Former Canuck Luongo weighs in on jersey retirement fan backlash

He wasn’t in town for very long, but yes, former Vancouver Canuck Roberto Luongo is aware people want his jersey number retired and raised to the rafters at Rogers Arena.

The beloved netminder was in town because the Florida Panthers, who he works for, played at Rogers Arena on Thursday night.

He and the Sedin twins were honoured before the game after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last month. Luongo got in on the first ballot.

While in Vancouver, Luongo took the time to address the apparent controversy twice. He did so at centre ice during the pre-game ceremony and answered questions when meeting with reporters earlier in the day.

“It’s a great honour. Really excited about it. It was nice to see the work that I put in here for eight years is going to get recognized and I’m very grateful to be able to go up there with those guys.”

LUUUUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/6bxX4ZQMlZ

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 1, 2022

He was asked if it matters to him one way or another whether the #1 he wore for eight seasons in Vancouver is retired.

“Listen, that’s not up to me to decide, right? But either way, it’s a tremendous honour and I’m very grateful to be honoured anyway, so I was happy when I got the call [on Wednesday], and looking forward to next season.”

Luongo says there wasn’t much to share about finding out he was the latest to be put in the Ring of Honour.

“They called me — Jim [Rutherford] called me and gave me the news. There wasn’t much as far as conversation is concerned but obviously, I was excited and happy to hear his voice and looking forward to next year,” says the 43-year-old. “When the schedule comes out, I’ll circle it right away.”

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He says what’s really special is to be honoured at Rogers Arena, where he was in the net in 2011 when the Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 before making it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and where he helped lead Canada’s 2010 Olympic Men’s Hockey Team to gold.

“The best moments of my career were when I was here, obviously. When I played for Team Canada, I was with the Canucks, but it was also in Vancouver so those playoff runs, those were the best moments of my career. So, to be able to re-live them a little bit here in the next little while and take it in and thank the fans for everything, I think it’s a nice way to cap it all off.”

Franchise leader in wins.
Franchise leader in shutouts.

Next season Roberto Luongo will formally become the 8th member of the Ring of Honour.

DETAILS | https://t.co/0U2uKjsrAX pic.twitter.com/5HPgY5qIkG

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 1, 2022

But fans are still seemingly upset the Canucks haven’t heard their displeasure, nor have they changed their decision.

Biggest mistake, Bure was retired for less team accomplishment. How in the world is Luongo just a ROH inductee. Roberto was robbed of a Vezina and now his Jersey Retirement in this city.

— PaperMoonShine (@PaperMoonShine1) December 1, 2022

This man, led by example was always professional.

Always stood up to his critics both on & off the ice, was a hero during his time as a Canuck.

A top 10 goalie of all time won a gold medal in Roger’s arena & this is the best you could do ?

Pathetic stuff.

— Ray Hatt (@Raymond_Hatt) December 1, 2022

Bushleague and disrespectful to arguably the greatest player that’s ever played here.

Retire the Number.

— BoestMode (@BoestMode) December 1, 2022

Luongo, who retired from the NHL in 2019, is the most-winningest netminder in Canucks history with 252 wins. Over the span of his career, he had 38 shutouts and Vezina nominations in both 2007, and 2011.

In 2020, his jersey number was officially retired by the Panthers, the first player in their team history to get that distinction.

The Canucks who’ve had their jerseys retired are the Sedin twins, Stan Smyl, Trevor Linden, Markus Naslund and Pavel Bure.