Starting to hit me now.
I remember his first game vividly. We were all so excited to get this kid from Sweden over. After the first few starts we all knew he was going to be something special. MSG anointed him very quickly as the next great and boy did he live up to it.
The kid turned into a man and put this team on his back season after season. That cannot be understated. He literally carried the team. He was incredibly professional, first class - with an insane work ethic and drive to succeed. He loved to win. His drive, passion and competitiveness were second to none and to me he was the unofficial captain and voice of the Rangers.
I loved listening to his postgames. He was very candid and forthright. He had the pulse of the team in mind and you could tell how much winning meant to him, especially in the playoffs. He always gave maximum effort. He wanted it more than a lot of other players and you could see that.
He will go down in history as one of the Rangers greats and I am happy to say that I was there for it all. All of those nights watching games. I always felt comfortable knowing he was back there, because he never, ever, quit on a play, his teammates or this city.
As things winded down in his career he understood where his place was and didnt say a peep. He took on a very difficult role like a true professional. It was very difficult and thats something fans should never forget. He deserved one last send off before he went to the Caps.
But he'll get his moment when they raise #30 to the rafters. I cant wait to see that and he will continue to be a big part of the Rangers family going forward.
Hen-rik, Hen-rik!