*Photo from Blueshirt Banter*
One of the best goalies to suit it up in the NHL is calling it a career. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist has announced his retirement from hockey after 15 NHL seasons, according to Lundqvist in a statement released on his Instagram page Friday morning.
The Rangers said in a statement that "It is with mixed emotions that The New York Rangers offer our best wishes and heartfelt gratitude to Henrik Lundqvist on the announcement of his retirement. Henrik's commitment to excellence made him one of the best goaltenders to ever play the game of hockey, and we are so fortunate to have witnessed his greatness firsthand for 15 years. As we congratulate Henrik on an extraordinary career and a lasting legacy of success, charity and character, we are honored to announce that we will retire his number and raise his jersey to the rafters at an upcoming game this season. Henrik is, and always will be, a Ranger."
You did read that right. Lundqvist will have his number 30 retired by the Rangers and raised to the Madison Square Garden rafters at a home game this season, which has yet to be determined. He started his career in Sweden, before eventually coming over to the NHL.
In his statement, Lundqvist said "There are many things I love about this game: From the excitement I felt as an 8-year old at my first practice to the 15 years of butterflies I had every time I took the ice in the greatest city in the world. I'm extremely grateful for what hockey has brought me and taught me in life. Those lessons will never leave me."
In the 2019-2020 season, his last active season, Lundqvist posted a 10-12-3 record in 30 games, 26 of which were starts. He had a 3.16 GAA and a .905 save percentage, and, at the end of the year, had his contract bought out by the Rangers. In 15 seasons, he has a 459-310-96 record, with a 2.43 GAA and a .918 save percentage in 887 games, 752 starts.
Lundqvist signed with the Washington Capitals prior to last season, but doctors discovered a heart condition prior to the season started, which required open heart surgery to be performed, keeping Lundqvist out of action for the season. He became a UFA when free agency began, and was hoping to continue playing, but experienced some setbacks in recent workouts, and he was told it could be up to another full season of missed time before being 100 percent again.
In an interview with the New York Post, Lundqvist said "I was hoping I would be 100 percent by this time. But I was told that inflammation takes a long time to correct and with medication I might be out of the woods, but it could be another full year before I would be 100 percent."
Lundqvist retires with a Vezina trophy from the 2011-2012 season. He also has 11 seasons with at least 30 wins, ranking 3rd overall in NHL history, behind Martin Brodeur with 14, and Patrick Roy with 13. In playoff history, Lundqvist is 7th in the NHL in saves, 7th in games started, 10th in games played, 8th in TOI, tied for 11th in shutouts with Ken Dryden, and tied for 14th in wins with Tom Barrasso. He led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup final in 2013-2014 where they lost in 5 games to the Los Angeles Kings.
In his career, Lundqvist is also the Rangers franchise leader in games played, games started, shutouts, saves, wins, TOI, and goalie points. He leads the Rangers in playoff shutouts, games started, games played, wins, saves, and TOI. In the lockout shortened 2012-2013 season, he started 43 of the 48 games played, winning 24 of those games.
Lundqvist said "At last I want to thank all the fans. I've felt so much support here at home playing for Frolunda and the national team, and in New York. It's been giving me so much joy to feel that support. I will be forever grateful for it. That is obviously something that I will miss, the intense feeling of being in a rink competing."
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