Play It Forward B-Roll On Monday, former New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] goaltender and current Florida Panthers employee Roberto Luongo [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/florida-panthers-kyle-okposo-roberto-luongo-new-york-islander-2024-stanley-cup-oilers] had the opportunity to win his first Stanley Cup. The 45-year-old Hockey Hall of Fame member, who is currently serving as Special Advisor to the General Manager of the Florida Panthers, fell to the Boston Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, which was his only shot at winning it all during his 19-year NHL career. The Quebec native had the privilege to bang the drum ahead of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Amerant Bank Arena: Following the final horn, a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers, Luongo got the chance to hoist Lord Stanley in what was an emotional moment: As is tradition, Cup winners have the chance to do what they want with the Cup, as we've seen Matthew Tkachuk dive into the Atlantic Ocean with the silver hardware. On Wednesday, Luongo took the Stanley Cup to an Italian restaurant for a family dinner, where he ate a tremendously good-looking pasta dish out of the Cup: By the way, if you aren't following Luongo on "X", you are missing out. Drafted fourth overall in 1997 by the Islanders, Luongo played just one season in Blue and Orange, suiting up for 24 games in 1999-2000 and posting a 3.25 GAA with a .904 SV%. Then, at the 2000 NHL Draft, with the Islanders holding the first pick, Islanders general manager Mike Milbury traded Luongo and Olli Jokinen to the Panthers in exchange for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha. With the first pick, New York drafted goalie Rick DiPietro, and we all know how that panned out in the long term, with injuries destroying a once-promising career. Luongo played six seasons in Florida before being dealt to the Vancouver Canucks in June of 2006. Then, he was dealt back to the Panthers before the 2014 NHL Trade Deadline, with forward prospect Steven Anthony for forward Shawn Matthis and goalie Jacob Markstrom. TOP STORIES
