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New York Rangers: The best and worst drafts of the 2000s

By Scott Esposito

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 10: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers takes the ice as he is introduced to the crowd prior to the Rangers home opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on October 10, 2015 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 5-2. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 10: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers takes the ice as he is introduced to the crowd prior to the Rangers home opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on October 10, 2015 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 5-2. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Best: Class of 2000

Standouts
Henrik Lundqvist (7th round, 250th overall, goalie)
Dominic Moore (3rd round, 95th overall, center)

Notable
Filip Novak (2nd round, 64th overall, defense)

Analysis
Historically, the Rangers have enjoyed solid goaltending. The names are impressive: Dave Kerr. Hal Winkler. John Ross Roach. Lorne Chabot. Lester Patrick. Chuck Rayner. “Gump” Worsley. Johnny Bower. Jacques Plante. Terry Sawchuk. Eddie Giacomin. Gilles Villemure. John Davidson. John Vanbiesbrouck. Mike Richter.

But Lundqvist is the name that tops all Rangers goalies (and NHL active goalkeepers) in nearly every major statistical category.

After starring in the Swedish Elite League, Lundqvist made his Broadway debut in 2005-06 –
and quite an impression on the rest of the NHL. He appeared in 53 games (posting 30 wins, a 2.24 goals-against average, two shutouts and a .922 save percentage) and finished among the top 10 in voting for the Vezina (3rd), Calder (4th) and Hart (9th) Trophies.

“King Henrik” would rule New York’s crease (and most opponents) for much of the next 14 seasons with a quick glove hand, cat-like reflexes and toughness. Lundqvist has provided numerous examples of those qualities, but a few in the latter part of his career will forever remain in Rangers’ lore.

At age 32, Lundqvist made a twirling blocker save on a last-second redirection late in the second period of a scoreless Game 6 in the conference finals versus Montreal. Nearly three minutes later, Dominic Moore scored the game’s only goal, sending the Rangers back to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in twenty years.

Although the Rangers lost in the finals denying Lundqvist hockey’s ultimate prize, his stop in the conference championship is widely considered the second-greatest in team history, topped only by “The Save” by Mike Richter on Pavel Bure’s penalty shot in the 1994 finals.

Meanwhile, Lundqvist’s toughness would be tested significantly in each of the next two seasons.

In January 2015, he suffered a vascular injury when he was stuck in the throat by a puck after his throat protector was accidentally moved out of place by a teammate. Remarkably, he stayed in the game, won, and played in the Rangers’ next match. But soon thereafter, and as widely reported, a combination of headaches, lightheadedness and breathing difficulties forced him to miss the next 24 matches.

The following season, Lundqvist sustained an eye injury in Game One of the conference quarterfinals against Pittsburgh when a teammate’s stick blade went through an opening in his facemask and poked him in the eye. Fortunately, he suffered only a black eye and didn’t miss a game.

Lundqvist won the Vezina in 2012 (inexplicably his only to date) and ranks highly in several categories.

Among active NHL goalies, he is:
• First in games at 887 (8th all-time)
• First in shutouts with 64 (16th all-time)
• First in saves with 23,509 (7th all-time)
• First in minutes with 51,818 (9th all-time)
• Second in wins with 459 (6th all-time)
• Sixth in save percentage at .918 (12th all-time)
• Sixth in goals-against average at 2.43 (23rd all-time)

Additionally, he led the NHL in shutouts in 2008 (10) and 2011 (11), as well as wins (24 in 2013) and saves (1,788 in 2016). As you know, “King Henrik” leads all Rangers’ goaltenders in career games, single-season appearances (73), wins, shutouts, saves and assists (26).

Broadway wasn’t the only stage on which Lundqvist starred.

In international play, his 12 Olympic victories rank second to Hall of Famer Vladislav Tretiak’s 17. Lundqvist led Sweden to a gold medal in the 2006 Olympic Games and a silver medal in 2014. In the 2010 Olympics, he led all goalies with a 1.34 goals-against average and two shutouts.

Lundqvist seventh round selection makes his the greatest late round draft pick in NHL history and alone, he would make the 2000 draft the best of the decade.

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