Need to Know:
One of the most crucial positions that a GM must fill when building a team capable of winning on a nightly basis is the goaltender. When the Vancouver Canucks acquired Roberto Luongo from the Florida Panthers, they got a franchise goalie and team leader, a player that is at the elite of his position and someone who gives the Canucks a chance to contend every year in the tough Western Conference. A lean 6’3”, Roberto has a special blend of athleticism, poise and competitiveness, giving his team as good a netminder as any in the NHL. A native of Montreal, Roberto was originally drafted in the first round in 1997 by the New York Islanders. He was traded to the Panthers in the summer of 2000 and would win 108 games during five seasons there. Although Roberto was noted as one of the best goaltenders in the game, the Panthers decided to trade the netminder to the Vancouver Canucks in July of 2006. Since his arrival in Vancouver, Luongo has become the backbone of the Canucks team. He set a club record and matched Bernie Parent’s long-standing NHL record with 47 wins during the 2006-07 season. His play, leadership and dedication to the community, traits he has displayed everywhere he has played, have endeared Roberto to the fans in Vancouver and made him a key figure with the Canucks as they strive to bring a championship to the B.C. coast.

Recently:
Roberto is heading into the Olympic tournament with some strong play after recording his fourth shutout of the year on Thursday night, blanking his former team, the Florida Panthers, 3-0 in Sunrise, FL. Roberto is one of seven Canucks Olympians finally getting to go home to Vancouver on Sunday after two weeks on the road.

Did You Know:
Roberto became the first goaltender to be named as the captain of his NHL team since former Canadiens goalie Bill Durnan held the honour way back in the 1940's.

NHLPA.com Bio:
Roberto Luongo was drafted fourth overall in the 1997 Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. Two seasons later, he made his NHL debut on November 28, 1999 against the Bruins with a win. He recorded his first shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Bruins on December 27. On June 24, 2000, Roberto was traded to the Florida Panthers. In 2001-02, Roberto played 58 games and recorded a 2.77 GAA with four shutouts. In 2002-03, Roberto played 65 games and recorded a 20-34-7 record. On February 18, he broke his own club record with his sixth shutout of the season. Roberto helped Canada to a World Cup of Hockey title in 2004. Roberto set an NHL record for saves in 2003-04 with 2,303. Remarkably, he was third in the NHL that season with a .931 save percentage. Since returning from the 2004-05 lockout, Roberto has been one of the most successful goaltenders in the NHL. He has posted a solid 2.45 GAA in that time and wracked up 181 wins in 329 games.