SUNRISE, Fla. - Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the club has expanded its goaltending staff with the establishment of its innovative Goaltending Excellence Department and has hired renowned goaltending expert and coach Francois Allaire as a Goaltending Consultant.
Allaire will assist Special Advisor to the General Manager Roberto Luongo to oversee the organization's Goaltending Excellence Department.
Florida Panthers Establish Goaltending Excellence Department
Francois Allaire joins Panthers as a Goaltending Consultant, will assist Roberto Luongo to oversee organization's goaltending
Joining Allaire and Luongo, the staff of the Goaltending Excellence Department includes Panthers goaltending coach Robb Tallas and Leo Luongo, the goaltending coach of Florida's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
The Panthers first-of-its-kind department will focus on a comprehensive, integrated experience and program for all goaltenders in the Panthers system and will coordinate and oversee coaching, development and scouting. Upon joining the organization, a Panthers goaltender will experience consistent communication, guidance and unified instruction from the goaltending excellence staff.
"I'm proud and excited to be part of this encompassing new goaltending operation," said Allaire. "Our collection of goaltending knowledge is extraordinary, and our players will have the benefit of a collaborative, united coaching experience throughout their careers with the Panthers. I'm thrilled to work with this talented group in establishing an unparalleled product of scouting, development and teaching."
"Francois is a revered and highly influential figure in our game who has mentored a number of goaltenders to elite levels of play," said Zito. "Francois and Roberto provide us with unmatched experience and an exceptional pedigree. Their guidance, in tandem with our goaltending excellence staff gives us confidence in the evaluation of future talent and that Panthers goaltenders will be provided invaluable resources for their success and development."
Allaire joins the Panthers with 30-plus years of experience as a National Hockey League goaltending coach with the Colorado Avalanche (2013-14 to 2016-17), Toronto Maple Leafs (2009-10 to 2011-12), Anaheim Ducks/Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996-97 to 2008-09) and Montreal Canadiens (1985-86 to 1995-96), where he was the franchise's first-ever goaltending coach.
In his career as a goaltending coach, Allaire has taught and developed a number of highly respected and influential goaltending talents including Luongo, Patrick Roy and Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
The native of Mirabel, Quebec is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion winning two Stanley Cups with Montreal (1986, 1993) and one with Anaheim (2007). He also won the 1985 Calder Cup Championship with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Sherbrooke Canadiens.
"This new endeavor for our organization is incredibly special," said Luongo. "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."
Luongo enters his second season as the Florida Panthers Special Advisor to the General Manager, after playing 19 NHL seasons, 11 with the Panthers.
His 489 career wins rank third all-time by a goaltender in NHL history, while his 1,044 games rank second. On March 7, 2020, he became the first player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired.
The two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and five-time NHL All-Star owns virtually all of the Panthers franchise goaltending records including wins (230), games played (572), shutouts (38) and saves (16,086). He is one of three goaltenders in NHL history to play in 1,000 games and one of two goaltenders to have won at least 200 games with two franchises (230 - FLA, 252 - VAN). While with the Vancouver Canucks, he won the 2010-11 William M. Jennings Trophy for the NHL's fewest goals against.
Tallas is one of Florida's longest tenured staff members as he enters his 12th season as goaltending coach of the Panthers and has coached and trained goaltenders including Luongo, Tomas Vokoun, Jose Theodore and Tim Thomas.
Undrafted, the native of Edmonton, Alberta, played 13 years of professional hockey including eight seasons in the NHL for the Boston Bruins (1995-96 to 1999-00) and Chicago Blackhawks (2000-01). Through his pro career, Tallas played in the AHL, ECHL, International Hockey League (IHL) and spent time overseas playing in Finland and Austria.
He founded the Robb Tallas Goalie Development school conducting camps at the Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs, Fla., and served as goaltending coach for Italy at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
Along with his duties as Florida's goaltending coach, Tallas will contribute to the scouting of goaltenders at the amateur level.
Leo Luongo enters his fifth season as goaltending coach for Florida's AHL affiliate.
Prior to joining the Panthers organization, he served as goaltending coach for HC Lugano in Switzerland for three seasons (2013-14 to 2015-16) and spent five seasons (2008-09 to 2012-13) as goaltending coach for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He also served as a goaltending consultant for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch in 2012-13.
On the international stage, the native of Montreal, Quebec, served as video coach for Canada at the Spengler Cup tournament in 2014 and 2015.
Along with his duties as Charlotte's goaltending coach, Luongo will contribute to scouting professional goaltenders in the AHL and Europe.
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