Team Is Pursuing Trade for Luongo

The Kings have gone beyond merely inquiring about Florida Panther goaltender Roberto Luongo and are pressing hard to work out a “blockbuster” deal, a league source said.

The package would include King goaltender Mathieu Garon and the Panthers’ choice of prospects currently at minor league Manchester, the source said. The Panthers are said to be still unsure whether to move Luongo, considered an elite NHL goaltender.

Luongo is an unrestricted free agent after the season, but the Kings are expected to have the financial ability to sign him to a long-term deal. They are currently $4 million under the $39-million salary cap and Jeremy Roenick ($4.94 million) and Luc Robitaille ($1 million) are in the last year of their contracts.

In addition, Valeri Bure’s $1.5 million will not count against the cap, as he did not play this season because of a back injury.

Luongo has told Florida officials he will not remain with the team if improvements are not made. In January, he turned down a five-year, $30-million deal, saying, “I just want to make sure we’re a playoff team for many years to come. I don’t want to spend another five years here just watching the playoffs on television.”

The Kings, meanwhile, continue to pursue Washington defenseman Brendan Witt, offering prospects in return.

Capital General Manager George McPhee is expected to wait until the Thursday trade deadline is closer before making a move. Vancouver, Nashville and Tampa Bay are trying to swing a deal for Witt, a solid stay-at-home defenseman who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

King Coach Andy Murray on Friday denied the Kings were working on a deal for Witt. A day earlier, however, Murray had admitted he never knows about a trade until General Manager Dave Taylor tells him about it.

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King owner Philip Anschutz attended the game against Columbus Saturday. Anschutz, who lives in Colorado, rarely attends games.