Like every offseason, rankings and lists have once again become a popular trend this past month. Whether it’s top prospects or a franchise’s best players, these articles provide an opportunity for debate among fans across the league. A good example is the recent ESPN program Top 25 NHL Player Ratings of the 21st century, which omitted a former Vancouver Canucks goaltender and recent Stanley Cup champion.
see the original article to see the embedded media.
ESPN’s list features five goalies who had sensational careers. The problem is that the list doesn’t include Roberto Luongo, who is easily one of the greatest goalkeepers of the century. While all five goaltenders deserve recognition, omitting the Hall of Famers is a questionable decision, especially considering their statistics and professional accomplishments.
The first way to show that Luongo deserves to be on this list is to look at his 21st century statistics. Since the start of the 21st century, which was January 1, 2001, Luongo ranks second in the NHL in wins (480), third in shutouts (74) and fourth in assists (23). Luongo is also just one of two goaltenders to surpass 1,000 regular season games played since the start of the century and is the leader in regular season wins for two organizations. Based on statistics alone, it can be argued that Luongo not only deserves to be on the list, but is also one of the top three goalkeepers of the last century.
Moving on to professional achievements, Luongo has many. He was a Vezina finalist twice and the Hart Trophy in 2007. He won two gold medals for Canada at the Winter Olympics, including his standout performance in 2010, and also won gold at the World Cup and World Championships. Luongo also achieved a lot after retirement, as he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022 and helped the Florida Panthers win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
“Remembering all the years I spent here, the great memories and the funny things that happened too”
Go behind the scenes with Roberto Luongo as he was inducted into the Canucks Ring of Honor.#Canucks | @Rogers pic.twitter.com/znrcsAhEz2
– Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 22, 2023
While other notable goaltenders like Carey Price, Sergei Bobrovsky and Ryan Miller are missing from the list, Luongo’s omission is puzzling. As mentioned, not only is he one of the best goaltenders of the century, but it can be argued that he is one of the top ten goaltenders in NHL history. While there are no prizes to be won for those on the list, it is shocking that a player with Luongo’s resume would be excluded from the rankings.
Be sure to bookmark THN’s Vancouver Canucks website for breaking news, exclusive interviews, reviews and more.
Fernström and Team Sweden fall to Team USA White at 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase
Canucks Celebrity Sightings: From Fans to Friendly Opponents
Former Canucks around the world: Sergei Shirokov
Canucks Fernström records an assist in first action at 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase
2023-24 Vancouver Canucks Player Analysis: Conor Garland
Remembering the two players who played for France and the Vancouver Canucks
Current and Former Canucks Scouts Receive 2024 Dedication Service and Recognition Award
Recent signings should create healthy competition in Abbotsford during the 2024-25 season
2024 Summer Olympics, Canucks Edition
