Former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo is retiring.

The 40-year-old from Montreal made the announcement Wednesday on his Twitter account.

IB次元官网网址檝e decided to take my talents to a South Beach retirement home 鉁岎煆�

B次元官网网址� Strombone (@strombone1)

His 489 career victories are third in NHL history behind only Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy, and Brodeur is the only goalie to have appeared in more games or made more saves than Luongo.

He was the fourth overall pick in the 1997 draft by the New York Islanders, with whom he made his NHL debut on Nov. 28, 1999. Luongo then spent five years with Florida, the next eight with Vancouver, and on March 14, 2014.

B次元官网网址淭his is one of the toughest decisions IB次元官网网址檝e faced in my life and it took me a long time to make it,B次元官网网址� Luongo wrote in an open letter to fans. B次元官网网址淎fter thinking about it a lot over the past two months and listening to my body, I made up my mind. It just feels like the right time for me to step away from the game. I love the game so much, but the commitment I required to prepare, to keep my body ready, has become overwhelming.B次元官网网址�

A few thoughts on my decision

B次元官网网址� Strombone (@strombone1)

Luongo had been slowed by hip problems in recent years, and the off-ice work just to make it through practices and games took a toll.

B次元官网网址淔rom the moment I was fortunate enough to share a locker room with him, Roberto has exemplified leadership for me,B次元官网网址� Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck said in a statement distributed by the Panthers. B次元官网网址淭here isnB次元官网网址檛 a classier, more professional guy in this league. HeB次元官网网址檚 a great hockey player and somehow an even better person.B次元官网网址�

The Panthers were prepared for the likelihood that Luongo may step away. Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said last week that LuongoB次元官网网址檚 career had been B次元官网网址渋llustriousB次元官网网址� and that the franchise was giving its most beloved player all the time he needed to make his decision.

B次元官网网址淭he impact that he has had on the developing core of our team, its culture and our community are undeniable,B次元官网网址� Tallon said. B次元官网网址淗e has always approached everything with a determination and level of class that was second to none. He leaves not only a legacy in South Florida, but a legacy in the game itself.B次元官网网址�

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Florida hired Joel Quenneville as coach earlier this off-season, and is believed to be a frontrunner to sign top free agent goalie Sergei Bobrovsky along with Artemi Panerin B次元官网网址� both of whom were in South Florida earlier this week to meet with the Panthers in advance of the signing period that starts Monday. Bobrovsky was a top priority for Florida even before Luongo let the team know that he was retiring.

B次元官网网址淲e play the game to win the Stanley Cup, to give ourselves a chance,B次元官网网址� Luongo said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard because I think that this team is right there, close to taking the next step. I wanted nothing more than to be a part of that. With Coach Q coming in, itB次元官网网址檚 an exciting time for the Florida Panthers.B次元官网网址�

The Associated Press

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