daniel Sedin in the head in Wednesday night’s win over the Vancouver Canucks, according to ESPN Chicago.

The incident occurred at the 13:36 in the first period — Keith elbowed Sedin in the neutral zone, and Sedin had to be helped off the ice. He played one shift on the power play and then left the game for good.

Keith will begin serving the suspension Sunday, when the Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators. He will lose $149,688 in salary.

Keith has recorded four goals and 36 assists in 72 games for the Blackhawks this season.

Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault didn’t take too kindly to the Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand leveling a dirty hit on Sami Salo during the Canucks’ 4-3 win on Saturday afternoon.

“Some day, he’s going to get it,” Vigneault told the Vancouver Province. “Somebody is going to say enough is enough, and they’re going to hurt the kid. Because he plays to hurt players, and in my mind, if the league doesn’t take care of it, somebody else will.”

Marchand responded today, saying in a local radio interview that he found Vigneault’s comments to be out of line, coming from an opposing coach.

“You don’t see stuff like that very often,” Marchand said on WEEI in Boston. “It’s a clear threat. Last time something like that happened in Vancouver, we all saw what happened, and it turned out very bad. So, hopefully the league will take care of that situation.”

Marchand refers to Avalanche forward Steve Moore, who suffered a career-ending cheap injury after a revenge hit by Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi in 2004.

The 23-year-old Marchand is currently serving a five-game suspension for the hit on Salo. He will be eligible to return on Jan. 19, when the Bruins take on the Devils.

All signs point to an impending suspension for Bruins center Brad Marchand, who leveled Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo into the boards and gave him a concussion yesterday in the second period of the B’s 4-3 loss. But Marchand has come prepared with an alibi — it was self-defense, he says.

“In a game like last night when there’s a lot of emotions and guys are running around a bit, you’re definitely watching over your shoulder a little bit more and you want to try and protect yourself as much as you can,” Marchand said in a TV interview. “When you have a guy coming in on you, you have no idea what his intentions are and what the outcome’s going to be. You’re just trying to protect yourself in that situation.”

Marchand was given a five-minute major for clipping and a game misconduct for the incident, which occurred at the 18:47 mark of the second period. Given his prior history — Marchand has a $2,500 fine from last month and a two-game suspension from last season already under his belt — a suspension looks very likely.

Bruins coach Claude Julien, however, stands by his player, defending the right of the 5-foot-9 Marchand to protect himself against the 6-foot-3 Salo.

“We all have our opinions on what is going on with the game and the hits and everything else,” Julien told the Bruins Blog. “All I’m going to tell you is that I always told my players that they need to protect themselves.”

Seven months ago, the city of Vancouver rioted as the Canucks fell short in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins. Only now are those who caused the mayhem beginning to face the consequences.

Ryan Dickinson, a 20-year-old man from the Vancouver suburb of Coquitlam, pleaded guilty today to participating in the riot, according to the Canadian Press. He also pleaded guilty to breach of recognizance. Dickinson has been in jail since his arrest last month for violating a court-ordered curfew connected with a previous assault charge.

Dickinson is the first individual convicted for a role in the June 15 rioting. Canucks fans burned cars, smashed windows and looted stores after the team’s 4-0 loss in the Cup-deciding game. The estimated total damages reached seven figures.