Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Na 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Luongo họpụtara na agba nke mbụ, nke anọ n'ozuzu, site na New York Islanders. Nhọrọ ahụ sitere na Toronto Maple Leafs mana a gbanwere ya na ndị Islanders iji gbanwere Wendel Clark, Mathieu Schneider na D. J. Smith. N'oge draft ahụ, Luongo bụ onye na-eche nche kachasị elu na akụkọ NHL, na-agafe Tom Barrasso, John Davidson, na Ray Martynuik nke ise na 1983, 1973, na 1970 (nhọrọ Luongo mechara gafere site na Rick DiPietro nke mbụ na-ahọrọ site na Islanders na
2000).