Monday, November 19, 2001
Luongo deserves to be No. 3
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- SLAM! Sports
None of the Team Canada braintrust could be seen around the Molson Centre on Saturday night, which is a shame.
They would have had a good look at the kid who should be one of their goaltenders in Salt Lake City.
Wayne Gretzky and Co. said they would pick the goaltenders who were playing the best when the deadline to fill out the roster rolled around -- that's a little more than a month from now for those of you scoring at home.
There's little question that Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers is one of the three best Canadian goaltenders in the NHL right now. Playing behind a poor team, he has been outstanding.
There might have been a better individual performance by a goaltender this year than that turned in by Luongo in Florida's 1-0 overtime loss Saturday. Maybe one.
Yes, he would have liked to have had the winner back, but he single-handedly earned the Panthers a point with 44 saves.
With some of the obvious choices struggling this season and guys like Martin Brodeur moaning about not going if they aren't starting, Luongo would be an excellent choice as a No. 3 goaltender.
Let's face it. If the No. 3 goaltender has to play a minute for Canada, something went seriously wrong. Why not use the spot to give a guy like Luongo some experience?
"It's crossed my mind," said the 22-year-old. "I'm here to stop pucks. If it helps, great. If not, I'll try again in four years. But, obviously, for a guy 22 or 23 years old, it would be a great experience, especially for the (2006) Olympics. It'd be a great experience and a great honour."
Denis Potvin, the former Islanders great and now an analyst on Panthers broadcasts, has seen Luongo night after night.
He got a little prickly when asked if Luongo should be considered for the Olympic team.
"Are you kidding me?" asked Potvin. "If he's not No. 3, there's something wrong. Brodeur is talking about having to be No. 1 and if he isn't, he's not going.
"Make the decision now. Have (Brodeur) stay home and let this kid go."
2002 Games Columnists
