By Frank Pingue
(Reuters) -Henrik Lundqvist announced his retirement from ice hockey on Friday after a remarkable career during which he was one of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) greatest goalies and also helped lead Sweden to an Olympic gold medal.
The 39-year-old Lundqvist, who set a slew of records during a 15-season stint with the New York Rangers, had open-heart surgery in January that forced him to miss the entire 2020-21 NHL season.
“It’s time,” Lundqvist wrote on Twitter. “For the last 30 years, I have devoted my life to the game of hockey … and now it’s time to walk away from the game I love and begin a new chapter.”
Lundqvist holds more than 50 Rangers franchise records, including the all-time mark for wins, appearances by a keeper, shutouts, playoff appearances and playoff wins.
Known as “The King”, Lundqvist won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender for the 2011-12 season and was a finalist for the award in four other years.
Lundqvist, who helped Sweden claim the Olympic gold medal in 2006 and silver in 2014, has more career NHL wins (459) than any other non-North American born goalkeeper and reached the 400-win mark faster than any other in his position.
Lundqvist’s playing time with the Rangers decreased during his final season and the team ultimately bought out the final year of his contract, ending the Swede’s 15-season run as the face of the NHL’s most valuable franchise.
The Rangers said they will retire Lundqvist’s No. 30 at a game during the 2021-22 season, making him the 11th player from the organisation to have his number hang from the rafters of Madison Square Garden.
“Henrik’s commitment to excellence made him one of the best goaltenders to ever play the game of hockey, and we are so fortunate to have witnessed his greatness firsthand for 15 years,” the Rangers said in a statement.
“Henrik is, and always will be, a Ranger.”
Lundqvist signed a one-year contract last October to play for the Washington Capitals but never suited up for the team due to a heart condition that required surgery.
“Thank you @rangers and New York City. I’m a born Swede but I’ll always feel like a New Yorker thanks to you,” Lundqvist wrote. “Thank you @NHL. This league was everything I dreamed of and more.
“Lastly, thank you to the game of hockey and its fans! You gave my life purpose and I have loved every single minute of it!”
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in TorontoEditing by Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar)
