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The Vancouver Canucks have traded goalie Roberto Luongo back to the Florida Panthers. Luongo rejoins the Panthers after having been traded to Vancouver eight seasons ago. The Canucks receive prospect goalie Jacob Markstrom and centre Shawn Matthias in return. Luongo had requested a trade last off-season before Cory Schneider was dealt to the New Jersey Devils. Rumours began that Luongo might want out after Eddie Lack was given the start in the Canucks Heritage Classic game with the Ottawa Senators. "I was not expecting it," Luongo told reporters shortly after the trade. "Go figure, right? Im happy for myself and my family and a little bit sad to be leaving Vancouver." Luongo spent five seasons with the Panthers from 2000-01 to 2005-06 before playing the past eight years with the Canucks. In 42 games this season, Luongo has a .917 save percentage and 2.38 goals against average. "Roberto is one of the games elite goaltenders and we are happy to welcome him back to South Florida," Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. "With this acquisition, we have solidified our goaltending depth with a top-tiered netminder for the next several seasons." He now joins Tim Thomas, the goaltender he faced in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final when they lost to the Boston Bruins, and a young Panthers team. Asked on TSN Radio 1050 about being teammates with Thomas, Luongo laughed and said: "I dont know, well see how it goes when I get there." Luongo said he has no hard feelings towards the Canucks looking back over his eight seasons in Vancouver. "All in all it was a great run. There was a lot of stuff that happened in between but I have nothing but good things to say about the fans that were really supportive especially towards the end. This organization brought my game to another level. Its all positive stuff." Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis spoke to the media following the trade and was asked if the Canucks planned any more moves before Wednesdays trade deadline. "I dont know if were done yet or not," Gillis said. "Were trying to get younger, get more depth and more balance." Matthias has nine goals and 16 points in 59 games for the Panthers this season. Markstrom has spent the majority of the year with the Panthers AHL affiliate in San Antonio where he was recently named AHL goalie of the month. The Canucks are also sending minor leaguer Steven Anthony to Florida and will retain 15 per cent of Luongos salary. Orlando Pace Youth Jersey . Meanwhile, the Jets extended their winning streak to four and remain perfect under Paul Maurice. Its the Jets second four-game winning streak of the season, the other coming in mid-November. Nolan Cromwell Rams Jersey . -- Canadas Milos Raonic defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France on Saturday to advance to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open. http://www.footballramsshop.us/authentic-gerald-everett-rams-jersey/ .com) - Stanley Johnson had 18 points and No. Todd Gurley II Womens Jersey . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. The latest from Bob As tweeted by TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie on Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets need to resolve their offseason plans with forward R. Marshall Faulk Youth Jersey . -- Canadian freestyle skier Roz Groenewoud isnt letting surgery to both of her knees deter her expectations for the Sochi Olympics.CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Alex Rodriguez took his first small steps back to the Bronx and understands hes got a long, long way to go to contribute to the New York Yankees. Rodriguez played his first game since a miserable October and went hitless in two at-bats for the Charleston Riverdogs on Tuesday night. He grounded into a double play his first time up then struck out looking against 23-year-old Williams Perez to end the third before being removed from the game. It was Rodriguezs first game since undergoing left hip surgery in January. "For me, its just a great blessing to be back out there," he said. "Its been a long fight, a hard climb and I was just pretty excited to get a couple of at-bats and get in the mix." Make no mistake, though, Rodriguez is far from the form that won him three AL MVP awards and led the Yankees to their last World Series title in 2009. He couldnt make the play when Rome centre fielder Kyle Wren bunted on the games first pitch and appeared out of synch on his strikeout. "Timing is the least of my concerns, its really about the overall body," he said. "Getting the body in shape, getting your legs under you." And thats still a work in progress. Rodriguez, who will turn 38 on July 27, said earlier hed likely need all 20 days of rehab games allowed to prepare for a big league return. This, though, was a major step in that journey. "Im just happy to be back playing," he said. "I feel like a kid again." Rodriguez was tested quickly when Wren, the son of Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren, laid down a sweet bunt and beat the throw. Wren talked with his brother, Colby, on Monday night when he learned hed go against Rodriguez. "Maybe its something 10 or 15 years down the road I can tell my kids about that I played on the same field for three innings with one of the greatest players of all time and the first inning I bunted and got a hit off him," Wren said. "Thats what I was thinking." Rodriguez was focused on the bigger picture. He said a benchmark would come tomorrow morning when he sees how his body feels after this game. Rodriguez still planned to play Wednesday night before working out on Thursday. "Look, I am as curious as you guys are to see how I am going to react. Its been a whhile since I was in competition," he said before the game.dddddddddddd Rome shortstop Jose Peraza also bunted down the third base line in the second inning, but Rodriguez was too far back to make a play. The RiverDogs finished a 4-2 victory over Rome about 90 minutes after Rodriguez left the game. A-Rod has been working out at the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., since May. He looked healthy and enthusiastic to begin his season. His swing in the batting cage was the same simple flick thats helped him to 647 career home runs. He took grounders at third next to Yankees teammate Eduardo Nunez, whos recovering from a left oblique strain. Nunez played shortstop and went 2 for 3. Nunez was winded as he sat in front of his locker. He played four innings before coming out. "The oblique is OK. The timing is coming. Itll be a couple more games," he said. Rodriguez and Nunez enjoyed lunch Tuesday before arriving at the ballpark. "Its my first time" in South Carolina, Rodriguez said. "Great Southern hospitality so far." Players from the RiverDogs and the Rome Braves lined the dugouts to watch Rodriguez work. Its the third straight season Rodriguez has spent time in the minors coming back from injuries, and he would not comment about Major League Baseballs investigation into the now-closed Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic. Rodriguez looked smooth in the field during warm-ups, grabbing everything hit his way. His throws to first were strong and on target. When he was done with grounders, Rodriguez signed autographs for fans gathered next to the RiverDogs dugout. "Good luck to you, Alex," said Charleston resident Blanche Lloyd after getting a signed baseball. There were 8,255 who turned out at Riley Park, less than 200 from the record attendance of 8,426 set on opening night 2007. Rodriguez and Nunez were in Charleston with Pat Roessler, the Yankees director of player development based in Tampa. A-Rod hopes he can start having a positive impact on the Yankees after last years disappointing season and his benching during the AL championship series. "Ive got to tell you," Rodriguez said. "Im really, really excited. This probably has to be the hardest injury Ive tried to overcome. It has to be the longest." ' ' '