Hockey goalies across the NHL are worried about what’s coming in a week. Also because, for the first time in his career, the legendary Henrik Lundqvist is free.
The expected free trade will begin in the North American NHL next Friday. This year’s market attracts, among other things, a plethora of interesting goalkeepers. Anyone who wants to make changes in the goal area has a chance.
Robin Lehner, resurrected by Jacob Markström and Braden Holtby in life form, will be resurrected.
Many can then welcome the services of veterans, such as the recent Stanley Cup finalist Anton Chudobin or Chicago’s longtime support Corey Crawford.
The second category also includes 37-year-old Lundqvist.
He is a free agent for the first time. For the previous 15 seasons, he played for the Rangers, with whom he gradually signed four contracts. In the latter, he averaged $ 8.5 million a year (about 200 million crowns). However, he did not finish it. The New York club retreated the man nicknamed “King Henrik” by paying the contract. Awaited. He wants to rely on the young Russians Igor Sestorkin and Alexander Georgiev.
Lundqvist will receive $ 5.5 million in compensation over the next two years. And he can either end his career or sign a contract elsewhere.
His CV is enough for another big deal. In the basic part, he collected 459 prizes, by far the most of all Europeans. Overall, he is sixth, with Roberto Luongo (91.9 percent) of the group having a better success rate, only a tenth.
In the last two years, Lundqvist has felt his age (success rate below 91 percent, which did not happen to him before), but he still performed a little better than, for example, Holtby.
It makes sense for him to go to a club with which he has a chance to reach the Stanley Cup, the only trophy he really misses next to the gold from the Olympics and the World Cup.
Of course, he will have to accept a lower salary and bite the role of a mentor and a double, or fight for the position of number one.
The overseas media are already putting together lists where Lundqvist could go. And they often mention teams with a Czech goalkeeper.
Instead of Mrázek, or next to Rittich?
Probably the most talked about is Carolina. “Her biggest question mark is the goal area. Petr Mrázek and James Reimer have contracts with them for the last year, but the club may exchange one of them for Lundqvist,” the station said in an analysis. CBS.
It’s no secret that Carolina peeks at the goalkeepers. In addition, it has goods that are of interest elsewhere. After Mrázek according to the station TSN still hungry Edmonton.
The changes may well take place in Calgary, where Cam Talbot’s contract ended and David Rittich is now the only proven goalkeeper of the team. “Calgary needs to bring someone. Lundqvist might like his promising list,” the server writes. NorthJersey.com.
Colorado could also be interested in a stellar Swede, where Pavel Francouz covers his back to Philippe Grubauer. “Avalanche-narrowed Avalanche has finished the playoffs with a third goalkeeper for the second time in three years. This time they may want to make sure they have enough competition in this position and leave the French with his two million contract on the farm while Grubauer and Lundqvist are healthy,” Denver Post.
However, Colorado general manager Joe Sakic said that he still counts on the current tandem, so this variant seems the least likely.
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