Henrik Lundqvist discusses upcoming jersey retirement

After being bought out by the New York Rangers in September of 2020, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist never played another game in the NHL.

While it seems fitting now that the 39-year-old never played for any team but the Rangers during his legendary career, it wasn't supposed to be that way. After that buyout, he signed a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals. Unfortunately, he was never able to suit up for a game with the Capitals due to a discovered heart condition, and retired from the NHL for good this past summer. Despite the way it ended, he is thankful for the career he had.

«I have my moments where I'm like : Ah, it's too bad I didn't get an opportunity to play more because I love it so much. But then pretty quickly I move into the grateful phase where I'm just happy with what I got and not what I didn't get,» said Lundqvist.

Though his tenure with the Rangers didn't end how anyone had hoped, he holds no ill will for the organization, and is set to be at Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Friday night for his jersey retirement. Over his 887 game career in New York, he became known as one of the league's best goalies, and is now regarded as one of the best to ever play the position. From the sounds of things, playing in MSG helped make his career as elite as it was.

«That place has meant so much to me. I've been so inspired by the building itself and what it means to walk in there every time. I felt so alive in that building at times,» he said.

«If it's a preseason game or game 7, that pressure is always there, and it was just awesome to feel it.»

In those 877 career games, Lundqvist compiled a 2.43 goals-against average (GAA) along with a .918 save percentage (SV%) and a 459-310-96 record. The best season of his legendary career came back in 2011-12, where he put together a 1.97 GAA and a .929 SV% in 62 games. It is very fitting that his number 30 will soon be hanging from the rafters, as he is one of the best Rangers of all time.

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