Sep 30: The Rangers have officially announced the buyout. Because of his no-movement clause, there was no need for unconditional waivers. In the press release, Rangers president John Davidson outlined some of the reasons Lundqvist meant so much to the city of New York:
We would like to thank Henrik for his immeasurable contributions to the New York Rangers. From the time I met Henrik when he first came to New York in 2005, he has been the consummate professional. His tireless work ethic, passion for the game, and love of the Rangers and New York City enabled him to become one of the greatest goaltenders in hockey and one of the best players in the history of our franchise. We all wish Henrik and his family the best going forward.
Sep 29: The end of an era is upon us. After 15 years of brilliant play in the New York net, the Rangers and decorated goaltender Henrik Lundqvist are set to part ways. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the Rangers will buy out the final year of Lundqvist’s contract, with an announcement expected on Wednesday. At 38, Lundqvist will be an unrestricted free agent for the very first time.
As Dreger explains, this was not an easy decision for New York. Few players have meant as much to a team in NHL history as Lundqvist has to the Rangers since 2005. The potential future Hall of Famer was a Vezina Trophy winner, a First-Team All-Star, and a wins leader, among many other honors in his long career. Lundqvist leads all active goaltenders in career games played, saves, shutouts, and goals saved above average, acting as a workhorse starter for the Blueshirts for much of his career. While he still has a chance to build on this reputation, it won’t be in New York. The team explored all options, but must move forward with young upstart keepers Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev, leaving no room on the roster for Lundqvist, especially at his high cap hit.
With just one year remaining on the seven-year, $59.5MM contract that Lundqvist signed back in 2013, the buyout will only impose penalties against the salary cap for two seasons. CapFriendly projects that Lundqvist’s $4.5MM base salary and $1MM signing bonus in this final year will count toward the salary cap in full for a total hit of $5.5MM in 2020-21. In 2021-22, the penalty will be just $1.5MM. The $3MMM in savings this season for the Rangers will give the team even more flexibility to re-sign their pending restricted free agents while also exploring the free agent market for additional help.
Lundqvist meanwhile will hit a free agent market that is already chock full of goalies, most of whom are not coming off the worst season of their careers. Quickly approaching 40 and in steep decline over the past four or five years, it is hard to imagine Lundqvist getting any more than a small, one-year contract to serve as a backup. However, the decorated netminder already has plenty of money and accolades. All he wants at this point in his career is to sign with a team that give him the one thing he doesn’t have: a Stanley Cup.
Honestly surprised nobody would bring him in for only one year but maybe the Rangers weren’t willing to part with another asset like they did with Staal.
why would a team trade for him and absorb that cap hit. now they can get him for likely less than 2.
I’m sure the leafs and send rumours will begin
An asset would’ve came with him
I get that but the cap hit is high for the competitive teams for a backup or 1B and for the teams well below the cap, most will have internal salary constraints.
I get the idea and it works for an everyday guy but not for a guy who will be lucky to see 40 games.
Yes I agree I’m not mistaking this for prime Lundqvist. But if I’m a team like Ottawa or Detroit, I’ll gladly take on Lundqvists cap hit if that money brought me another guaranteed prospect or pick. Or else you could be a team like STL or Washington, and you just brought in a great insurance option for their goalies while binging in another trade chip or asset while upgrading their goaltending situation.
Why would he want to go to Detroit or Ottawa?
Gotta agree with MBJW. Lundqvist had a full no move clause so that means he absolutely gets to determine where he’d go. Can’t see him choosing to go to many places that weren’t big markets, cup contenders, or had a strong Swedish presence (think LA, Pittsburgh, or Vancouver). But then you have to get a team that meets that criteria, has cap space and believes that Henrik can play 30-40 games, deliver a .910+ save percentage, is better than any of the other goalies on the market, and is worth 8.5 million a season. Melnyk just bought out Ryan because they’re cheap, so no to Ottawa, St Louis doesn’t have a goalie issue and traded away a cheaper more dependable (at this stage) goalie and are scrounging to get money for Pietrangelo, so no there, Washington have no cap space to do this and ice 6 NHL d, and the Red Wings make no sense from any standpoint and they just did the Rangers a solid. Buying him out was the only option.
The guy bleeds Rangers Blue. Thank you for all you’ve done as a Ranger and a New Yorker
There really are no words to express what Lundqvist has meant to the city of New York. While he is no longer the goalie that he used to be, a lot of his prime was spent on really mediocre Rangers teams. The only reason they ever made the finals was due to him and they lost when the Kings exposed the offense of that team. I’m incredibly sad to see him go. I wish him the best of luck. This is a great guy to have in the locker room and a true workhorse. I hope someone gives him a chance to help them out and I hope even more that he can get a cup before he retires, he deserves it.
I’ll leave with this, thank you for all your hard work and showing NYC what a true #1 goalie is capable of.
Wondering if Blues,Av’s or Vegas might be willing to let him serve as a backup.Maybe Pen’s for one year. I do think the Pen’s run run is over. Just trying to make some sense and logic.
the Vegas fit could be decent if they roll with Lehner for 60 and King Henrik is cheap. leafs could be interested if they trade Andersen in a 1AB situation with Campbell. could have two goalies for less than 4. any penny pinching to being in that RHD.
I think if he asks for less than 2.5, you are going to see a half dozen minimum with interest
The Blues would be a great fit.
Vegas already has two goalies good everyone
Vegas is not going to be keeping those 2 goalies next season
Tough day for Ranger fans. Makes sense, had to be done, but still sad to see a part of Ranger history end.
Roberto Luongo but prettier.
@The Mistake of Giving Eugene Melnyk a Liver Transplant – AND, a Rock Star!
Please go to SJ and Mentor Jones for a couple of years, can’t stand him in the SJ net.
Go sign with the AVS & get that long overdue Cup.
AVS would be a great spot for him. AVS 2020-21, Rangers 2021-22
It’s sad that this is how it had to end, but wow what a ride! Thank you Henrik for all those great years as a Blueshirt! We would’ve never been the team we were without you! Always handled yourself like a pro even with a tough season getting demoted to the #2 and sometimes #3 goalie. GO GET YOURSELF A CUP!!!
DEVILS
Absolutely.
– Martin Brodeur
-Uncle Daddy
How? The Devils are paying Schneider 6 million this season and next. Why would they bring in another veteran thus ensuring that Schneider is either bought out or is sent down to the AHL to collect a 6 million dollar salary?
The writing was on the wall the last half of the season. Once Shesterkin got called up it was over for Hank. The kid was virtually unbeatable and quickly became a fan favourite and put the team back in the playoff race. Hank should cash that last check and say thank ya very much, retire, and join the Rangers front office. I’m not sure he finds a home in the NHL next season with all the goalies available.
Hate to see him go,but this move had to be made.Long Live The King!
“Few players have meant as much to a team in NHL history as Lundqvist has to the Rangers..”
This seems a little bit over the top. He didn’t even win a Cup with the team. Sure, he meant a lot but I wouldn’t put him behind just a few players.
He brought them as close to a cup as you possibly can with a mediocre team in front of him, he meant more to this franchise than anyone else the past 20 years
I think caps fans would argue as it pertains to Ovie
There’s a difference between “to the Rangers in the last 20 years” and “all teams in NHL history”.