J.T. Brown #23 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates into goalie Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers through the second interval in Recreation Six of the Jap Convention Closing through the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on the Amalie Area on Could 26, 2015 in Tampa, Florida.
Scott Audette | NHLI | Getty Photos
Longtime New York Rangers star Henrik Lundqvist is being formally elevated into “hockey legend” standing on Friday evening.
The winningest goaltender in franchise historical past can have his No. 30 jersey retired at an on-ice ceremony at Madison Sq. Backyard earlier than Friday’s recreation versus the Minnesota Wild. He might be solely the eleventh participant within the crew’s lengthy historical past to obtain the dignity.
“It may be superb to share this second with all of the followers, and clearly my closest family and friends, they’re all flying in from Sweden,” Lundqvist mentioned in a CNBC interview.
The Swedish-born hockey star performed 15 seasons for the Blueshirts, ranks sixth on the NHL’s all-time wins listing for goalies and holds greater than 50 crew data.
Following his illustrious profession with the Rangers, Lundqvist signed a one-year, $1.5 million cope with the Washington Capitals, however a coronary heart situation prevented him from ever taking part in for the Caps. He introduced his retirement in August following open-heart surgical procedure to restore a leaky valve.
“Ultimately, it was not meant to be. The guts mentioned no,” Lundqvist advised CNBC. “To have coronary heart surgical procedure was a loopy expertise. It actually was not one thing I anticipated that I must expertise in my life.”
Right now, Lundqvist is grappling with the top of his on-ice profession and what comes subsequent, and thus far along with his broadcast duties as an MSG studio analyst, he is teamed up with Caesars to assist launch sports activities betting in New York.
Lundqvist mentioned he’s desirous to delve additional into the fan expertise, an space the place he earned a fame as a participant who for years was centered on followers on the Backyard.
Sports activities betting, Lundqvist mentioned, holds promise to spice up the fan base for hockey. “I believe it can entice extra individuals watching the sport, and it will likely be extra thrilling for individuals who haven’t essentially watched the sport earlier than,” he mentioned.
Lundqvist added he feels at peace and stuffed with gratitude about his professional hockey profession — and anticipating no matter comes subsequent.
“You undergo totally different phases when issues occur, however whenever you attain that gratitude stage, you are simply grateful for therefore many issues that made me very blissful, even at first began taking place with the center,” he mentioned.
See CNBC’s full interview with Henrik Lundqvist beneath.
