Roberto Luongo

At 45 years old, Roberto Luongo has this physical status:

Roberto Luongo (born April 4, 1979) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.

He spent 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, and the Vancouver Canucks.

Luongo is a member of the William M. Jennings Trophy for backstopping his team to the lowest goals against average in the league (2011, with replacement Cory Schneider).

He was a finalist for a number of awards, including the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender (2004, 2007 and 2011), and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player (2007).

Luongo is second in all games played as an NHL goaltender (1,044) and third in all victories (489).

In Montreal, Quebec, Born, is of Italian and Irish ancestry.

Early life

Luongo was born in Montreal, Quebec, and Antonio Luongo. His father, an Italian immigrant, was born in Santa Paolino, Avellino. He worked in furniture manufacturing and delivery, while Luongo's mother, an Irish-Canadian, worked in Air Canada marketing. Since Antonio immigrated to Montreal in 1976, Antonio and Pasqualina married in Montreal.

Leo and Fabio, Luongo's younger brothers, who also aspired to be goaltenders, are two younger brothers. Fabio continued his development in Junior A in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Williams Lake Timberwolves in 2004–05 before injuries ended his career. Leo has since worked as a Junior AAA coach, and HC Lugano's Leo is a goaltending coach. Luongo and his family lived in Saint-Leonard, Quebec, a borough north of Montreal with a strong Italian community, just four blocks away from Martin Brodeur, who became the goaltender for the New Jersey Devils six years before Luongo joined the NHL. Luongo is fluent in English, French, and Italian. His father was Italian, and his mother spoke in English with a little French at home.

In 1996, Luongo graduated from Montreal Francophone high school Antoine de St-Exupéry. As a forward, he began playing organized hockey at the age of eight. Luongo, his father, coached all his sons soccer and Luongo played until he was 14 years old, at which time he shifted to hockey. Although he initially wanted to play in net, his parents wanted him to learn his skating first. Luongo was fired from a peewee team several years ago and made the switch to goaltender. His team's normal goaltender did not turn up, and after begging his mother, who was still curious about Luongo's playing the position, he went in net and announced a shutout. The arena in which Luongo played his minor hockey in St. Leonard in August 2009 was named after him as the Roberto Luongo Arena. Since the Martin Brodeur Arena was renamed as such in 2000, it is the second arena in the community to be named after an NHL goalie.

Luongo was playing midget with Montreal-Bourassa, the same team that produced NHL goalies Brodeur and Félix Potvin by 15. Luongo has praised Hall of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr as his inspiration, quoting his admiration for his "spectacular glove saves" as his inspiration. During his rookie season with the Islanders, he had the opportunity to first meet Fuhr before a game against the Calgary Flames.

Personal life

Luongo met Gina (née Cerbone), a team hangout when playing with the Florida Panthers, at the Pizza Time Trattoria. Gina is the niece of the Italian restaurant owner Umberto Cerbone, who is from Naples, while Gina's mother is from Palermo. In Venice, Luongo suggested to Gina under the Bridge of Sighs. During his time with the Panthers, they lived in Broward County, Florida. Luongo was moved to Vancouver just a month after moving to a new home in Florida. They then moved to Yaletown, Vancouver, while spending Luongo's off-seasons in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They were born on March 27, 2008. Luongo had been selected as a starting goaltender for the 2008 NHL All-Star Game, but he delayed in order to be with Gina, who was pregnant at the time and had returned to Florida. Gina gave birth to the couple's son on December 27, 2010.

Luongo is active in numerous charities. He spent time with Canuck Place, a children's hospice in Vancouver, as did many Canucks players. In Rogers Arena, he also sponsored a spectator's box, which was otherwise reserved for underprivileged children to attend Canucks games. He was known to give his goalie stick to a fan of the crowd at the end of games in which he had been named one of the three stars. In the summer of 2009, he hosted the Roberto Luongo Golf Open to benefit Montreal Children's Hospital, Sainte-Justine Hospital, and a seniors center network in Saint-Léonard. Luongo, a Parkland student who lives in Parkland, gave a pre-game address thanking the victims of the shooting and calling for more protests against mass shootings.

Luongo, in addition to being an avid golfer, also loves playing poker.

Luongo was inducted into the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, in September 2011. In 2021, he was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

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Playing career

In 1995, the Val-d'Or Foreurs made Luongo the second-drafted goaltender in QMJHL history, finishing second overall. He began his junior career with Val-d'Or in 1995-1996 and gained six victories in 23 games played. He led the team to a record 32 victories in 1996–97 and was named the best professional prospect in the league. After his success at the 1997 CHL Top Prospects Game, opposition coach Don Cherry likened Luongo to Montreal Canadiens' Hockey Hall of Fame, Ken Dryden, to whom he was named as a "franchise goalie," according to NHL Central Scouting Bureau director Frank Bonello.

Luongo was selected in the first round, fourth overall, by the New York Islanders in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. The pick was originally assigned to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it was traded to the Islanders in exchange for Wendel Clark, Mathieu Schneider, and D. J. Smith. Luongo was the highest-picked goaltender in NHL history at the time of the draft, defeating Tom Barrasso, John Davidson, and Ray Martynuik's fifth overall picks in 1983, 1973, and 1970 (Luongo's selection was later outstopped by Rick DiPietro's first overall pick by the Islanders in 2000).

Luongo continued to play junior with the Foreurs in 1997–98 with his draft. (GAA) He had 27 victories and a 3.09 goals against average. Nick Sanza's QMJHL record was tied in 1974-75 (Adam Russo later tied it as well in 2002–03).

Although the Islanders intended to have Luongo play in the NHL for the 1998–99 season, Luongo's return to the QMJHL was triggered by his inconsistent play in training camp. Luongo was not allowed to be called up to the Islanders from junior due to his inability to come to an agreement before October 1, 1998. He started the season with Val-d'Or, but he was traded to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan for the remainder of the 1998–99 season. With a 2.74 GAA in 23 games, he went on to lead the Titans to their second straight President's Cup championship. He ended his QMJHL play career with the all-time league record in games played (3,264:22), wins (38) and shots faced (1,808).

Luongo was signed by the Islanders to a three-year, $2.775 million deal on January 8, 1999, following his success at the 1999 World Junior Championships. He made his professional debut with the Lowell Lock Monsters, the Islanders' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, during the 2011 season. Luongo was called up to the Islanders on November 22, 1999, after recovering from a shoulder injury to backup Wade Flaherty early in the season. In a 2–1 victory over the Boston Bruins on November 28, he made his NHL debut six days later on November 28, stopping 43 shots in a 2–1 victory. Luongo's early appearances solidified him as the Islanders' starting goalie over veteran Félix Potvin. Potvin was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on December 19 in exchange for backup goaltender Kevin Weekes, nearly a month after Luongo's debut in New York. In a 3–0 win over the Bruins on December 27, he recorded his first NHL shutout in his eighth game in his career, stopping 34 shots in his eighth game.

Luongo was publicly chastised by Islanders general manager Mike Milbury for going looking for an apartment in New York on a game day before letting in seven goals to the Boston Bruins. "You can't do that in the NHL," Milbury told the media. "You have to prepare yourself." Luongo defended himself by saying that he did not change from his usual game day routine by looking at only one apartment.

The Islanders selected goaltender Rick DiPietro with the first overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft in the off-season. Luongo was the highest-drafted goaltender in NHL history and the Islanders' goaltender of the future, according to DiPietro's pick. Milbury cut Luongo and center Olli Jokinen to the Florida Panthers on June 24, 2000, as a result of the swap between center Mark Parrish and centre Oleg Kvasha. Both Jokinen and Luongo will eventually develop into star players, in comparison to Parrish and Kvasha, and the agreement will later be seen to have disproportionately benefited the Panthers. Luongo expressed surprise at the trade, saying that before the Islanders drafted DiPietro, the team was planning to make him its starting goaltender for the upcoming season.

Following the trade, the Panthers' staff expressed high praise for Luongo. Bryan Murray, the general manager, referred to him as "a franchise guy," while head coach Terry Murray added, "He's the guy teams need to win the Stanley Cup." He attended his first training camp with the Panthers, featuring veteran goaltender Trevor Kidd, and coach Terry Murray chose Kidd over the season because of his work with him. Luongo made his Panthers debut on October 9, 2000, making 18 saves in a 4–2 loss to the Boston Bruins. Luongo went on to play in 43 games, relative to Kidd's 42. In a 3–0 victory over the New York Rangers on April 7, 2001, he finished his 2000–01 rookie season (Luongo qualified as a rookie because he had not played in at least 26 games the previous season with New York). Both the 1994–95 and 1997–98 seasons saw the total eclipse exceed John Vanbiesbrouck's four-shutout record, which was set in both the 1994–95 and 1998–98 seasons. He tied for 12–24–7 with the struggling Panthers, who finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, while still achieving a 2.44 GAA. Manny Fernandez's record of.920 save percentage was sixth in the league and second among rookie goaltenders, his second all-time record of a rookie goaltenders, according to his second all-time record.

Luongo, who is approaching his third appearance in the NBA, has agreed to a four-year deal with the Panthers on September 13, 2001. He was selected to participate in the inaugural NHL YoungStars Game for Team Melrose in 2002, winning 13–7 over Team Fox. Luongo sustained a torn ligament injury in his right ankle in a game against the Montreal Canadiens on March 20, 2002, despite being in 58 games from 2001–2002. He was sidelined for the remainder of the season, posting a 16–33–4 record, a 2.77 GAA, and a 0.915 save percentage. Luongo returned to a heavier workload in 2002-03 after a 65-game season. He had a record-breaking shutout streak against the Montreal Canadiens on January 20, 2003.

Luongo's first Vezina Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award nominations as the top goaltender and top player as selected by the players in his fourth season with the Panthers (2003-2004). He played in 72 games, leading to the most saves and shots in a single season, with 2,303 and 2,475, respectively. Both records were previously set by former Islanders teammate Félix Potvin in 1996–97 as a Toronto Maple Leaf. His resulting.931 save percentage was first among those goals with at least 50 starts and set a Panthers franchise record, beating Vanbiesbrouck's record of.924 set in 1993–94. His seven shutouts pushed his franchise's record further, and he was still good enough for fifth place in the league. He was named to his first NHL All-Star Game, which was held in February 2004. He won the Goaltenders Competition segment of the SuperSkills Competition, giving him the fewest goals on goaltender-related events. He appeared in the third period of the All-Star Game the following day and helped the East beat the West 6–4 victory. He was accepted to his second NHL All-Star team, but he lost the Vezina Trophy to fellow Montreal-native Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, while Tampa Bay Lightning Martin St. Louis claimed the Pearson Award at the end of the season.

Luongo was inactive following the 2004 World Cup and the 2005 World Championships, with the exception of two international tournaments, the 2004 World Cup, and the 2005 World Championships. Luongo was without a deal when the NHL returned to play in 2005–2006. The Panthers filed for arbitration on August 11, 2005, after talks fell apart. On August 25, Luongo was given a one-year, $3.2 million deal.

Luongo became the most-wins Panthers goaltender of all time by defeating the Ottawa Senators 5–4 overtime on April 13, 2006. He went on to win by 35 games, beating Vanbiesbrouck's 27-win single-season Panthers record set in 1996-97. He could not commit to a five-year, $30 million contract bid in January 2006 unless he was going to be a free agent for the second straight off-season. It was also reported that Luongo's demands included that backup goaltender Jamie McLennan be re-signed, his long-serving goaltender François Allaire be recruited, and that a public statement not to be published until the no-trade clause of his deal goes into place.

Luongo was traded to the Vancouver Canucks by Panther general manager Mike Keenan prior to the 2006–07 season. In exchange for forward Todd Bertuzzi, defenseman Bryan Allen, and goaltender Alex Auld, he was sent with defenseman Lukárokov and a sixth round draft pick (Sergei Shirokov). Vancouver also agreed Luongo to a four-year, $27 million contract straight after the deal was agreed. He expressed surprise by claiming that the Panthers and the Vikings were very close to a trade the day before.

Luongo's arrival in Vancouver brought a seven-and-a-half years of Canucks netminding, with a total of 18 goaltenders having played for the team since Kirk McLean's departure in 1998. During his time in Vancouver, General Manager Brian Burke coined the phrase "goalie graveyard" to describe the club's goaltending success.

In his Canucks debut on October 5, 2006, Luongo defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3–1. In a 5–0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on October 25, he notched his first shutout with the Canucks, blocking 32 shots. Luongo was named as a starting goaltender for the first time in his career with the Western Conference All-Stars on January 9, 2007. He was hospitalized after taking a puck to the throat in practice six days after the announcement. He spent the night in the intensive care unit due to fears that his windpipe would swell and become blocked. Luongo was shut out on game day after being discharged from the hospital on game day, and his night against the Montreal Canadiens was a shutout. Luongo was named the Skills Competition's top goaltender and helped the West beat the East 2-1 in Dallas during the 2007 NHL All-Star Game. Luongo won in a 2–1 overtime win on March 9, his franchise record-setting 39th victory of the season. He beat Kirk McLean's 38-win record set in 1991–92. He ended up with a career-high 47 wins, one shy of league champion Martin Brodeur, who tied Bernie Parent's record of wins in a season. Luongo and Brodeur are considered to have a parent advantage with the league's inauguration in a season of violence, allowing for more games to be decided by winners rather than ties.

Luongo achieved a 2.29 GAA (which was a personal record) and a team-record.921 save percentage in 2010–11, which was later surpassed by Cory Schneider's.929 save percentage). He received three awards, including the Cyclone Taylor Trophy as MVP, the Molson Cup as the player with the most three-star picks, and the Most Exciting Player Award. He led the Canucks to a Northwest Division championship and then a franchise record of 105 points. Luongo's first NHL post-season appearance was in 2007. In his first game against the Dallas Stars, he nearly tied for the most saves in a playoff game. He stopped 72 shots on his way to a 5–4 overtime victory, one save shy of Kelly Hrudey's 73-save record set in 1987. Luongo became the Canucks' first playoff series as the Canucks eliminated the Stars in seven games. They were however eliminated in the second round by the Anaheim Ducks, the eventual Stanley Cup champions. In the deciding fifth game against the Ducks, Luongo put on a losing 56-save effort. He missed the first three minutes of the first overtime period due to what seemed to be an equipment failure after the game ended in regulation at a 1–1 tie. However, Luongo had an unusual case of diarrhea after the series ended, revealing that it was not the cause of the outbreak. In the second overtime, the Canucks lost their game 2–1 when Luongo took his eye off the puck to investigate the referee, suspecting a penalty to the Ducks on a play in which Canucks forward Jannik Hansen was struck by Ducks forward Rob Niedermayer. Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer shot the puck from the point to score the series-winning goal with Luongo not paying attention.

Luongo had been nominated for three major NHL awards, including the Vezina Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award, and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league MVP at the end of the season. Luongo came in second in the voting for all three categories, behind Brodeur for the Hart and Pearson but Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Luongo maintained his high-speed during his previous season in 2007–08, winning a three-game shutout streak spanning 210:34, beating Ken Lockett's previous franchise record of 184:20 set in 1975). For the second straight season, he was voted in as the second Western Conference starting goalie for the second time in a row, although he did not attend in order to be with his pregnant wife in Florida.

Luongo's losing streak that culminated in him losing just one of his final eight starts, causing the Canucks to miss the playoffs altogether, with the Canucks battling for the Northwest Division crown all season long. Despite this, he earned his second straight team MVP and Molson Cup awards. He also placed seventh in the Vezina Trophy polling.

The Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis and head coach Alain Vigneault announced Luongo as the 12th captain in team history on September 30, 2008, replacing the departed Markus Näslund. The decision was unusual, because league rules barred goaltenders from being captains. Luongo was the seventh goaltender to be named captain in NHL history, and the first since Bill Durnan captained the Montreal Canadiens in 1947–48 (after which the league enforced the rule). Luongo did not do any of the on-ice duties reserved for captains and did not wear the captain's "C" on his jacket in order to account for the league's rule. Rather, he turned it into the artwork on the front of one of his masks, which he occasionally wore for the first months of the 2008–09 season. Willie Mitchell, the Canucks' defenseman, was chosen to deal with on-ice officials, while defenceman Mattias hlund was charged with ceremonial faceoffs and other such formalities associated with captaincy. As the third alternate captain, Centre Ryan Kesler was selected along with Mitchell and hlund.

Luongo started a shutout streak against the Nashville Predators, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Minnesota Wild, akin to the feat he achieved in the same month of November last year. In a 2–1 shootout loss against the Colorado Avalanche, his shutout streak was snapped at 242:36 minutes, beating the Canucks' record set the previous season. Luongo played against the Pittsburgh Penguins later this month after suffering an adductor strain in his groin. He attempted what seemed to be a quick recovery within two weeks of the injury but he suffered a setback during a team practice on December 10, causing early pain. Luongo made his return to the Phoenix Coyotes on January 15, 2009, after missing 24 games. Luongo was selected for the fourth time as the lone Canucks representative in 2009, despite being hospitalized. Despite rumors that Luongo would have to miss his second straight All-Star Game, Luongo recovered in time and was involved in a 12–11 shootout loss to the Eastern Conference. He ended the season with back-to-back shutouts in the final two games against the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche, raising Dan Cloutier's highest single-season shutout record of seven, which was set in 2001–02.

Luongo and the Canucks returned to the playoffs after winning their second Northwest Division title in three years, after a one-year absence. He led the Canucks to a first-round sweep of the St. Louis Blues during the 2009 playoffs. In the second round, the Canucks then met the Chicago Blackhawks, who defeated Chicago in six games. Luongo was heavily chastised for his performance in the sixth and deciding game, allowing seven goals in the 7–5 loss. Luongo told reporters that he "let [his] teammates down" in a post-game interview. Many in the Vancouver media were quick to suggest selling Luongo, alleging that his vast salary should be better spent, while others pointed to several strong teams with relatively low-salary goals. However, Luongo was awarded the Scotiabank Fan Fav Award, a fan-voted award for the league's best player in its inaugural year. He also finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting, behind Niklas Bäckström of the Minnesota Wild, Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Boston Bruins trophy-winner Tim Thomas.

Luongo and agent Gilles Lupien started employment talks with general manager Mike Gillis in the 2009 off-season with one season remaining on his original four-year contract with the Canucks. Luongo and the Canucks had agreed on a long-term contract extension at the time of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, according to ESPN, who revealed it on July 1. Both Lupien and Gillis denied the study, but Lupien and Gillis denied it. Gillis told Vancouver sports radio station TEAM 1040 in an interview that he was "philosophically" close to a contract with Luongo that would not be signed until the 2009–10 season. Luongo's summer camp for the 2010 Winter Olympics ended on September 13 before the Canucks' training camp began, saying he would not be negotiating during the season [not wanting] that distraction."

Several days later, the Canucks reported that they had signed Luongo to a 12-year contract extension worth $64 million for a $5.33 million annual salary cap hit. Luongo's front-loaded contract, which will come to an end before Luongo's 43rd birthday and contains a no-trade clause, sees him earn $10 million in 2010–11, $3.3 million, and $1.6 million for the next two years, before decreasing to $1.6 million in the ensuing two years. The deal includes two additional provisions to circumvent the no-trade clause that allows Luongo to facilitate a trade after the fifth year, and the Canucks to also facilitate a trade after the seventh year.

Luongo won by 2–0 over the Edmonton Oilers on October 25, 2009, defeating Kirk McLean as the franchise's shutout leader nearly a month into the 2009–2010 season. On October 27, he sustained a rib injury that was later revealed as a hairline fracture in the following game against the Detroit Red Wings. Luongo suffered his ribs against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 24, two games before being injured by a shot in the chest from Leafs forward Niklas Hagman. During a Detroit game involving Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi, the injury was aggravated. After missing six games, he returned to the lineup on November 10. Luongo's 50th appearance in his career ended in a 4–0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on January 7, 2010. Despite his second 40-win seasons as a Canuck, Luongo had his worst statistical season as a Canuck, heavily impacted by a weak second-half. He was fired seven times in 68 appearances, earning a 2.57 GAA and a.913 save percentage. The Canucks defeated the Los Angeles Kings in six games, but then the Chicago Blackhawks defeated them for the second year in a row.

Many in the media speculated that Luongo would remain Vancouver's captain in the offseason, citing the added strain of the goaltending position. Luongo began to make himself available for pre-game interviews after the Canucks' 3–1 series loss in the second round, but not for captains. When asked about the Canucks' demise if he thinks he should remain as captain, he told reporters that he didn't think it was an issue. However, Gillis, who had ordained him captain two seasons before, maintained that it was a topic to be addressed in the off-season. Luongo revealed on September 13, 2010 that he would step down, saying that "Serv[ing] as captain [in a Canadian city with such passionate fans is a privilege and an experience I will always remember. I will continue to be a leader on this team and help my teammates the same way I always have while focusing on our ultimate goal. Henrik Sedin, the Hart Trophy winner in the 2009–10 season, was named Luongo's replacement in a pre-game ceremony for the Canucks' season-opener.

Gillis fired Luongo's goaltending coach Ian Clark in the offseason and recruited Roland Melanson in his place. Luongo had been a personal friend of Clark's and had expressed surprise and dissatisfaction with the change. Melanson's appointment was largely based on his willingness to work with Luongo on a full-time basis, something Clark was unable to do. Despite the coaching change at the club level, Luongo retained Clark as his personal coach for his summer training. He started playing with Melanson in the 2010-2011 season and made some improvements in his playing style, which included playing further into his crease rather than attacking shooters.

Luongo sustained a groin injury in the 2010 pre-season but recovered in time for the regular season. Luongo was named the NHL's Second Star of the Month for December 2010, midway through the campaign. With a 2.07 GAA, a.922 save percentage, and one shutout, he set an 11–1–2 record, including one shutout. He began a 21-game rule unbeaten streak early in the month, stretching to a loss to the St. Louis Blues on February 14, 2011. Luongo's record during this time was 16 wins and 5 overtime or shootout losses. On March 5, 2011, he won his 300th game against the Los Angeles Kings in his career. He was the 6th-youngest goaltender to reach the milestone and the 25th overall. Luongo's workload increased in 2011-2011 as he appeared in 60 games. Cory Schneider, the rookie backup, had been given the opportunity to play in 20 to 25 games at the start of the season. Luongo's season ended with 38 victories, along with 22 losses (including 13 in regulation and 7 in overtime or a shootout). His career-high 2.11 GAA finished second in the league, behind Tim Thomas' 2.00, and Canucks reached a record of 2.27 GAA, which was unbeaten by Dan Cloutier in 2003-2004. Although his.928 save percentage improved on his team's record of.921 in 2006-07, it was still a point less than a point by Schneider. Luongo and Schneider won the William M. Jennings Trophy for leading the Canucks to the lowest GAA in the league, with a total score of 2.20 per cent higher than Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins. Luongo gave the Canucks their first Presidents' Trophy in team history, with an NHL-best and franchise-record 54 wins and 117 points. Pekka Rinne of the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators each earned him his third straight Vezina Trophy nomination after his success in the regular season.

For the third year in a row, the Canucks were matched against the Blackhawks in the first seed in the West. The Canucks lost the next three games after opening the season with three straight victories, forcing the Canucks to call a seventh game. Luongo started Game 6 on the bench after being pulled in favour of Schneider during Games 4 and 5, respectively, having allowed six and four goals. Schneider sustained an injury during the third period, causing Luongo to finish the game. Before Blackhawks forward Ben Smith scored in overtime, he made 12 saves in relief of Schneider. Despite the fact that Schneider was able to participate in Game 7, Vigneault chose Luongo to start. In the deciding game, he made 31 saves, leading the Canucks to a 2–1 overtime victory. During a Blackhawks powerplay early in the extra period, his efforts included a cross-ice save on a one-timer from forward Patrick Sharp. Luongo kept Nashville to 11 goals over six games to help the Canucks advance, facing fellow Vezina Trophy nominee Pekka Rinne and the Nashville Predators in round two. He maintained his play in the Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks by allowing 13 goals over 5 games, including 54 saves in the fifth and deciding match, which was decided in double overtime. For the first time in 17 years, Luongo's efforts helped the Canucks reach the Stanley Cup Finals. In a 1–0 victory over the Boston Bruins, he began a new run of the playoffs by missing all 36 shots. Luongo surrendered eight goals in Game 3 as the game progressed to Boston's TD Garden, leading to a two-games-to-none Canucks lead. After allowing four goals on 20 shots in the upcoming game, he was suspended for the third time in the playoffs. Luongo recovered for Game 5 after heavy scrutiny from the media and Canucks fans, stopping all 31 Bruins shots in a 1–0 victory. It was his 15th victory and 4th shutout of the post-season, tying all of Kirk McLean's single-year playoff team records, which had previously been set in 1994. With a chance to clinch the Stanley Cup in Game 6, the game ended in a 5–2 loss after allowing three goals in less than three minutes in the first period. The Canucks defeated the Canucks 4–0, with three goals on 20 shots, including one shorthanded goal. Luongo had a chance to play for the Triple Gold Club as the first goaltender in the finals tournament.

Luongo sustained an upper-body injury that sidelined him for two games, nearly a month and a half into the 2011-2012 season. The cause of the injury was unclear, but it was thought to have occurred during a game against the Islanders on November 13, 2011 when he seemed to be in pain. Luongo was struggling to perform with his stats at the bottom of the league prior to the injury. Schneider's play relegated Luongo to backup status for five games after recovering. With increased results, he returned to the team's starting lineup in December. Luongo reached two major milestones in the ensuing month. He became the 23rd goalie in league history to play in his 700th game, in which he scored a 3–0 victory over the Wild. With his 212th victory as a Canuck on January 21 (a 4–3 win over the Sharks), he tied Kirk McLean as the best-wins goalie in team history. Luongo won the tournament in 364 games, 152 less than McLean.

Luongo played well in the first two games against the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, but his team lost both, but not both. Vigneault ordered Schneider to start the Canucks for the remainder of the series in order to give the Canucks some energy, but Luongo stayed on the bench for the remainder of the series as the Kings defeated four games to one. Many in the media reported that Luongo will be traded in the off-season, in favour of Schneider, who posted more regular season and playoff results than him in 2011–12. Luongo said in a statement that he was questioned about his Canucks' role after the loss that he had asked him to do so. Schneider was signed to a three-year $12 million deal in June 2012, which made Luongo expendable, but general manager Mike Gillis' attempts to sell Luongo were unsuccessful due to his $64 million (U.S.) 12-year deal.

Both goaltenders divided the playing time in the 2012–13 NHL season, with Schneider being the top goalie. Luongo treated his demotion with class and remained loyal to Schneider, and referred to the Canucks as "Cory's Army" soon after. "Cory is our MVP and one of the reasons why we made it into the playoffs," head coach Alain Vigneault said. I have a lot of faith in him, which is why we're going with him." Luongo started the first two games against the San Jose Sharks after Schneider was out of action early in the season, but his team lost both. In game three, Luongo was scratched after Schneider was suspended in the third period. In game four, Luongo was the backup, ending his team's postseason in four straight games. Luongo's penthouse was up for auction after it was learned that he had played his last game as a Canuck. Although he had nine years on a 12-year, $64-million deal, which was a $5.33 million salary cap drop, general manager Mike Gillis remained positive about striking a deal in the summer.

Schneider was surprisingly traded to the New Jersey Devils on June 30, 2013, re-instating Luongo in the starting lineup for the 2013–14 NHL season. In the Heritage Classic against the Ottawa Senators at BC Place, John Tortorella, who had had to replace Alain Vigneault as the Canucks head coach after the 2012-2013 season, selected rookie Eddie Läck to start in goal rather than Luongo. Tortorella's decision was unpopular with the crowd, as they booed Läck, while Luongo was also furious because he was looking forward to the game all season.

Luongo was traded back to the Florida Panthers and prospect Steven Anthony in exchange for goaltender Jacob Markström and center Shawn Matthias on March 4, 2014. Luongo's salary was retained by the Canucks. Luongo was seen as a key to the Panthers' success in making them a formidable foe.

Luongo played in his 1,000th NHL game in 2017, becoming only the third goaltender in NHL history to do so, with Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur being the other two exceptions. Luongo was the Panthers' nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and became the franchise all-time champion in games played, victories, and shutouts at the conclusion of the regular season. Roberto Luongo played in his 1030th game in his career on February 10, 2019, defeating Roy for second all-time behind Brodeur, who played 1,266 games in his career. Luongo won by 4-3 over the Colorado Avalanche on February 25, defeating Ed Belfour for his third-most games as an NHL goaltender, behind Roy and Brodeur. Luongo announced his retirement from professional hockey on June 26, 2019. Luongo will officially retire his number on March 7, 2020, making him the first player to receive this distinction with the Panthers.

International career

Luongo made his international debut at the 1995 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in Moncton, New Brunswick, with Team Québec winning bronze. He was named in the Canadian national junior team for the 1998 World Junior Championships in Finland three years ago. As Canada finished eighth place, he served as backup to Victoriaville Tigres goaltender Mathieu Garon, who went winless in three appearances with a 3.70 GAA. Luongo became the starting goaltender at the 1999 World Junior Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he appeared in seven of Canada's eight games. In the first game of the tournament against the Czech Republic, he played a shutout, making 36 saves in a 0–0 tie. He continued to assist Team Canada in their gold medal match against Russia, but he lost in overtime, losing a goal to Artem Chubarov. Luongo was named Best Goaltender and All-Star team honors after a 1.92 GAA and two shutouts.

Luongo competed with the Canadian men's team at the 2001 World Championships in Germany for the first time. He came as a backup to Fred Brathwaite of the Calgary Flames before injuring his finger during the first game of the qualification round against Switzerland on May 4, 2001.

Luongo started the tournament as the back-up to the Phoenix Coyotes' Sean Burke during his second appearance at the 2003 World Championships in Finland. In the qualifying round, he won against Latvia and Switzerland. Luongo replaced Burke after he left the game with a lower-body injury eight minutes into the second period during the semifinals against the Czech Republic. Luongo allowed four goals in relief but took the lead when Canada defeated the Czechs 8–4. Luongo made 49 saves against Sweden in a 3–2 overtime victory, with Burke still out for the gold medal game. Despite Luongo's medal-round appearances, Burke was named the Best Goaltender for the tournament, having appeared in the majority of Team Canada's games. The gold-medal champions of 2003 were later named the year's best national sports team on January 2, 2004.

Luongo made his third appearance at the World Championships in 2004 in the Czech Republic. Canada won its second straight gold medal at the tournament, beating Sweden 5–3 in the final after being active in seven games as the starting goaltender, 2.32 GAA and one shutout. Luongo appeared for Team Canada in the 2004 World Cup as a back-up to New Jersey Devils Martin Brodeur. It was Luongo's first international tournament in which all NHL players were eligible, as the annual World Championships match with the Stanley Cup playoffs brought together the tournament. As Brodeur pulled out before the semi-final game against the Czech Republic due to a strained wrist, he had another opportunity to step in as the starting goalie. In a 4–3 overtime victory over Finland, Brodeur was filling in for Brodeur, Luongo made 37 of 40 stops, putting Team Canada into the finals against Finland. Brodeur defeated backstop Team Canada by 32-0 in the championship game, earning the backstop Team Canada a 3–2 victory.

In 2005, Luongo competed in his fourth World Championships appearance. All NHL players were available for the tournament in Austria, despite the 2004-05 lockout, and Luongo was backup to Brodeur. He appeared in two games, including a shut-out win over Slovenia in the round-robin. Luongo was given a silver medal after Team Canada was defeated by the Czech Republic 3–0 in the final, losing by 3–0.

In 2006, Luongo was named to his first Winter Olympics. The tournament was held in Turin, Italy, his country of cultural origins. He played alongside Brodeur again and appeared in two games. With a 5–1 victory over Germany in his second game of the round robin, he made his Olympic debut in the second game of the round-robin. He lost his second appearance at the tournament, as well as in the round robin.

Leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Luongo, Vancouver, Luongo, and Brodeur, were considered a lock to be named to the national team going into the summer orientation camp in August 2009. Luongo, along with Brodeur and Marc-André Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins, was selected to Team Canada on December 31, 2009. For the first game against Norway, Luongo was allowed to play. In an 8–0 victory to open the tournament, he scored his first Olympic shutout, making 15 saves in an 8-0 win. Luongo replaced Brodeur as the starting goalie after he surrendered four goals in a 5–3 loss to the United States in their final preliminary game. He won the gold medal in four straight single-elimination games against Germany, Russia, Slovakia, and the United States. Luongo made a game-saving stop against Canucks teammate Pavol Demitra with nine seconds to go in regulation during the semifinal against Slovakia. The puck bounced to Demitra by the side of the net after Slovakia's goaltender was knocked and down by a goal. Luongo, who was out of place, managed to get his glove on the puck, deflecting it away from the net and preserving the tie. Luongo made 34 saves in Canada's overtime victory over the United States in the second gold medal match.

Luongo carried the torch into Robson Square in Downtown Vancouver for the 2010 Paralympics on March 11, 2010.

Luongo was selected to Team Canada for his third straight Olympics, four years ago. There was a lot of debate in the media about whether he or Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price would participate in the majority of Canada's games.

Post-playing career

Luongo would play as Assistant GM for Hockey Canada in the 2022 Winter Olympics, and it was announced on February 3, 2021.

Luongo was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame's 2022 class on June 28, 2022.

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