NEWSLETTER
It was not the ending fit for a King, but citing health reasons, this is the end of the road for one of the greatest goaltenders the league has ever seen. On Friday morning, long-time New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist announced his retirement from hockey after 15 NHL seasons.
— Henrik Lundqvist (@hlundqvist35) August 20, 2021
Lundqvist was slated to play the 2020-21 season with the Washington Capitals after his time ended in New York, but after realizing a serious heart condition that required surgery, Lundqvist missed all of last season. He was back on the ice a few weeks ago, getting ready for the upcoming season as a free agent, but has now decided it is best to end his playing career.
Johan Rylander of @GoteborgsPosten writes on his Twitter account that Henrik Lundqvist has just announced his retirement at a press conference at Frölunda HC, Gothenburg, the club he represented prior to his NHL-career. https://t.co/LL6fMhnjsc
— Szymon Szemberg (@Sz1909_Szemberg) August 20, 2021
No one in the league has worn a suit better than Lundqvist.
Over his 15 seasons, all with the New York Rangers, Lundqvist notched 459 wins, a career .918 save-percentage and a career 2.43 GAA. He retires as the Rangers’ all-time leader in games played as a goalie (887), wins, saves (23,509), and shutouts (64). He also leads the Rangers in postseason games played (130), postseason wins (61), and postseason shutouts (10). He backstopped the Rangers to three strip to the Eastern Conference Finals in his career (2012, 2014, 2015), and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.
In NHL history for goaltenders, he has played in the eighth-most games and has the sixth-most wins, and was a five-time Vezina Award finalist, winning it 2011-12. Though sadly, he never won a Stanley Cup in his NHL career. In his international career with Sweden, Lundqvist won an Olympic Gold Medal in 2006, an Olympic Silver Medal in 2014, a World Championships Gold Medal in 2017, and World Championships Silver Medals in 2003 and 2004.
It’s sad to see his playing career not end on his terms, but his health is what is most important. Lundqvist will be a sure-fire first ballot Hockey Hall of Famer and we’d like to wish him all the best in retirement.
