It may not be this year, but when Henrik Lundqvist’s New York Rangers career has passed, the memories he has left will remain.
Since taking over the reins as the New York Rangers starting goaltender at the onset of the 2005-06 season, no Blueshirt has captivated Rangers fans like Henrik Lundqvist. Odds are, if you have been part of Rangerstown since that season, one of your favorite Rangers memories has number 30 in it.
I still remember walking into the old Continental Arena in New Jersey on January 2, 2007, at eight years old, donning my blue shirt in a sea of red. It was the seventh round of the shootout, and Jamie Langenbrunner was steaming toward Lundqvist. I remember Lundqvist biting on the fake and thinking it was over before his lightning-quick glove hand-stretched along the ice to deny the sure goal. Marcel Hossa would go on to win it for the Rangers in the 8th round, 3-2.
As a 22-year-old, Lundqvist has been the face of the franchise since I was old enough to remember. His tenacity and flare in goal, coupled with his love for New York, made him a fan favorite for well over a decade. Most fans can still hear, “Henrik! Henrik!” chants echoing off the upper-echelon of Madison Square Garden in their heads whenever a Rangers game is on.
The man they call ‘The King’ dominated the NHL during his career despite not being selected until the seventh round (pick 205) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. After a five-year wait between being drafted and becoming the starter, Lundqvist would begin his journey toward becoming the winningest goaltender in New York Rangers history.
Whenever Lundqvist officially calls it a career, he will exit Madison Square Garden as one of the most fantastic Rangers to ever play, alongside the moniker of the greatest Ranger’s netminder of all time. He holds the franchise record in wins (459), shutouts (64), and save percentage (.918). Also, Lundqvist finished in the top-six in Vezina voting for 10-straight seasons, from 2005-2015, winning the Vezina once in 2011-12.
The Memories
We can talk about numbers all we want, but what truly makes Henrik Lundqvist the most outstanding Ranger’s goaltender ever is the memories which he provided us on a nightly basis. Every game, there was a potential for a highlight reel save, and that never changed. Even this season, in what was by far the worst in his storied career, he managed to rob Martin Necas of the Carolina Hurricanes with an incredible stick save.
Incredible, right? Who could forget the penalty shot save on Danny Briere in the Winter Classic? Or the stick saves against Columbus on a puck that caromed of the end boards? Or his patented postseason stops against Pittsburgh on Montreal, both of which are engraved in Rangers fan’s minds forever.
One of my favorite Lundqvist saves came back in 2013 against the Boston Bruins, when he robbed David Krejci with the glove. Everyone sat and held their breath as the play went to review, but ultimately, Hank’s glove hand victimized the Boston forward on that night.
There has never been a goaltender rise to stardom in New York like Henrik Lundqvist. The saves I mentioned above are merely just the surface, as there were hundreds of phenomenal stops throughout his career. The King carried a city on his back for 15 seasons and never once took the credit for any of it.
And yes, the only thing that eluded him was and most likely will be the Stanley Cup. Do not for one second believe that his lack of a Cup has anything to do with his play. Not since Raymond Bourque have I seen a collective fan base pull for a player to win Lord Stanley, regardless of if it was won with their favorite team or not.
The man has given his all, not only to the New York Rangers but to the city of New York, as he tirelessly gives back to the community as well. No matter when Henrik Lundqvist’s Rangers career comes to an end, he has been everything fans could have wanted and more since 2005.
Every good thing must come to an end, and that end seems to be getting closer with each day. But I know that I speak for a large majority of Rangerstown when I say: Thank you, Henrik, for all the joy and memories you gave us over the years. You truly define the word miraculous, and when it is all said and done, your number 30 jersey will be hanging in the rafters.