At age 39, injuries have become a major concern for Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo, who has done enough already in his stellar career to be considered a sure Hall of Famer.
Former goalie John Vanbiesbrouck, who starred for the Panthers when this franchise was born a quarter-century ago, retired from the NHL at age 38 and knows more than most what it’s like to play between the pipes while approaching 40.
“It’s grueling from the physical part — you have to do a little bit more to maintain your body,” said Vanbiesbrouck, who was recently hired by USA Hockey as director of operations, involved with selecting players for the national team.