Luongo Mirrors "Bonnie Prince Charlie"

Roberto Luongo's career reminds me a lot of the great Charlie Gardiner, goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks from 1927 through 1934.

Gardiner, "The Roving Scotsman," joined the Hawks in just the team's second year of existence, and valiantly backstopped one of the weakest teams in history. He would lead the league in losses his first two years in the league, but was quickly heralded as one of the best goalies of his day, and ultimately of all time. He would go on to win Vezina trophies and all star nods.

Luongo, who obviously isn't Scottish, broke in with the lowly New York Islanders before joining the even lower Florida Panthers. He too quickly became known as one of the best goalies in the league, despite the fact his Panthers lost more games than they won, and never made the playoffs.

Everyone knows Luongo switched to the Vancouver Canucks this season. Not a lot was expected from the Canucks this season, but Luongo has turned them into serious Stanley Cup contenders.

Now in his seventh NHL season, the Canucks are hoping Luongo can accomplish what Gardiner did in 1934, in his seventh season, and unexpectedly and almost single-handedly lead his team to the Stanley Cup championship.

Both goalies are leaders. Luongo is the be-all and end-all in Vancouver, while Gardiner is the only goaltender to captain his team to the Stanley Cup title. Both goalies played for weaker teams and made them significantly better. History will one day see Luongo ranked right up there with Gardiner as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time.

The Canucks had better hope that the Luongo-Gardiner comparisons end right about there. Gardiner led the Hawks to the Stanley Cup despite fighting extreme pain and fatigue. After the playoffs he was finally diagnosed with uremia, believed to be caused by undetected acute tonsil infections. Just a couple of months after winning the Stanley Cup, Gardiner suffered a brain hemorrhage that claimed his life.

-- Read Full Charlie Gardiner Biography --