Long may he reign.
The New York Rangers celebrated the career of former goaltender Henrik Lundqvist on Friday night, retiring his number 30 to hang amongst the rafters in Madison Square Garden with the 10 other players who hold that honour.
Lundqvist joined the Rangers at the start of the 2005-06 season, five years removed from his seventh-round selection (205th overall) in the 2000 NHL Draft. He would go on to suit up in a Rangers uniform for the next 15 seasons, becoming the greatest goaltender in the franchise’s 95-year history.
Lundqvist is franchise leader in wins (459), games played by a goalie (887), shutouts (64), and save percentage among those with 100 or more games played (.918).
The Rangers, media, and fans all over the hockey world took the opportunity to pay tribute to “The King.”
goes up to the rafters in @TheGarden pic.twitter.com/COP2ln83ck
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 29, 2022
HEN-RIK pic.twitter.com/Gv0Vmgu5cv
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 28, 2022
Henrik Lundqvist now has his No. 30 jersey in the @NYRangers rafters pic.twitter.com/kZh1ygSXtT
— ESPN (@espn) January 29, 2022
Lundqvist was the King which made these moments rare but very special. He and Marty were the best part of Devils v Rangers rivalry during my time in Jersey.
To hang in the rafters of MSG Congrats to the on a storied career. pic.twitter.com/O04MfdnCMy
— Ryan Carter (@Ryan_Carter22) January 29, 2022
