{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/6gQFpDmL.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Hall of Fame goaltender Roberto Luongo took part in a full Florida Panthers practice on Dec. 28 at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/6gQFpDmL-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6gQFpDmL.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/6gQFpDmL.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6gQFpDmL-6LgJnXEq.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 180, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 431522, "filesize": 2319436, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6gQFpDmL-1QJ1dkot.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 270, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 619156, "filesize": 3327964, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6gQFpDmL-h6aVm5rK.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 720, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1866179, "filesize": 10030715, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6gQFpDmL-UQSYMDp9.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 115680, "filesize": 621781 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6gQFpDmL-vnHaI3dA.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 1080, "width": 1920, "label": "1080p", "bitrate": 3722839, "filesize": 20010260, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6gQFpDmL-yFReK32n.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 360, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 757925, "filesize": 4073851, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/6gQFpDmL-0LealTTd.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 540, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 1240572, "filesize": 6668079, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "When the 2001-2002 NHL season began, the Florida Panthers franchise was looking to build itself back into an annual postseason contender. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "At the time, the goal seemed attainable enough. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Nobody could’ve seen the horror that would follow over the next decade of playoff-less hockey. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Entering the 01-02 season, the Panthers had been to the playoffs three times in six years. Not too shabby for a recent expansion team, especially back in those days. " } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg" }, "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "They also had superstar goal scorer Pavel Bure leading the charge, and a young goaltender between the pipes who was viewed as the future of the franchise. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Panthers acquired Roberto Luongo from the New York Islanders at the 2000 NHL Draft that took place at the Saddledome in Calgary. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "During his first season with the Panthers in 2000-01, Luongo began displaying the brilliance that would make him a Hockey Hall of Fame member. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "When year two began, it was clear that he was not only Florida’s long-term answer in goal, but one of the best young tendies in the NHL. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Hockey News featured the Luongo and the Cats on a cover story in its Oct. 12, 2001 edition, Volume 55, Issue 6." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It was penned by longtime Panthers beat writer David J. Neal and is one of the more comprehensive, interesting pieces on Luongo and the Panthers at that time that I've come across. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "THN Archive is an exclusive vault of 2,640 issues and more than 156,000 for subscribers, chronicling the complete history of The Hockey News from 1947 until today. Visit THN.com/archive and subscribe today at subscribe.thehockeynews.com. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Three takeaways: Bottom six steps up, Bobrovsky continues solid run" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Panthers dethrone Kings 3-2 in OT, extend win streak to 9 games" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Panthers to wear 30th anniversary jersey patch for first time this season" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sam Reinhart optimistic about extension with Panthers, says negotiations are ongoing" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "High-flying Panthers return home to host struggling Los Angeles" } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg" }, "caption": "" } } ] }

THN Archive: Here Comes Roberto Luongo