New York Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist should rest half the time down the stretch

The New York Rangers should not let Henrik Lundqvist play more than half the games left this season. With the team planning to sell at the deadline, there’s no reason to push the franchise’s backbone.

The Rangers goaltender has started an astronomical 41 of New York’s 50 games before the All-Star break. That puts him on pace to start 67 games this year, his highest total since 2010-11.

While the future Hall of Famer has been excellent once again this season with a .922 save percentage, he can’t save this sinking roster. The Rangers sit ninth in the Eastern Conference, a few points outside the playoff picture despite Lundqvist’s efforts.

The New York Post reported that the team plans to move Ryan McDonagh, Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash, Michael Grabner, and maybe more. As the front office sets it sights on next season and beyond the message is clear. It’s time to step off the gas and preserve Lundqvist for a more worthy Ranger roster.

The franchise goalie already started showing worrying signs of wear when he gave up three goals on seven shots in his last game before the break. New York needs to stop overworking Lundqvist in a meaningless season. Jeff Gorton can’t allow Alain Vigneault to ride his goalie into the ground for the sake of this bubble team.

He’s gonna hate this

Henrik Lundqvist is in the midst of a Vezina-caliber season. He was deservedly New York’s only representative at the All-Star game.

Lundqvist is as competitive as anyone and never wants to take a game off. Dramatically cutting his workload will not make him happy and will effectively end his Vezina candidacy. This is a case where the best interests of the team and the player’s wishes are at a conflict.

Lundqvist has another three seasons on his contract at $8.5 million per year. He turns 36 in March and has more than earned his money this season. The Rangers have no reason to risk his health and put unnecessary strain on a goalie with 912 combined regular and postseason NHL games played.

Although it’s absurd that he only has one of them, Lundqvist already won the Vezina in 2012. His name tops nearly every goaltending category in the Rangers’ record book. The Swedish sensation also won an Olympic Gold medal in 2006.

He’s missing only one crowning achievement from his mantle and that’s a Stanley Cup championship. The 2017-18 Rangers won’t make the playoffs, let alone contend for the Cup. But a big wave of young talent could set the Rangers up for a very quick turnaround.

The Rangers owe it to themselves and to Lundqvist to keep him as strong as possible for the next three seasons.

Tank for the run

This team isn’t playing hockey for the rest of the year, they’re playing ping-pong. The 2018 NHL draft has a monster reputation, led by the vaunted Rasmus Dahlin. New York needs to paddle their way to every last lottery ball they can capture.

Dahlin isn’t the only great prize either. Since the NHL implemented an NBA-style lottery in 2016, the first three picks are all up for grabs. Every single non-playoff team has a shot at those picks, but Rangers lottery odds improve as they drop down the standings.

With 55 points, the Rangers currently hold the 12th spot, but they’re less than 10 points ahead of Edmonton in the eighth slot. With a little effort (or lack thereof), the Rangers can dig their way into the Dahlin sweepstakes.

Kevin Shattenkirk and Chris Kreider are out long-term. The roster depleting fire sale is fast approaching. This stretch run is about establishing the future direction of the team, a future Lundqvist may not be a key player in.

Next: New York Rangers: The King in his castle at the all-star game

Some fans find intentionally worsening the team for the sake of draft odds distasteful. But the lottery boost is just a bonus on top of keeping Lundqvist fresh for better days. Besides, giving Ondrej Pavelec half the starts down the stretch is hardly the ugliest thing a tanking team has done.

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