Projecting Henrik Lundqvist’s career win total

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist currently sits in the top five for wins as an NHL goaltender. With at least another full season to go, we analyze where Lundqvist’s stats could land him against the all-time greats.

Henrik Lundqvist is in the latter portions of a stellar NHL career. He has solidified himself (for years) as the greatest goaltender in New York Rangers history, and has placed himself in the upper-echelon of the all-time greats.

With the remainder of the 2019-2020 season still underway, one year remaining on his contract and the future after that still unknown, we take a look at where #30 stands against the most prolific players who have ever stood between the pipes.

For 11 straight non-lockout years, Lundqvist tallied 30 wins in a season. Last year’s campaign, when he went 18-23-10, was the first losing record he has ever held as a goaltender in the NHL — largely symptomatic of a team that was beyond deficient on defense.

This year, Lundqvist is battling new challenges. A three-goalie-system has limited his playing time as of late, but the Rangers have been more consistent in recent games, which could lead to better outings when Alexander Georgiev is likely moved.

Currently holding a 9-10-3 record, it is possible that Lundqvist notches 20 wins this season, which would inch him closer to Ed Belfour’s 484 wins — good for fourth all-time.

If Lundqvist does reach the 20-win plateau this year, he would surpass Belfour next season with a mere seven wins and would need  21 wins to topple Robert Luongo, who sits third all-time.

Marc-Andre Fleury, who is currently tied with Lundqvist at 458 wins (and on a much more consistent hockey team), could alter his numeral projection of where he sits on the wins leaderboard.

With Fleury likely to finish atop Lundqvist in the all-time wins category, behind the monstrous win totals of Martin Brodeur (691) and Patrick Roy (581), New York’s netminder has an opportunity to realistically place himself fourth all-time.

However, let’s digress for a moment.

What if the Rangers trade Georgiev, and, with a more seasoned team, Lundqvist decides to extend his tenure in New York past the 2020-2021? Surely, Lundqvist would understand that he would be playing backup to Igor Shesterkin after next year’s season (when they are more likely to split games).

And, Shesterkin would benefit by having a veteran presence as he works to solidify himself as a starting goaltender — no?

Lundqvist has already made it clear that he wants to finish his career as a Ranger, but he has also earned the opportunity to see where the team stands after another year of rebuilding.

With other possible backups still a couple years away from making an NHL impact, Lundqvist is unlikely to be barring a player like Adam Huska or Tyler Wall from getting an opportunity in the big leagues.

If Lundqvist does decide to extend past his current contract, Lundqvist could overcome the 500-win mark. Something only two other goaltenders in NHL history have managed to accomplish.