Henrik Lundqvist - Fan Opinion/Poll on How Should He Be Handled 2019-2021

[nyrleetch]

I just look forward to this thread going silent when Henrik goes on a hot streak, and then it getting bumped again when has a bad two game stretch.

 

[Baby Punisher]

Give Geo 35, Hank 27 and Shesty 20. It's one year, no way they get THAT upset.

And if it's such a big deal, let Hank know in advance that's the plan for 20-21 and let him decide whether that is something he wants to be a part of.

Richter tells a story of when he first got here he was all excited to share the net with Bezzer and split the games down the middle. Richter said Bezzer told him that's not how it works. Richer went to say he was taken back by that, however, after a while, he understood why that doesn't work long term. It messes with everyone's timing, how they prepare mentally and physically. There is no way a 3 goalie set works. One of them has to go. Right or wrong, That will most likely be Georgiev.

 

[Kendo]

"#1" as long as "equal starts" means 27 games each...

 

[Waivers]

I would imagine Henrik plays out his career here.

What if we include Georgiev in a trade package to get a legit piece in return (e.g., Nylander from Toronto). The likelihood of this happening is a different conversation, of course.

Henrik plays out his contract and can split with Shestyorkin next season. If Georgiev is gone and Henrik still has something in the tank (which I think is possible), I can see a 1-2 year deal making a 10th of what he is making today.

 

[Peltz]

Does NMC mean that the Rangers can't buy out Hank's remaining contract? Or could they keep him in the press box next year?

I know fans will hate it, but I think it's important to give the other two the chance to be the duo even if that means disrespecting a legend.

 

[Peltz]

I just look forward to this thread going silent when Henrik goes on a hot streak, and then it getting bumped again when has a bad two game stretch.

I don't think Hank's play has any bearing on the decision. He's not the future of the franchise even if he plays out of his mind for the rest of the year.

I don't think the team should make decisions on Shesty or Georgiev based on how well their 37 year old star is doing during what we all know is still a rebuild year. This isn't the same situation as Raanta or Talbot - Hank is not in the middle of his multi year contract nor is he in his prime anymore. He's in the final stages of both and this is a unique situation.

Making any decisions based on how well he plays would be short sighted.

 

[Idlerlee]

Does NMC mean that the Rangers can't buy out Hank's remaining contract? Or could they keep him in the press box next year?

I know fans will hate it, but I think it's important to give the other two the chance to be the duo even if that means disrespecting a legend.

At this point, The King is more of an institution than a legend. If you want to chase Hank out you might as well chase the soul and identity of the team away with it. And all you are left with is a bunch of players who make up the NYR, but no one truly loves.

 

[Kaapo Kakko]

We've won zero cups with Hank. I like the guy, but in today's salary cap NHL he's a huge liability. We never should've given him that ridiculous contract. Shesterkin is ready and Georgiev is already better than Hank is. Hank should go out with dignity and concede that his time is up.

Truth be told, Hank's been a pain in the neck for the Rangers the past few seasons. Specifically his bloated contract, not even so much his overall play.

 

[LokiDog]

I would imagine Henrik plays out his career here.

What if we include Georgiev in a trade package to get a legit piece in return (e.g., Nylander from Toronto). The likelihood of this happening is a different conversation, of course.

Henrik plays out his contract and can split with Shestyorkin next season. If Georgiev is gone and Henrik still has something in the tank (which I think is possible), I can see a 1-2 year deal making a 10th of what he is making today.

This is what I was thinking. Georgiev’s value probably isn’t gonna get much higher. Let Shesty and Hank split games from here out, move Georgie in a package to bring in a need (whether it’s as big a fish as Nylander we can debate elsewhere). If after next year Shesty doesn’t look like he’s ready for the full workload and/or Hank still has some in the tank he can take a much (much) smaller short term deal to continue to backup and mentor Shesty. We’d be signing a backup after Hank’s departure anyway.

 

[eco's bones]

The issue is really a next year issue. Igor had issues with his angles at Traverse and training camp and Henrik and Alex beat him out.....and as long as there isn't an injury or Henrik or Alex don't fall apart there's no reason to bring Igor up. The other thing the Rangers are a long shot for the playoffs but Hartford at the moment looks like a sure bet so whether Igor gets NHL time or not he's still the go to goalie with the Pack and it's very likely he'll be the main guy when Hartford starts the playoffs.....so the odds are he'll be playing longer than either Henrik or Alex.

 

[cwede]

i don't like the limited choices/wording, i think they make it work with all 3,
without requiring Hank to waive NMC, (maybe he changes, and decides he'd like a Cup run in Raleigh, San Jose, etc)

things happen, any of the 3 could pull a groin,
i think it COULD work out to not bully Hank. not trade Georgie, and have both Georgie and Czar for the new contending years beginning ~'21-22

to me, the challenge to Hank is that, by keeping Georgie, NYR will not extend him past this deal,
my thinking is maybe he takes a victory lap season (or 2) in Frolunda, his now-family near his family/home,
and maybe plays a few more WC's in spring '22, '23

 

[nyrleetch]

We've won zero cups with Hank. I like the guy, but in today's salary cap NHL he's a huge liability. We never should've given him that ridiculous contract. Shesterkin is ready and Georgiev is already better than Hank is. Hank should go out with dignity and concede that his time is up.

Truth be told, Hank's been a pain in the neck for the Rangers the past few seasons. Specifically his bloated contract, not even so much his overall play.

We've been over this numerous times. Lundqvist makes less now percentage wise than he did with his previous contract.

 

[BKGooner]

The Rangers having Richter and Beezer allowed them to move from a position of strength when l’affair Lindros went down. The Rangers were a crumpled cocktail napkin away from adding a potential hall of farmer to the early 90s team. The packages we throw around with Georgie and Skjei are the base pieces for a possible league buster if there was one that could ever happen in the cap era. Ultimately VBK left in expansion. Hope the Rangers don’t get stuck in that position again.i used to think about Henrik being involved in a modern day Roy trade. That isn’t happening. Let the King play out his contract and them figure out his next steps. Contrary to that thought, I voted option 2. Things aren’t going to go that route.

 

[SA16]

We've been over this numerous times. Lundqvist makes less now percentage wise than he did with his previous contract.

I know it's the thing but looking at cap hit percentage is not as unbiased as thought. A 10% cap hit percentage now is not the same as it was 10 years ago because of ELCs. This is actually a thing in his favor since league minimum has increased at a slower rate than the cap. Therefore if you had x min contracts in the past and have x now you have relatively more money to spend now than you did back then.

 

[wolfgaze]

Rangers should play hardball with Henke given the importance/significance of the circumstances, and inform him of three possible outcomes heading into next season:

- He can spend the majority of the season riding the bench in a back-up role...

- He can agree to a trade and plays out the final year of his contract for another organization in a #1 role

- He can forgo the final year of his deal, reties, and accepts a 1 year 'special front office position' with the Rangers organization

__________________

I'm disinclined to believe that Henke with his competitive nature and legacy would be agreeable to minimal playing time for the final year of his contract (and likely career)... Perhaps if the Rangers express such intentions to him, he would seriously consider agreeing to a trade - or he would give serious consideration to retiring a year early...

 

[Peltz]

At this point, The King is more of an institution than a legend. If you want to chase Hank out you might as well chase the soul and identity of the team away with it. And all you are left with is a bunch of players who make up the NYR, but no one truly loves.

This is such a soft nothing statement and exactly the kind of emotional gobbly-gook that makes for bad decisions.

If that were the front office's mindset, they never would have started the rebuild in the first place.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

This is a tough decision but the team and fans come first. Lundqvist has been a great Ranger but this team needs to figure out a way that the goaltending tandem in the near future will be Shesty and Georgiev. We as Ranger fans know how superior goaltending can carry a team. I think trading Georgiev would be a mistake. Lundqvist is 38 and on the downside and will not be part of this team after his contract is over next year anyway. GMJG has work to do.

 

[Crease]

I know it's an infantismal risk but I hate the idea of moving Georgiev and then Shestyorkin duds out. Just to avoid a one year problem.

 

[nihlify]

Not sure I agree with the implication of the first alternative that giving him "respect" means status quo/playing him equally regardless of his current ability. Seems more like an insult.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

We cant move Georgiev because if Shesterkin struggles at the nhl level it will blow up this rebuild. There is no way they let that happen. Hendrik has to be used less and less this year and force him to ask for a trade. I feel this whole trade Georgiev thing started in Toronto where they would love to get their hands on him, but ofcourse give nothing up for him in typical leaf fashion

 

[haveandare]

Rangers should play hardball with Henke given the importance/significance of the circumstances, and inform him of three possible outcomes heading into next season:

- He can spend the majority of the season riding the bench in a back-up role...

- He can agree to a trade and plays out the final year of his contract for another organization in a #1 role

- He can forgo the final year of his deal, reties, and accepts a 1 year 'special front office position' with the Rangers organization

__________________

I'm disinclined to believe that Henke with his competitive nature and legacy would be agreeable to minimal playing time for the final year of his contract (and likely career)... Perhaps if the Rangers express such intentions to him, he would seriously consider agreeing to a trade - or he would give serious consideration to retiring a year early...

The problem is that none of these are guarantees and Hank is smart enough to know that.

- You tell him he'll ride the bench but then what if someone gets hurt, someone has a really bad stretch? They're not going to give him those games to punish him for simply existing? Not going to happen. On top of that, there's still 3 NHL goalies even if he's the back up so that doesn't solve the problem.

- He can agree to a trade but they can't guarantee him a #1 role anywhere for any amount of time.

- Having a player retire just to earn their salary in a front office job might be questionable from a cap circumvention angle. This gets proposed fairly often but has it actually happened to test if it's allowed?

 

[gorangers0525]

I fully believe he will be a Ranger to the end, but I don't think he will be starting come the end. I could see a 50-50 split rest of this year, and georgiev or even shestyorkin starting next season. Let's be real, at this point in his career he's an average goalie making 8+ million, what contenders can afford that? And he loves NY, he's not going anywhere.

 

[Larrybiv]

Whatever the hell he wants. He’s earned it and turned this team from a disgrace to a powerhouse for years.

I am all about this ^^^ and the loyalty, devotions and overall "King of his Kingdom in net". But.....and this is where I will come off as a hypocrite.
There is not a player out there, that plays forever, (maybe Jagr?) nor does not see the end is coming. You can't ask him to retire as the man wants to play. He obviously sees what he is seeing in Georgiev and knows what is below with Shesty.
Unfortunately/fortunately the Rangers can't and shouldn't "waste time" here. If Shesty is deemed ready then that needs to be addressed. The sooner the better, and could be a solid 1/2 season in Shesty's early career in which (I remind everyone) that we are still NOT supposed to be a cup contender. Allowing Hank to just "sit on his throne" and entertain his "Kingdomness" for the sake of another spot up on a record book is simply a waste of valuable time. I almost can entirelly understand the rest of this year, but NEXT YEAR, and the possibility of Shesty's getting frustrated or going back to his homeland or wherever (and possible regression) I cannot even fathom, and we will regret it someday.

If Hank sincerely LOVES the team like he says he does, he would do the right thing and step aside for the betterment of the team. He wants to play? Okay, you can play a LOT more elsewhere. Go get your Cup.
You wanna stay? That's your decision and you have that right......but, you're playing time HAS TO decrease as we have to do what is best for the organization. NO ONE PLAYER is bigger than the name on the front of the Jersey.
All of the above is void, if Shesty is NOT ready.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I think this will be more of an issue next year. I don't think Shestyorkin will have an issue staying in the AHL this year, and I'm positive he will get some NHL starts before the year is up, whether it be through injury or some other situation.

My best guess in terms of a resolution for this situation is Georgiev gets traded in the summer for a good return, and Igor/Hank man the nets next year. Huska and Wall split time in Hartford. There's a very obvious risk with trading Georgiev because we have no idea what Shestyorkin will do in the NHL, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

I think Shestyorkin will be very good, and if he isn't, you figure it out when the time comes. Huska/Wall are no slouches in their own right. This team has the best goalie coach in the league, they will figure out a solution if it comes to that.

At the end of the day, Henrik is the best Ranger I've seen play and he deserves to go out whatever way he wants. My feelings on this won't change. In some alternate universe, yeah maybe he gets traded to the Sharks for a year and gets to chase a cup before retiring but I don't see it happening.

 

[Larrybiv]

I would split him and Shesty for next year and move Georgiev.

Goalies are ****ing weird and you wanna make your move before their value goes down.

Yes, they are weird. But, there is not much value in goaltending anymore. Funny how that works though. Every team NEEDS good goaltending, yet when there is a good goaltender available.......teams aren't on a noose to acquire them. Go figure.