Roberto Luongo is a Panthers icon. The Hall of Fame netminder spent 11 years in South Florida and became a fixture of the franchise, earning vote shares for the Vezina Trophy in four separate seasons and Hart Memorial Trophy votes in two others.
Luongo was in the NHL for 19 seasons, splitting time between the Panthers and Canucks, during which he posted a career .919 save percentage and 2.52 goals-against average. He tallied a 489-392-124 record. He currently ranks fourth in all-time wins with 489, ninth in save percentage, 39th in goals-against average and second in games among NHL goalies.
Luongo was only in net for one Panthers run to the playoffs, which came in the 2015-16 campaign. That year, Florida was eliminated in the first round of its Stanley Cup bid.
This year, Luongo has helped guide his long-time team to the Stanley Cup Final, where the franchise will be battling Vegas for its first-ever title. Instead of occupying a space between the pipes, Luongo is up in the front office with a new role for the team, helping out while wearing a suit and tie rather than pads and skates.
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What has Luongo been doing for the Panthers since he retired from playing in the NHL? Here's what you need to know.
What is Roberto Luongo doing now?
Luongo retired from the NHL following the end of the 2018-19 campaign. Just seven months after suiting up for his last game, he had a new job lined up.
The Panthers announced on Nov. 13, 2019, that Luongo had been hired to become a special advisor to general manager Dale Tallon.
"I've had the honor and privilege to work with Roberto during his time playing for the Panthers and am proud to welcome him to our franchise's hockey operations staff," Tallon said in a release. "Roberto always approached every game with an unmatched work ethic and we are confident he will take to this new role with the same passion. A cornerstone player in our franchise's history, we are thrilled that 'Lu' will have a hand in shaping our franchise's future."
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The team made a change at general manager a year later, but Luongo remained in the front office when Bill Zito was hired to be the new GM of the franchise.
Luongo continued front office work, taking a role as the assistant general manager for Team Canada's 2022 Winter Olympics men's hockey team.
“It’s hard to describe the level of excitement that I had when I got the call,” Luongo said, per Local 10. “Quite honestly, I was shocked. I was floored. I wasn’t expecting it. I thought it was just getting a call maybe to scout some peewee tournament.”
The Panthers eventually shifted Luongo to a new position within the front office: overseeing a goaltending excellence department. In December 2020, the team established the new department with Luongo as the head and Francois Allaire as a consultant.
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Allaire had been a goaltending coach for more than 30 years, having helped coach Luongo, three-time Vezina Trophy winner Patrick Roy and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the Ducks' 2003 Stanley Cup champion goalie and Conn Smythe winner.
"This new endeavor for our organization is incredibly special," Luongo said in a release. "I'm honored to welcome Francois, whose impact on the goaltending position stands second to none. Each member of our goaltending excellence staff has traveled a different path and possesses a unique set of experiences and knowledge. I have a tremendous deal of respect for this group and couldn't be more excited for the future."
Other members of the group include Robb Tallas, the Panthers' current goaltending coach, and Roberto's younger brother Leo Luongo, goaltending coach for the Panthers' AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
