If you walked into Madison Square Garden on a random Tuesday night between 2005 and 2020, there was one thing you could bet your mortgage on. No, not a Rangers win—this is hockey, after all—but the fact that the guy in the crease for the home team was going to look like he was playing a different sport than everyone else.
Henrik Lundqvist didn't just play goalie. He inhabited the position with a sort of frantic, high-fashion intensity that New York hadn't seen before and hasn't really seen since. Honestly, even with the rise of Igor Shesterkin, the "King Henrik" era feels like a fever dream of logic-defying saves and impeccably tailored suits.
But here is the thing. Most people remember the highlights—the 2012 Vezina, the Olympic gold in Turin, the heartbreaking 2014 Cup Final run. They forget how close we came to never seeing him in the NHL at all.
The 205th Pick Nobody Wanted
In the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, 204 players were called before Henrik Lundqvist. Think about that for a second. Scouts saw 22 other goaltenders they liked better. He was a "throwaway" seventh-round pick. Basically, the Rangers took a flyer on a skinny kid from Åre, Sweden, who was playing for Frölunda’s junior team.
He didn't even come over to North America for five years.
When he finally arrived in 2005, he wasn't supposed to be the starter. Kevin Weekes was the guy. Then Weekes got hurt in the second game of the season, and the King climbed onto the throne. He never really got off it. He didn't just win; he became the only goalie in NHL history to record 30 wins in each of his first seven seasons.
He stayed for 15 years.
That kind of longevity in New York is rare. You've got to have thick skin to survive the Garden when things go sideways. Lundqvist didn't just survive; he thrived on the pressure. He holds the NHL record for most Game 7 wins, tied at six. When the season was on the line, he was a literal wall.
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The Heartbreak and the Heart Surgery
The end was weird. There’s no other way to put it.
After 887 games with the Rangers, the team bought him out in 2020. It was the end of an era that felt like it deserved a better goodbye. He signed a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals, and for a minute, we all had to wrap our heads around seeing him in red.
It never happened.
During his physical in Washington, doctors found a leaky aortic valve. It wasn't just a "minor issue." The pressure in his heart had tripled. He needed open-heart surgery.
He actually tried to come back. People forget this part. In early 2021, just months after having his chest cracked open, he was back on the ice. He was skating. He was ready to join the Caps for the playoffs. Then, the chest pain started again.
What is Recurrent Pericarditis?
It turns out he was dealing with recurrent pericarditis (RP). Basically, the sac around his heart was inflamed. Every time he pushed his body to that elite athlete level, his heart fought back.
- The Surgery: Replacement of the aortic valve and aortic root.
- The Complication: Recurrent inflammation that made high-intensity exercise dangerous.
- The Outcome: Forced retirement in August 2021.
It's sorta tragic when you hear him talk about it now. He recently mentioned on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast that he felt he had at least three more years of elite hockey left in him. His body was ready; his heart just wouldn't cooperate.
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Why 2026 is a Big Year for the King
Lundqvist isn't just sitting around collecting watches—though he does have a pretty legendary collection. As we move through 2026, his presence in the hockey world is actually growing.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023, but the accolades haven't stopped. Just last year, in May 2025, he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Sweden. He’s one of the few players who is just as much a hero in Stockholm as he is in Manhattan.
And now, with the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina on the horizon, Lundqvist is everywhere. He’s been one of the most vocal supporters of NHL players returning to the Olympic stage. Since he won gold in 2006 and silver in 2014, he knows exactly what these guys are playing for.
Life After the Crease
If you turn on MSG Networks today, you’ll see him in the studio. He’s good at it, too. He breaks down the game with Steve Valiquette, and honestly, the chemistry is better than most national broadcasts.
But his real legacy is the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation.
He’s spent the last decade raising millions for children’s health and education. He does this "Young Ambassadors" program that gets kids involved in community service. It’s not just a tax write-off; he’s actually there, doing the work.
The Stats That Actually Matter
We can talk about the 459 wins all day. That's the most by any European-born goalie in history. But look at the save percentages.
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In an era where scoring started to climb, Lundqvist put up a career $.918$ save percentage. In the playoffs? It went up to $.921$. Most goalies shrink when the lights get bright. He got bigger.
- Vezina Trophy: 2012 (Nominated 5 times total).
- Olympic Medals: Gold (2006), Silver (2014).
- Rangers Records: Wins (459), Shutouts (64), Playoff wins (61).
- International: World Championship Gold (2017).
What Most People Get Wrong
People think he was just a "positional" goalie. That he just stood there and let the puck hit him because his technique was so perfect.
That’s a lie.
Lundqvist was an absolute battle-ax in the crease. He played deep—deeper than almost any other goalie in the league. This gave him more time to react, but it also meant he had to be insanely athletic to cover the cross-crease passes. He wasn't just "well-positioned"; he was a world-class athlete with some of the fastest hands the game has ever seen.
He also had a temper. If a teammate screened him or missed a coverage, they heard about it. That fire is what made him "The King."
Actionable Insights for Hockey Fans
If you want to understand the "Lundqvist Style" or why he’s still the gold standard for Rangers fans, here is what you should do:
- Watch the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals Game 6: His shutout against Montreal to send the Rangers to the Finals is a masterclass in controlled aggression.
- Follow the HLF Young Ambassadors: If you have kids who love hockey, this foundation is a great way to see the "human" side of the pro game.
- Check out "The Mask" on MSG: It’s an older series, but it shows the creative side of his personality, from mask design to his love of music (he plays a mean guitar, by the way).
- Keep an eye on the 2026 Olympics: Lundqvist will likely be a major part of the Swedish delegation or the broadcast team, and his insights on the international game are second to none.
Henrik Lundqvist didn't need a Stanley Cup to prove he was the best of his generation. The numbers, the hardware, and the way he carried a franchise for a decade and a half speak for themselves. He took a 7th-round jersey and turned it into a permanent spot in the MSG rafters.
That doesn't happen by accident.