The Luongo era in Vancouver began as another ended. Luongo was acquired in a trade for Todd Bertuzzi, Alex Auld and Bryan Allen. It also saw Lukas Krajicek join the Canucks (who was a shocking omission from the all-time team). Unveiled to the Canucks faithful alongside BC boy Willie Mitchell, he was supposed to be a Canuck for life and provide the stability in net the Canucks had been looking for since their 1994 cup run with Kirk McLean, a run of 18 different goalies since then. And he did not disappoint. He set the team record for wins in a season with 47, topped only by Martin Brodeur who broke the NHL record with 48 that same year. He was named a Western Conference All-Star for the first time. He claimed the team MVP award, the most exciting player award and the three stars award as well. 

He made his postseason debut that year against the Dallas Stars, with a 72 save masterpiece in Game 1, which eventually helped the Canucks top the stars and head to the second round, where they would eventually lose to the Anaheim Ducks. 

After the season he nominated for the Vezina Trophy, the Lester B. Pearson Award and the Hart Memorial Trophy, but ultimately finished second in voting for all three of the awards, despite the fact many feel Luongo should have taken home the Vezina for his efforts in his first season as a Canuck. It was the first of many sparkling years in a Canucks uniform. 

2007-08 was disappointing for Luongo and for the Canucks. Though his stats were similar to the year before, and he was named an All-Star again, along with setting the Canucks shutout streak record at 210:34. However, he played the final 31 games and finished the season winning only one of the final eight games, ultimately causing their loss of the Northwest Division title, and missed the postseason all together.

Following the season, general manager Mike Gillis and coach Alain Vigneault made the unorthodox decision of naming Roberto Luongo, the 12th captain in Canucks history, succeeding Markus Naslund. It was the first goaltender named captain since 1947-48, and the seventh in history. NHL rules prevented goaltenders from being captain, so Willie Mitchell handled all communication with on-ice officials, Mattias Ohlund partook in ceremonial face-offs and Ryan Kesler was named another assistant captain, while Luongo placed a “C” on his mask, as he was not allowed to wear it on his uniform. Luongo would hold this position until prior to the 2010-11 season, when he would relinquish it in favour of Henrik Sedin.

Early in the 2008-09 season, Luongo enjoyed another shutout streak, this time lasting 242:36, beating his own personal record. In mid-November Luongo suffered a groin injury, and ended up missing 24 games. He returned in time for the All-Star game, and ended up leading the Canucks back to the playoffs with another Northwest Division title. In the postseason, the Canucks swept  the St. Louis Blues, and began their rivalry with the Chicago Blackhawks in Round 2. Luongo was lit up in the final and deciding Game 6, losing 7-5 to the Blackhawks in Chicago, thus beginning the hot heads between the two teams. It also began the Luongo trade talks for the first time, though they were shortly lived.

Prior to the 2009-2010 season, Luongo silenced the trade conversation once and for all and signed a massive 12-year, $64 million contract. A contract that both sides loved. A contract nobody would ever think sucks. It was a front loaded contract which saw Luongo making $10 million in his first year, and $1 million in the final two. Such a contract has now being outlawed by the NHL due to it’s sly nature.

Luongo statistically had his worst season as a Canuck in 2009-10, partially due to a horrendous second half that may have been influenced by the extra work load of the 2010 Winter Olympics in his team’s hometown. He was pulled in 7 of his 68 games played and recorded a 2.57 GAA. However the Canucks made the playoffs yet again due to a soft Northwest Division, and beat the Kings in Round One to continue on to Round Two and play the rival Blackhawks yet again. In similar fashion to the year prior, the Canucks simply were outplayed by their counterparts from Chicago, with Luongo allowing  21 goals in six games, including five in Game 6. 

The goaltender controversy meter began its rotation across Vancouver starting prior to the 2010-11 season, when Cory Schneider was named the team’s backup and was promised 20 to 25 starts a season, which was good for Luongo who had been burned out in years prior due his large workload. A rejuvenated Luongo performed phenomenally in the 60 games he played in, which included a 21-game unbeaten streak and a 2.11 goals against average, which was second in the league to Tim Thomas. Not to pump any tires or anything.

The Canucks goaltending duo bested Boston’s tandem of Rask/Thomas by one-tenth of a point in the GAA rankings, resulting in the Canucks winning the William M. Jennings trophy. Their performance also led the Canucks to a Presidents’ Trophy victory due to their 54 wins.

With the Canucks finishing tops in the league, you’d think the Canucks would avoid playing their rival Blackhawks until the conference final, if they were to at all. However, you’d be wrong as the Blackhawks made the playoffs only on the last day of the season, and finished in 8th place. This time the story looked to be different as the Canucks roared out the gate taking the first three against Chicago, only to see Chicago take two more back and Schneider to take over the net for Game 6, then get injured causing Luongo to take the net back over, and lose the game. and force a Game 7 in Vancouver. The Canucks led 1-0 most of the game due to Luongo’s stellar goaltending, but allowed a goal late in the 3rd, forcing sudden death overtime. Luongo saved the game for the Canucks on a Patrick Sharp chance on the far side midway through the first frame, that was picture perfect. Moments later, Alex Burrows skated down the ice and slayed the dragon for good.

The Canucks went on to beat Nashville and San Jose, including a 54 save effort in the deciding Game Five against the Sharks. Luongo shined the whole way, rising to the occasion in the faces of the critics who said he couldn’t get it done when it matters. In Game One against the Boston Bruins, Luongo stopped 36 saves and celebrated a 1-0 shutout victory. The Canucks took Game Two as well, as Luongo shined again and the Canucks compiled a 2-0 series lead, heading on the road to Boston. The train fell off the tracks early and often in Beantown, as Luongo allowed eight goals in Game Three, and allowed four goals on 20 shots in Game 4, before being pulled in favour of Cory Schneider. Returning to Vancouver under a microscope, Luongo recored 31 saves and his second shutout of the postseason, beating the Bruins 1-0. This turned out to be the final victory of the Canucks season, as Luongo allowed three goals in less than three minutes in Game 6, and lost the game 5-2. Subsequently in their return to Vancouver, they didn’t show up and lost 4-0, losing the Stanley Cup and breaking the hearts of everyone.

2011-12 was supposed to the Canucks bounce back season, using the heartbreak they felt the year before as fuel to beat the rest of the NHL once and for all.  The Canucks traded goaltenders back and forth all season, due to Luongo’s struggling play and the emergence of Cory Schneider. Despite this, Luongo became the winningest goaltender in Canucks history, doing it 152 games faster than the previous leader Kirk McLean. Luongo had a 31-14-8 record and the Canucks won the Presidents’ Trophy for the second straight season, facing the Los Angeles Kings in Round One. The playoff run was just beginning.

The playoff run was about to end. Luongo played the first two against Los Angeles, losing both in Vancouver, and giving the net up to Cory Schneider for Game 3. Luongo played back-up for the rest of the series that saw the Canucks get upset by the eventual Stanley Cup Champions 4-1, and fuelled the trade rumours for good.

These rumours were fuelled even more when Schneider signed a shiny new 3-year deal with the Canucks, and put Luongo’s head on the chopping block. His head proved to be unchoppable however, as he couldn’t be dealt due to his massive contract. Man, his contract sucks. 

The 2012-13 season was shortened due to the lockout, and saw Schneider take over the team himself with Luongo being full-time back-up. He was graceful in this, and even called the team Cory’s, while quietly making subtle hints he would like to be traded, and Mike Gillis remained confident he could do so. The Canucks were swept by the Sharks in Round One of the postseason, and the pursuit for a deal was on.

And the Canucks traded Cory Schneider. Wait, what? Yes, you read me right. The Canucks traded young, future franchise goaltender Cory Schneider to the Devils for a 1st round pick. No 1st round pick will ever be able to replace Schneider. Except you, Bo Horvat. We’re okay with you.

John Tortorella was named coach for the 2013-14 season, and Eddie Lack was promoted to the back-up role, or Main Cast Member in a Soap Opera Series. A dark cloud flew above the Canucks all season, as Luongo had conceded to the fact he would be dealt in the offseason prior, only to be the starting goaltender again. Eddie Lack was a fan favourite, and Canucks fans in their Canucks fan ways cried for the Canucks to give Lack an opportunity. The Canucks were awarded the 2014 Heritage Classic at BC Place, the first outdoor game in the Canucks history, that meant a lot to Luongo. However, Eddie Lack was given the start by coach Tortorella, which proved to be the last straw for Luongo. Days later, Luongo was finally traded away, back to the Florida Panthers, thus ending a storied and controversial tenure as Canucks goaltender.