When James Reimer signed a 5-year $17 million contract with the Florida Panthers on the first day of 2016 NHL free agency, it was a calculated move to bring in a 1A starter behind Roberto Luongo.
While this signing has proved to be smart, Luongo is showing that when healthy he is the #1 goaltender on this team.
Coming into this season it was thought Luongo and Reimer might start a similar amount of games during the regular season. That might prove to be correct over time, but if the last four games are any indication of what the future holds, Luongo will be in net more often than not.
Two summers ago Luongo had surgery on his hip to repair a torn labrum. As an older player he as well as others thought it might be the beginning of the end for one of the best goaltenders in NHL history. It was believed he would miss the start of last season as he recovered, but he returned much earlier than expected.
While the team struggled in a tumultuous year filled with injury, drama, and underachievement, Luongo played through the discomfort before being shut down six weeks early last season.
Last summer he focused on regular training instead of rehab, and now looks as good as ever.
Always known for being one of the better technical goalies in the league, Luongo has stopped 99 out of the last 103 shots faced. He's also 3-0 over that stretch with wins at Buffalo, home against Dallas, and shutting out San Jose 2-0 last night at the Shark Tank.
For a team that has been struggling to find it's identity under new head coach Bob Boughner, especially defensively, Luongo's play will be vital as the squad becomes more cohesive.
Boughner said this team is evolving, and perhaps there is a glimmer of hope after only their second 2-game win streak of the year.
Last night was Luongo's 74th career shutout, far and away leading the pack for active goaltenders. He stands alone in 4th place in all-time goaltender wins with 457. Of the top 50 goalies in wins, only Dominik Hasek and Ken Dryden have better save percentages (.922) than Luongo (.919).
Goaltending coach Rob Tallas has talked about how much lighter and smoother Luongo looks now that he is farther removed from surgery. If not for a freak hand injury suffered against Pittsburgh on October 20th that kept Luongo out for about two weeks, he and the Panthers' record might be a lot better than 7-9-2.
Will Luongo be able to sustain such a high level of play for the rest of the year? Probably not. That is why Reimer is here, who by his own admission needs to be the player that ended last season with three shutouts in his last six starts. He is 3-5-0 this season with a 3.77 GAA and .891 save percentage.
He has the pedigree and ability, and perhaps a clear designation as Luongo's backup will make it easier for mental preparation.
Regardless, Reimer will need to be good this weekend as a back to back at the Kings and Ducks awaits.
Last year the Panthers shocked the NHL going 5-0 on a February road trip that took them through Nashville, San Jose, Anaheim, L.A., and St. Louis. What followed was a disastrous homestand that effectively ended their season. But the look and feel of the team for those five games is something a lot of the players on this team will draw on as they try for another sweep.
Florida must put together a five or six game win streak to offset the sluggish start to this year. Winning three out of the last four is a nice run, but more is needed to get back to relevancy.
GM Dale Tallon and Boughner agreed that it would take four to six weeks for the new staff, players, and systems to come together. Today is six weeks and the Panthers are playing their best hockey to date.
Perhaps there is a method to the madness...
Dan Spiegel
Florida Panthers Media
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