On Wednesday, Roberto Luongo announced his retirement from the NHL after 19 seasons. Many fans, players and personalities reacted to one of the game's all-time great goaltenders hanging up the pads.
Class act on and off the ice. Congrats on a great career. Hard to believe it was 22 years ago this month when Roberto was driven from MTL to PIT — by his then agent/fretful flier Gilles Lupien — for the 1997 NHL draft.
Like only Roberto Luongo can. The veteran goalie announces his retirement after a sensational career. Was a pleasure to cover him. Gregarious and honest and always fun. Hell of a run. https://t.co/8mnwoVLoZM
Was an absolute honor to cover Roberto Luongo at the start of his career in Fla. Affable personality, supremely intelligent and funny. Hall of Fame human, let alone HofF goaltender
That gasp at the 2000 Draft in CGY when Gary Bettman announced trade will last with me forever
"It just feels like the right time for me to step away from the game." Lots of honesty and emotion in this retirement letter from Roberto Luongo. https://t.co/Yd9aeZAlf7
From all of us at @FOXSportsFL and on behalf of hockey and #FlaPanthers fans everywhere, belting Luuuuuuu this afternoon in celebrating Roberto Luongo’s 19-year NHL career and thanking him for all he’s done on and off the ice to make South FL a better place. pic.twitter.com/T9bWDiAG3K
— Bally Sports Florida: Panthers (@BallyPanthers) June 26, 2019
It was an incredible pleasure to cover Luongo. Happy that he's going to stick around in Parkland and remain a part of the SoFla community. His speech after the Parkland tragedy will always be one of the most powerful, moving moments in NHL history.https://t.co/9hQJvaCYfn
I don’t even know how to put into words how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know and getting to cover Roberto Luongo. It has been such a joy to watch the way he competes every day. How much his team mates love and respect him is beyond measure. Congratulations on an epic career Lu. https://t.co/L4yoYsKY7N
— x - Jessica Blaylock (@JessBlaylock) June 26, 2019
Panthers Roberto Luongo announces his retirement in open letter to fans. In true @strombone1 fashion he injects some humor: “For now though, I'm just another retiree in South Florida. I'll be going to get my senior citizen's card here pretty soon.”
1 of the greats on & of the ice,was always proud to wear the #FlaPanthers jersey, an honor to call his games. The good news...we have Roberto Luongo as part of our South Florida community for years to come #Lu#Thankshttps://t.co/tMzfpfBx0E
— Steve Goldstein #goldieonbermuda419 (@goldieonice) June 26, 2019
I thought of us walking into the locker room after the Panthers managed to lose 2 goalies in the Waiver Draft (despite rules to prevent that) and Luongo greeting us by laughing loudly, "The last man standing!"
This is tremendous reading. One thought, though: It's obvious what @strombone1 should do right now. Tweet! The retirement pic was a classic! https://t.co/BjC8S0MaC7
Panthers Teammates Shared Memories and Well Wishes.
A true professional and great guy, Congrats on a HOF career Bobby Lu! I just wish I got to play with you longer, Enjoy retirement!😺 pic.twitter.com/ALoXbaAO1k
Félicitations @strombone1! It was a tremendous honor to play with a legend and a great guy. I’ll miss you on the ice and in the room, but maybe not at the card table. #pokerface#HHOFpic.twitter.com/xi0XUsOX6A
All the respect in the world for @strombone1, a pioneer of modern goaltending with undeniable swagger in net & genius on Twitter. It was an honor just to share the ice for 60 minutes this year
Congrats on a legendary career & enjoy life without those things strapped to your legs https://t.co/cQyMUzT3Hd
