Tribute Henrik Lundqvist Retires

[ElLeetch]

Impressively quick, going from "player will retire" to the team going "his number is going up this season", no?

 

[Idlerlee]

The King has abdicated.

I'm looking forward to a day in the future when Emperor GM Hank takes control.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Messier with the Sharks, Richter with the Oilers, Lundqvist with the Caps.

It only counts if you want it to count.

 

[Machinehead]

Officially never played for the f***ing Capitals. Thank God for that.

 

[sbjnyc]

Messier with the Sharks, Richter with the Oilers, Lundqvist with the Caps.

It only counts if you want it to count.

Selfishly I'm glad he only played NHL games with the Rangers but of course I'd prefer him to be healthy and playing for the Caps.

 

[JohnC]

I am sad.

Really wished he was okay with playing 2nd fiddle to Shesty this past season with a Georgiev trade. I think we see a lot less drama surrounding the team with him still in the locker room.

 

[cheech70]

I forgot how acrobatic Hank was in his earlier years

 

[sbjnyc]

 

[Idlerlee]

How many times did Sam say "off the post" when Hank made the save? At least 5 lol

Man I miss the NYR of 4-6 years ago. Such soul to that group

 

[NYRFAN218]

When it comes to his jersey retirement night does the player get to have a say on the date? Zuccarello will be here on January 28. Staal on December 27. Those are just two of his old longtime teammates that are still active in the league.

I’d imagine it’s something mutually agreed upon by Hank and the team. 1/28 seems like the perfect date with Zucc in town.

 

[LORDE]

I'm going to cry like a baby watching it

I cried for Mess, cried while in attendance for Leetch, cried for Gravy & Richter

I CERTAINLY will for this one... but these won't ALL be tears of joy.

Yes most will be those kind of tears...

But some... some will be painful tears... "What if..." tears and "DAMN he deserved better" tears.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Happy he's healthy and Congrats on an amazing career

 

[inthe6ix]

So he retired a Cap, not a Ranger??

WTF is this bush league **** Drury.

Hank, you deserved better.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

So he retired a Cap, not a Ranger??

WTF is this bush league **** Drury.

Hank, you deserved better.

Drury wasn't the one who bought him out.

 

[we want cup]

No Hank highlight reel will do justice to his skill because the most impressive part of his game wasn’t the crazy acrobatic saves, but the saves that he made easily by being in perfect position all the time. Lots of goalies flop around and make routine saves look like highlights while Hank made challenging plays look routine. The consistency, dedication, and leadership he showed were unbelievable, and all for a team that often provided him with little support and no margin for error (e.g. the 2012 Devils series where the only games we won were shutouts).

It was embarrassing to be a Ranger fan in 2004 and without Hank we would have been a disaster for a lot longer. Very grateful to have gotten to watch such an incredible talent, but even more so for the grace with which Hank carried himself. His character and decency are more important than any award or championship, but I do hope he is able to be a part of the staff for a Cup win at some point.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Even this brings me to tears lmao I will be a wreck on his retirement night

 

[nsvoyageurs]

I congratulate Henrik Lundqvist on his great career and his impact on the NY Rangers and the community. It's unfortunate he wasn't able to win a Cup (was a break or two here and there from winning one in 2014). He kept the team competitive on the ice when the talent around him wasn't overwhelming. Stole games the team had no business winning. He made the organization relevant, especially after the dark ages of the late 1990s-early 2000s.

He will always be a NY Ranger. I don't mind he signed with Washington last year; the team didn't have room for him with the cap and Shestyorkin and Georgiev around in the process of taking over the net, and he wanting to continue to play; I don't begrudge him that; I don't begrudge the organization from moving on.

I wish him a long, healthy and happy post retirement; he has earned it. Thank you, Henrik Lundqvist.

 

[bbny]

I hope they do this:

Imagine an arena full of people singing Happy Birthday to the King after getting his jersey put in the rafters

 

[Rangers2319]

my birthday is on mar 2 too lolllll

 

[Bricho]

Imagine an arena full of people singing Happy Birthday to the King after getting his jersey put in the rafters

I just bought a pair for that night off of Stubhub. Worth the risk and there’s some serious option value though I will still spend serious money no matter what date they set.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I just bought a pair for that night off of Stubhub. Worth the risk and there’s some serious option value though I will still spend serious money no matter what date they set.

Same here. Got a pair in 223. Why the hell not

 

[SML2]

So he retired a Cap, not a Ranger??

WTF is this bush league **** Drury.

Hank, you deserved better.

His contract expired. I don't think he retired as anyone.

 

[EdJovanovski]

And here's a throwback to a post he made saying he was still the best anyway after the Rangers loss in the 2014 final (which was before Shesterkin was drafted by the Rangers)

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[Peltz]

Impressively quick, going from "player will retire" to the team going "his number is going up this season", no?

Considering the player, it’s justifiably instantaneous. We all knew Hank’s name would be in the rafters a decade ago. Why wait?

Much deserved. I was at Leetch’s number retirement game, so I hope I can be at this one too.