In my previous post, I spoke about my journey as a Rangers fan and I believe it’s only fitting to make my second post about one player that has been at the heart of my journey – Henrik Lundqvist. Henrik Lundqvist was a goaltender and the backbone of the Rangers program for 15 incredible seasons. Known by his stylish suits, gelled hair and incredible talent, Henrik Lundqvist took New York by storm.
Lundqvist was born on March 2, 1982 in Äre, Sweden. He began playing organized hockey in 1990 for the Järpens IF program with his identical twin brother, Joel. The story of how Lundqvist became a goaltender is quite amusing, as it was his brother’s doing. At practice one day, Joel and Henrik’s coach had asked for a volunteer to play goaltender (typically, not a position most people jump for) and as a prank, Joel took Henrik’s hand and volunteered him. His incredible goaltending career began at that moment. Before coming to the Rangers in 2005, Henrik played for a Swedish team called Frölunda. He led Frölunda to an Anton Cup, a Swedish junior hockey championship, victory and was ranked the 6th best European prospect, the only goaltender in the top 10. He broke four Swedish national goaltending records and was voted best player, goaltender, and MVP.
Henrik Lundqvist was selected by the Rangers in the 2000 NHL Draft 205th overall and in the seventh round, which comes as a surprise to many people given his fantastic career statistics. His NHL debut took place on October 8th, 2005 in a 3-2 overtime loss against the New Jersey Devils. However, he quickly bounced back against the Devils, 5 days later, with a 4-1 victory. Lundqvist had a stellar rookie season with a record of 30 wins, 12 losses and 9 overtime games. This season secured his spot as not only the Rangers starting goaltender but a fan favorite, earning the nickname “King Henrik” or “The King.” He won at least 30 games in his first seven seasons and led the Rangers to the playoffs in 11 of his first 12 seasons. A standout moment in his career was leading the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2014 against the Los Angeles Kings. They sadly lost (a memory that will forever haunt me) the Cup in this series and Henrik lost the chance to win his first Stanley Cup. He ended his career without a Stanley Cup to his name but has accomplished more than most goalies do in a lifetime. He is a prominent figure in the Rangers’ record books as he is the leader in wins, shutouts, games played, starts, saves, time on ice and goalie points. In the post season, he also leads in wins, shutouts, games played, games started, saves and time on ice. On and off the ice, he was an outstanding role model and player that many looked up to.
His greatest accomplishments speak for themselves, so I find it redundant to describe each one. Check out the list below of just a few of King Henrik’s amazing achievements:
- Olympic Champion for Sweden: 2006
- NHL Rookie All Star
- Vezina Trophy Nominee: 2006, 2007, 2007
- Vezina Trophy Winner: 2012
- NY Rangers MVP: 2016
- Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award: 2018
After 30 years of playing hockey, Henrik has now sadly retired due to a heart condition that makes it unsafe to continue playing. Henrik and his wife, Therese, have created the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation in support of children and adults through education and healthcare. Further details on Lundqvist’s career and his final statements with the Rangers can be found here. The legacy that he has left on the Rangers, their fans and the city of New York will last a lifetime. His jersey was the first I purchased and one I proudly wear to this day (check out the photos on my first post as I was wearing his jersey in each one). This season, that very jersey and number will be retired, meaning no Ranger player will ever be able to adorn #30 again. Without Lundqvist, my Rangers journey may not have become as extensive and enjoyable as it is. He is and forever will be my goalie. Long Live The King!
