Luongo takes to social media to respond to retirement rumors

Don’t look now, but there’s a very good chance that veteran Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo is playing his final games in the NHL. With just a few games left on the Panthers schedule and with Luongo FINALLY admitting that he’s considering retirement this offseason, we could be witnessing the final days of a Hall of Fame worthy career.

Last week when Luongo was in Toronto to face the Toronto Maple Leafs, he addressed rumours that he may retire saying, “I can see that (Florida) is considering bringing in someone else and Montembeault has played well. I’m turning 40 next week…. This season has been very difficult. We’ve got six games left. After, we’ll sit down — myself and the team — and figure this out.”

Just this past weekend though Luongo was in vintage form in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. The soon to be 40 year old goaltender was absolutely brilliant in his team’s victory and absolutely robbed Bruins captain Zdeno Chara on the doorstep.

Check it out:

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Vintage Lu, right there.

Sensing that this could be the last time he faces off against the future Hall of Fame net minder, Chara decided to deliver a special message to Luongo before Saturday’s contest.

Check it out, courtesy of WEEI’s Matt Kalman:

The stick was passed from one team’s equipment staff to the other. It was long and it was inscribed across the blade in silver Sharpie:

“To Luo: Awesome to watch you play. Keep going! Zdeno Chara 33”

Short and to the point, the Bruins captain clearly wanted to send a message to 39-year-old (40 on April 4) goaltender Roberto Luongo to follow his lead and keep on playing.

“We both said wouldn’t it be cool if we kept on going,” Chara told WEEI.com after a 4-1 loss to Luongo’s Florida Panthers.

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How awesome is that? The two, of course, have a long history as it was Chara who captained the Bruins to a Stanley Cup champion over Luongo during his time with the Vancouver Canucks. Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask was a part of that Cup winning team, as well and has marvelled at Luongo’s career.

“Well he’s had a heck of a career, you know,” Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask said. “I mean a great, great goalie. Still fun to watch that he’s plugging away and making great saves out there. I don’t know how many year he’s got left but happy to see there’s still veteran guys out there.”

Yesterday, April Fools Day, Luongo decided to troll the hockey world yet again with another brilliant post on Twitter. In reply to a Sportsnet article that speculated on his retirement, Luongo had the perfect one-liner.

Check it out:

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Once again, Lu in vintage form… just of a different variety.

If this is indeed the end for Luongo… what an incredible career he’s had. He’s arguably the best goaltender to never win a Stanley Cup championship… again thanks to Chara.