Luongo, 33, was deposed of his job as the Canucks' starting netminder when the club made it clear backup Cory Schneider would be promoted. Luongo has been awaiting a trade and admitted to wanting to go back to the Florida Panthers. He has been training in the area all summer and plans on returning to continue his workouts.
"You never want to be traded. You want to have success with the team you are with," Luongo said. "I have some control but I'm not a free agent by any means. At some point I'm going to have to make a decision. Of course, Florida is a spot I would like to end up. But there will be options out there. I have to be careful to make the right decision."
While the looming lockout threatens the opening of training camp, Canucks GM Mike Gillis has previously mentioned his willingness to go into the next season with a $5.33-million backup.
Luongo confirmed that he will report to the Canucks for whatever role remains.
"Of course this is strange," he said. "I don't know what the future holds. You don't know when a trade will happen or whether it even will. There have been some stressful moments. But I'm still here, doing the job I love."
While Panthers GM Dale Tallon has shown interested in landing Luongo, he expects to head into the season with the same goaltending duo of Scott Clemmensen and Jose Theodore.
Theodore has a no-trade clause to protect him, but Clemmensen could eventually be moved although he recently signed a two-year deal.
Both teams had discussed a potential trade that would see Luongo go back to Florida; however Gillis was adamant about acquiring 20-year-old center Nick Bjugstad, which was immediately rejected by the Panthers.
