Luongo plans to return.

SUNRISE — Roberto Luongo left no doubt. He’s coming back next season.

“Oh yeah, for sure,” he said Tuesday morning after the Florida Panthers cleaned out their lockers. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The 39-year-old goaltender will play his 19th NHL season when October rolls around, after a season in which he missed significant time due to injuries. Luongo missed time because of injuries to his hand (six games), groin (27 games) and ribs (one game).

Last week, Luongo became just the third goaltender to play in 1,000 NHL games and could move into third place on the all-time wins list next season. He has four more years on a contract that ends after the 2021-22 season.

When he was healthy this season, Luongo was incredible. He posted a .929 save percentage (his best since 2003-04) to go with a 2.47 goals against average. When the team needed wins during a busy stretch run, coach Bob Boughner turned to Luongo to lead them.

“With the run we had and falling short, it’s tough to reflect on it and feel good about yourself,” Luongo said. “I think it’s going to take a couple weeks to get over the fact that we just fell short. Right now, just trying to deal with the disappointment of not making the playoffs.”

Boughner added: “When he was at his best, he could still be one of the better goalies in the league. The key for him is his health.”

Luongo only played in 35 games this season, the second consecutive year his playing time has dropped. For the second year in a row, backup James Reimer led the Panthers in games played.

As Luongo’s age climbs, the questions about his age and health swell. In an ideal world, Luongo said, he’d like to play between 50 and 60 games, “hopefully if everything goes well.”

He played at least 50 games in 13 of 14 seasons prior to the last two campaigns, when he combined to play 75 games, including 72 starts.

“At the beginning of the year, I always start off with a goal of 82,” Luongo joked. “I want to play all of them. But then it dwindles down.”

Last season, Luongo missed the final five weeks with a hip injury. In the offseason, he incorporated a new routine to keep his hip aligned and himself healthy. Heading into this summer, Luongo said he would discuss how to best prepare for next season.

“Whether it’s injuries or age or whatnot,” Luongo said, “once we let a few weeks go by, once I sit down with the training staff here and my trainer in the summer and we set up a good program where I get strong and in shape, but at the same time, I’m fresh and stay healthy.”

Luongo often cites a passion for the game of hockey that keeps him playing.

He wants to keep playing while he still can at a high level. He wants another crack at the Stanley Cup that has eluded him throughout his career, that is the missing line from an otherwise Hall of Fame resume.

Luongo has a modified no-trade clause and has said he wants to live in Parkland after he retires. When he does retire has an impact on the Panthers’ future at the position. Reimer is signed for three more seasons and 21-year-old Sam Montembeualt is concluding his first year of professional hockey.

Luongo’s salary is almost halved next season to about $3.4 million, and then drops to $1.6 million the year after that. The final two seasons are both worth $1 million.

Reimer has never been a full-time starter in the NHL, but his .913 save percentage was higher than the league average .908.

Luongo