At the age of 39, Roberto Luongo prepares to put on the pads for his 19th NHL
season. With a .929 save percentage (SV%) last year, the future Hall of Fame
goaltender registered one of his best seasons in recent memory. However, as his
 aging clock continues to tick, you can';t help but wonder how much longer he
has left in the league. And, once he retires, what will the Florida Panthers
look like in net after years of stability?Related: The Future of Roberto
LuongoLuongo';s Injury Concerns

Although Lou posted his best save percentage since the 2003-04 season, he also
played less than normal with only 33 starts. He missed six games due to a wrist
 injury and another 27 games with a groin injury with the latter of particular
 concern due to its severity. On episode 22 of the Panthers'; official podcast,
 "Territory Talk", goalie coach Rob Tallas discussed how he questioned
if Luongo would want to come back due to the intense rehab he would be facing
 (minute 22).Roberto Luongo is entering his 19th NHL season. (Amy Irvin / The
Hockey Writers)

This marks the second time in as many seasons that Luongo missed significant
time due to injury. Currently, he has four years remaining on the 12-year, $64
million contract he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2010, but with injury
and recovery time concerns, the immediate future of the Panthers'; net requires
 attention.Last Year';s Goalie Mess

During Lou';s absence, backup goaltender James Reimer shouldered the workload.
He started 18 out of 19 games during Luongo';s recovery, which included 17 in a
 row. Over that stretch, he posted a .924 SV% until he himself went down with
an injury similar to Luongo';s. Over the course of Reimer';s career, he has
established himself as a strong backup who shows flashes of brilliance.
However, turning to him as a long-term option is far from ideal due to
inconsistency.James Reimer serves as one of the strongest backup goalies in the
 NHL. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

During Reimer';s injury, the Panthers were stretched thin at the position and
turned to AHL goalie Harry Sateri, who started seven games for the club with a
2.92 goals against average (GAA). Veteran Antti Niemi also joined the club
mid-season to provide some stability as well. However, in the two games he
played, he allowed five goals and failed to earn a win. Thankfully, this
experiment was short-lived and Reimer returned relatively quickly.Goalies in
the System

The goalie flux last season clearly resonated with the Panthers and they have
taken steps this offseason to address their goalie concerns. On the first day
of free agency, they signed Michael Hutchinson to a one year, two-way contract.
 The-28 year-old spent the past five seasons with the Winnipeg Jets and adds
needed depth at the position for the Panthers. With over 100 NHL games under
his belt, Hutchinson has a .901 SV% and a 2.65 GAA, making him a viable
replacement for Sateri, who signed with the Detroit Red Wings this
offseason.Michael Hutchinson has spent his entire professional career in the
Winnipeg Jets'; system. The Panthers signed him this offseason to provide depth
 in net. (Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports)

The Panthers selected Sam Montembeault in the third round of the 2015 draft.
The 21-year-old Quebec native has all the makings of a future NHL starting
goalie. At 6-foot-3 and 192 pounds, he has the size of a future NHL goaltender
and attributes his quick glove hand to his years playing baseball.

Montembeault still needs years to develop. In his first year of professional
hockey, he struggled mightily. In 41 AHL games, he had a .891 SV% and allowed
over three goals per game. Despite his struggles last season, all signs point
to Montembeault as the Cats'; goalie of the future. Whether he will be ready
for action by the time Luongo';s career is over is another story.

At 6 foot 5, 201 pounds Ryan Bednard is a prospect that has slowly garnered
interest from the Panthers in recent years. Using his large frame, the Bowling
Green State product notched a .916 SV% with a 2.25 GAA in 29 games last season
for the Falcons. his progress will hopefully continue as he gets more playing
time. However, goalie development tends to take longer than other positions,
making it hard to speculate how high his ceiling is.

Chris Driedger joins the Springfield Thunderbirds this season after spending
the last four in the Ottawa Senators'; organization. The former third round
draft pick has struggled during his professional hockey career. During his time
 in the AHL, he has averaged 3.46 GAA and a .896 SV%. Despite his struggles,
last year was successful for the 24-year-old. With a 2.55 GAA and .922 SV%, he
had his best season as a pro and may be turning the corner in terms of his
development.Final Thoughts

Luongo has shown that with enough rest, he is still one of the most effective
goalies in the league. The Panthers should look to take advantage of Reimer to
extend Luongo';s performance as the season and his career progresses. If they
can lean on Reimer during the first half of the season and still be
competitive, having a healthy, rested Luongo down the stretch can take them
from playoff bubble to playoff contender.As Roberto Luongo ages, the Panthers
should limit his action to extend his career. (Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports)

Further, if they can extend Luongo';s career to the end of his contract, there
should be enough time for Montembeault to develop and take over the reigns in
net. The Panthers have established what is arguably their most talented roster
in team history. With many of their core players in or entering their primes,
their Stanley Cup window is quickly arriving.

Although things have trended up for them over the last few seasons, the
timeline of Luongo';s career, along with that of his expected replacement, has
the potential to be a sticky situation for a team that is looking to compete
for the next handful of seasons.

The post Panthers'; Goalie Problem: Who';ll Be Luongo';s Successor? appeared
first on The Hockey Writers.

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