Henrik Lundqvist

Lundqvist redirects here. For the Iowa Stars center, see Joel Lundqvist

Henrik Lundqvist
Born	March 2, 1982 Åre, SWE
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team	New York Rangers
NHL draft	205th overall, 2000 New York Rangers
Playing career	2000–present

Olympic medal record
Men's Ice hockey
	2006 Turin	Ice hockey

Henrik Lundqvist (b. March 2, 1982, in Åre, Sweden) is a Swedish goaltender for the New York Rangers. After only one season, he is considered to be one of the better goaltenders in the National Hockey League, and was nominated for the Vezina Trophy. He has an identical twin brother, Joel Lundqvist of the Dallas Stars.

Often called "Henke" or "Lunkan" (Swedish hypocorisms of his first and last name, respectively) by his Swedish fans, his dominating play during his rookie season resulted in the New York media and Rangers fans giving him the nicknames "King Henrik." During games fans are known to chant "Hen-rik."

European career

Born in Åre, Sweden, Lundqvist began his professional hockey career at the age of 18 with Swedish Elitserien League team Frölunda HC (then known as Västra Frölunda). In 180 appearances with Frölunda he compiled a 1.96 goals against average and a .927 save percentage, leading them to four consecutive playoff appearances and winning two titles, in 2003 and 2005.

While playing in the Elitserien, Lundqvist was the starting goaltender for the Swedish national men's hockey team, earning a silver medal at the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.

During the 2005 season, he broke four Swedish national records: lowest goals against average (1.05), best save percentage (.962), longest time without allowing a goal (172 min 29 sec) and most shutouts in a season (6). He was also named Best Goaltender, Best Swedish Player and was selected as the league's MVP by fellow players.

Drafted by the Rangers with the 205th selection in the 7th round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Lundqvist was considered by many to be the best goaltending prospect to come out of Sweden, and got a chance to prove it in his rookie season.

NHL career

File:LundqvistNYPostGold.jpg

Lundqvist wins the gold medal

A Ranger fan favorite, Lundqvist posted his first career NHL win against the New Jersey Devils on October 13 2005, and his first career shutout on October 17 2005 against the Florida Panthers. He was named Defensive Player of the Week twice (October 23–30, 2005 and January 16–22, 2006). Rangers starting goalie Kevin Weekes was injured in the beginning of the season and Lundqvist stepped in admirably, winning the fans over with his play.

On January 22 2006, Lundqvist became the first Rangers goalie since Mike Richter to record 20 wins in his rookie season in a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Then on March 29 2006, he became the leader in victories by a New York Rangers rookie goaltender with his 30th win over their traditional rivals, the New York Islanders.

Lundqvist was a finalist for the 2005-2006 Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's best goaltender. Despite a 30 win season in his rookie year, he was not a finalist for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year, though this was due to a high crop of first-year players, including Alexander Ovechkin, Dion Phaneuf, and Sidney Crosby. He won the 2005-06 MetLife/Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, a New York Rangers team award.

He came off the NHL Awards 2006 ranked third for best goalkeeper and appointed to the All Rookie Team.

Lundqvist finished the season with a record of 30-12-9, with a 2.24 goals against average (5th in league) and a .922 save percentage (4th in league), along with two shutouts. The Rangers finished 3rd in the Atlantic division and 6th in the Eastern Conference.

He was afforded the opportunity to play his twin brother on December 14th, 2006, in Dallas. It was the first time that a goaltender faced his twin. He and his brother are only the third set of twins to play each other in an NHL game in the history of the league.

He was among the league leaders in several categories; fifth in goals against average (2.24), fourth in save percentage (.922), tied for 11th in wins (30) and tied for 16th in shutouts with two. He posted a 21-6-4 record, along with a 1.96 goals against average and a .931 save percentage at Madison Square Garden. In shootouts, he posted a 4-3 record, along with a .757 save percentage. On March 29,2006 he recorded 18 saves in a 5-1 victory against the New York Islanders and tallied his 30th win of the season, breaking the Rangers rookie goaltending wins record previously held by Jim Henry with 29 in 1941-1942 and Johnny Bower (29, 1953-54)

He became the first Ranger rookie to post 20 wins in a season since Mike Richter recorded 21 in 1990-91, stopping 31 shots in a 3-1 win on Jan. 22 vs. the New Jersey Devils. Posted his first career shutout and notched his third consecutive victory on Oct. 17 vs. the Florida Panthers, stopping 23 shots in the 4-0 triumph, becoming the first rookie goaltender to record a shutout for the Rangers since John Vanbiesbrouck on Jan. 2, 1985 (6-0 win vs. the Vancouver Canucks).

Made his Rangers/NHL debut on Oct. 8 at New Jersey, stopping 24 of 27 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss.

Was named First Star seven times, Second Star 12 times, and Third Star six times on the season. Appeared in three playoff games, posting an 0-3 record, along with a 4.40 goals against average and an .835 save percentage in a series loss to the Devils.

2006 Winter Olympics

As starting goaltender for the Swedish national men's hockey team at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Lundqvist led the team to a gold medal over their archrival, Finland. With only 30 seconds left in the final, Lundquist did a fantastic and almost impossible save and brought home the gold for Sweden. In six Olympic starts, Lundqvist went 5-1, allowing only 12 goals with a .907 save percentage.

Off the ice

In April 2006 he was named one of People's World's 100 Most Beautiful People.

In December 2004, The Hockey News rated him the sixth European prospect and the lone goaltender in their European top 10 list. Also in December, Lundqvist joined fellow Rangers prospect Al Montoya on McKeen's list of top goaltending prospects, where he was ranked seventh amongst that group.

Appeared in the February 2006 issue of Gotham Magazine with several of his rookie teammates.

Twin brother Joel, was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 8th round of the 2000 NHL Entry draft.

Is a big rock music fan and played guitar in a band in Frolunda.

Awards

• Named Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year in 2002.
• Awarded Honken Trophy (Swedish Goalie of the Year) in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
• Awarded Guldpucken (Swedish Player of the Year) in 2005.
• Awarded Guldhjälmen (Swedish Most Valuable Player) in 2005.
• Elitserien champion with Frölunda HC in 2003 and 2005.
• Silver medal the 2003 and 2004 World Championships.
• Named Best Goalie at the 2004 World Championships.
• Named to the All-Star Team at the 2004 World Championship.
• Olympic Gold medal with Sweden in 2006.
• Nominated for the Vezina Trophy (Best NHL Goalie) in 2006.
• Named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2006.
• Awarded the MetLife/Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in 2006.
• Awarded the New York Rangers Team Award in 2006.

Records

• Elitserien record for GAA of season 2003 (1.45)
• Elitserien record for SVS% of season 2003 (94.81)
• Elitserien record for GAA of season 2005 (1.79)
• Elitserien record for SVS% of season 2005 (93.55)

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
2000-01	Frölunda HC	Elit		4				191	11	0	3.46
2001-02	Frölunda HC	Elit		20				1153	52	2	2.71
2002-03	Frölunda HC	Elit		28				1651	40	6	1.45
2003-04	Frölunda HC	Elit		48				2898	105	7	2.17
2004-05	Frölunda HC	Elit		44				2641	79	6	1.79
2005-06	New York Rangers	NHL		53	30	12	0	3111	116	2	2.24
Elitserien totals				144				8534	287	21	2.02
NHL totals				53	30	12	0	3111	116	2	2.24

Post-season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
2001-02	Frölunda HC	Elit		8				490	18	2	2.21
2002-03	Frölunda HC	Elit		12				740	26	2	2.11
2003-04	Frölunda HC	Elit		10				610	20	0	1.97
2004-05	Frölunda HC	Elit		14				855	15	6	1.05
2005-06	New York Rangers	NHL		3	0	3	0	177	13	0	4.41
Elitserien totals				44				2695	79	10	1.76
NHL totals				3	0	3	0	177	13	0	4.41

References

• Biography on NewYorkRangers.com

See also

• Notable families in the NHL