Todd gets the boot

[butch]

VANCOUVER (CP) - The Vancouver Canucks sent Todd Bertuzzi to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Roberto Luongo Thursday in a blockbuster trade on the eve of the NHL draft.

The Panthers also acquired defenceman Bryan Allen and goaltender Alex Auld, while defenceman Lukas Krajicek heads to the Canucks alsong with a sixth-round pick.

"We are very excited to be making this announcement today," said Canucks GM Dave Nonis in a statement. "We believe that in Roberto we are getting a player who has represented his country at the highest level, has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy and has proven that he is among the elite goaltenders in the world.

"I would like to thank Todd, Bryan and Alex for their contributions to our hockey club over the years and wish them and their families the best of luck in the future."

Bertuzzi is one of the game's dominant power forwards, but he has been troubled by highly-publicized problems off the ice.