Roberto Luongo says his time with the Vancouver Canucks was career-defining.

Luongo spent parts of eight seasons with the Canadian franchise after being acquired in 2006 as part of a package deal with the Florida Panthers.

B次元官网网址淚t was the most important stretch of my career,B次元官网网址� he said during a Thursday morning media availability. B次元官网网址淚t was when I was in my prime. We had a great team, we were in the playoffs, we made a run to the cup. I played in the Olympics in this city.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a huge, huge part of my life, always will be.B次元官网网址�

LuongoB次元官网网址檚 name and image were to be enshrined on the CanucksB次元官网网址� Ring of Honour at Rogers Arena on Thursday night ahead of the game against the Florida Panthers.

He retired in 2019, joined the PanthersB次元官网网址� front office, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last year as a first-ballot inductee.

Luongo helped lead the Canucks to the Stanley Cup finals in 2011, where they lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the series. Additionally, he backstopped Canada to a gold medal in the CanucksB次元官网网址� home arena during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

B次元官网网址淚 only remember the last play. I watch it all the time,B次元官网网址� he said of Sidney CrosbyB次元官网网址檚 golden goal in the 3-2 overtime win over the United States. B次元官网网址淲hen the goal happened, there was so much pressure at that moment, given it was the Olympics in Vancouver B次元官网网址� (and) Team Canada. I felt such a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.B次元官网网址�

There were ups and downs to LuongoB次元官网网址檚 time in Vancouver, from becoming the first goaltender to serve as an NHL team captain since Bill Durnan in the 1947B次元官网网址�48 season and Olympic success, to Stanley Cup heartbreak and his infamous B次元官网网址渕y contract sucksB次元官网网址� moment.

The contract comment was uttered in 2014 after trade talks between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver broke down, after then-head coach John Tortorella had decided to split netminding duties between Luongo and backup Eddie Lack.

Luongo then spoke to media about the burden of his 12-year, $64-million contract which served to scuttle potential trades.

B次元官网网址淔ifteen minutes before I came out, found out I wasnB次元官网网址檛 getting traded to Toronto,B次元官网网址� he said Thursday. B次元官网网址淚 was a little bit emotional at the time and didnB次元官网网址檛 have time to regroup.

B次元官网网址淥bviously, the contract didnB次元官网网址檛 suck, but for certain reasons it did. I remember being so emotional in that very moment because of what had transpired 15 minutes prior and I wish I wouldB次元官网网址檝e had a few more minutes to gather myself before I went out there.B次元官网网址�

The Montreal native now works for the Panthers as the special adviser to the general manager and oversees the teamB次元官网网址檚 goaltending department.

He joins a cast of former Vancouver teammates who now work in some capacity around the league. Forwards Henrik and Daniel Sedin have front-office jobs with the Canucks, Manny Malhotra is an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs while Alex Burrows has a similar role with the Montreal Canadiens, and defenceman Kevin Bieksa is an analyst with Hockey Night in Canada.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing. It was a special group. Guys genuinely loved each other, cared for each other, teased each other all the time,B次元官网网址� Luongo said, adding he remembers countless Ping-Pong tournaments and card games on flights.

B次元官网网址淚t was a really tight group and the fact you see them sprinkled around the league is fun because I get to see them.B次元官网网址�

The ex-goaltender could have chosen to go on the NHLB次元官网网址檚 long term injured reserve instead of retiring in 2019 to get the remainder of his salary, but decided he wanted to go out on his own terms. A feature, he said, that defined his time with the Canucks.

B次元官网网址淲hen I played, I always wanted to the best. DidnB次元官网网址檛 matter what year it was, whether it was my rookie year or even my last year when I was 40 years old. I was always striving to be the best goalie in the league, thatB次元官网网址檚 the way I was built,B次元官网网址� he said about looking back on his career.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 glad that it is getting recognized, this city holds a special place for me.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO:

READ ALSO: