The New York Rangers have retired Henrik Lundqvist’s jersey number 30.
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In a solemn and often touching ceremony, the former goalkeeper was honored in front of a packed arena where 18,200 fans and loved ones.
Lundqvist, who played for Rangers between 2005 and 2020, took a seat on the podium down on the ice in Madison Square Garden with his daughters Charlise and June, his wife Therese, siblings Joel and Gabriella and parents Eva and Peter and followed the tributes with a big smile.
Video: Henrik Lundqvist – a goalkeeper king
– I have been waiting for two years to come back here and thank everyone who has been on my journey, Lundqvist said after the ceremony. I have so many memories of this building and many friends. To see them all again and have my girls and my wife with me was almost unreal. I’m so happy and grateful.
Lundqvist is the goalkeeper who has the most wins ever in Rangers (459), he has played the most matches of all goalkeepers 887), he has the most zeros (64) and the best save percentage (.918) among those who played more than 100 matches. He has the most playoff victories in Tangers (61), has the best playoff percentage 92.1 and the most zeros in the playoffs (10).
– When I look back on my 15 years in Rangers, it is not those personal achievements that I will mainly think about, Lundqvist said during his speech. What gives me the most satisfaction is the way both me and the team gave everything for each other. Everything boils down to a single feeling and that is gratitude. I am very grateful for everything this organization has done for me.
During the ceremony, former goalkeeper colleagues Mike Richter and Kevin Week’s roof and Weeks, who was the goalkeeper Lundqvist succeeded as first goalkeeper in Rangers, were held, praising the Swede’s accuracy, perseverance and winning mentality.
– My friends in Sweden said to me: “Weeksie, That guy who’s going to Rangers, he’s good. Really good. And when he came to New York we all saw how good he was. A great player who took over the world’s most famous arena by storm, he took over New York City by storm and he took over the entire NHL by storm.
During the evening, a number of guests also brought gifts to Lundqvist.
Tennis icon John McEnroe handed over a unique guitar, designed by David Gunnarsson at DaveArt who over the years in the NHL has made all of Lundqvist’s masks.
Rangers materials manager Acacio Marques then handed over a board where all 74 match pucks from the 64 zeros in the regular season and ten in the playoffs had been saved and framed.
Rangers team captains Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome, Barclay Goodrow also handed out an exclusive box of wine to Lundqvist as a thank you for all the wine lotteries he has arranged after each zero.
– Enjoy the trip, Lundqvist said to the Rangers players. Enjoy playing for Rangers and enjoy playing in the best city in the world.
Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, Mike Richter also handed over a suitcase to Henrik to pack now that he has time to go on long trips with the family.
Lundqvist then went with his wife and children to his banner with number 30 and then flew it up to the ceiling with his eyes until it took a seat next to previously retired numbers belonging to Ed Giacomin (1), Brian Leetch (2), Harry Howell (3), Rod Gilbert (7), Adam Graves and Andy Bathgate (9), Mark Messier and Vic Hadfield (11), Jean Ratelle (19) and Mike Richter (35).
– When you charge for a match, you still know quite well what to expect, Lundqvist said after the ceremony. I have been here for a long time without even knowing what was coming. But it was amazing. Getting out on the ice with family and friends on site was an incredible feeling.
– This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life. Thank you so much, thank you so much, thank you so much.
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