Good new, Florida Panthers fans. You might be seeing Roberto Luongo in net sooner than you think.

After the Panthers’ No. 1 goaltender underwent hip surgery in May, it was widely assumed the team would be starting the 2016-17 campaign without him.

But according to George Richards of the Miami Herald, that might not turn out to be the case.

“I’m excited, hopeful to be where I want to be when everything gets going,” Luongo told Richards on Wednesday.

Luongo said he started skating on Aug. 5, and that he’s happy with how things have progressed.

“I’m not 100 per cent; it’s a five month rehab,” he said. “But I’m feeling better than I thought I would. I thought it would be a slower progression, especially on the ice. It has gone fairly quickly and I’m happy about that. If the season were to start tomorrow, I probably wouldn’t be able to go. But I feel good where I’m at and I’m excited about it.”

According to Sportsnet’s John Shannon, the Panthers’ initial target for Luongo’s return was Nov. 1. The club even went out and acquired some insurance in net by trading for Reto Berra and signing James Reimer in free agency.

Panthers goalie coach Robb Tallas told Richards Luongo is “doing really well” and is “very optimistic about starting the season.”

“He has really committed himself this summer to being 100 per cent again,” Tallas told Richards. “We’re at the point where there aren’t a lot of restrictions on what he’s doing on the ice. That’s a great sign.”

The Panthers open their season on Oct. 13, a home game against the New Jersey Devils.