Thank you, Hank.
If you’re a Rangers fan or just a hockey fan in general, you know that Henrik Lundqvist has been the face of the Manhattan-based franchise for fifteen years. Unfortunately, the era has come to an end as the team and the 38-year-old goaltender decided to mutually part ways on Wednesday morning. The team announced it would be buying out the last year of his contract.
Following a highly successful career in Sweden for Frolunda Hockey Club, Lundqvist was the 205th pick for the Rangers in the 2000 NHL draft. He made his highly anticipated NHL debut for the team on October 8th, 2005, losing 3-2 in overtime. He clinched his first win five days later.
Henrik went on to set and break many records. Some include being just the twelfth goaltender in NHL history to win four hundred games, being the first European and Rangers goaltender to do so, and the fastest to accomplish the feat. On November 25, 2019, Henrik passed Curtis Joseph to become fifth on the all-time wins list with 455.
Lundqvist was also the 2012 Vezina Trophy winner, an award given to the league’s best goaltender. He also helped lead the Rangers to the Stanley Cup playoffs multiple times. He even brought them to their first Cup Finals since Mike Richter in 1994. Unfortunately, the Rangers ended up losing to the Los Angeles Kings in five games.
No matter how you look at it, Henrik Lundqvist was undoubtedly one of the best goaltenders New York has ever had. He played with determination, passion, grit, heart, and soul every time he stepped on to the ice. He always knew how and where to improve his game. Most importantly he was a true leader in the Rangers’ clubhouse. Tributes to Henrik poured out all over social media, as they should. Rangerstown wasn’t lucky to call Henrik their goaltender, they were blessed to.
