Henrik Lundqvist Talks Rangers, Shesterkin, 2024-25 NHL Season, Extra in B/R Interview

Few fanbases in NHL historical past are extra spoiled in terms of goaltending than the New York Rangers, and that glorious degree of play figures to proceed with Igor Shesterkin through the 2024-25 season.

Simply ask the final legend who was between the pipes for New York.

“He is been so regular ever since he entered the league,” Henrik Lundqvist informed Bleacher Report.

“His skill to learn the performs and be very environment friendly in the best way he performs goaltender and the best way he strikes upright in his stance permits him to maneuver fairly rapidly on his toes. I count on him to be among the finest goaltenders once more. He is up there yearly and difficult the highest guys within the league with the best way he performs and his skill to come back up large when it issues.”

Going from 15 years of an all-time nice and Corridor of Famer in Lundqvist to Shesterkin virtually appears unfair for the remainder of the league, and the 28-year-old is efficiently following his predecessor’s footsteps as a star within the Huge Apple.

The 2-time All-Star gained the 2021-22 Vezina Award as league’s prime goalie when he led the NHL in save proportion (.935) and targets in opposition to common (2.07) and was spectacular as soon as once more final season with a .912 save proportion and a couple of.58 targets in opposition to common.

Shesterkin virtually delivered the Rangers their first Stanley Cup since 1994, however they misplaced within the Japanese Convention Ultimate to the eventual-champion Florida Panthers. It was the second time in three years New York misplaced within the Japanese Convention Ultimate, which is the same concern that has plagued the staff since reaching the game’s mountaintop 30 years in the past.

Lundqvist led the Unique Six membership to the playoffs in 12 of his 15 seasons from 2005 to 2020, together with when he reached the Stanley Cup Ultimate in 2014. Nonetheless, they have been unable to raise the trophy, persevering with fairly the drought for one of many league’s most iconic franchises.

However they could have the expertise to lastly recover from the hump in 2024-25 with Artemi Panarin, Shesterkin and Co. main the best way.

“Anytime you are shut, you recognize there’s not a number of adjustments that should be made,” Lundqvist mentioned. “A number of instances, it is perhaps only one position participant away from taking that step. For those who take a look at the Rangers, they’ve the massive core with nice defensemen and forwards and clearly goaltending with Igor and [Jonathan] Fast as a backup. I believe the necessary roles there are set.

“It comes down typically to that good position participant on the third or fourth line who might be that further spark in a protracted playoff run. Trying how shut they got here final yr, it is extra about persevering with what they did and enhancing small issues right here or there. Their skill final yr to come back again in video games is what impressed me essentially the most, and that is a very good signal of a resilient staff and good management.”

Whereas Lundqvist will spend time this winter rooting for his former staff, he took benefit of the offseason by partnering with the Swedish outside model RevolutionRace.

He and his brother, Joel, became ambassadors for the model to assist them rediscover their roots and embrace their love of the outside and actions corresponding to mountaineering, snowboarding and mountain biking:

“It has been nice,” Lundqvist mentioned of the partnership. “I grew up in a ski city, skied quite a bit and spent a number of time outside. After which hockey took over for 20 years, 5 years in Sweden and 15 in New York. I did not actually have the chance to go snowboarding or spend time exterior and in nature.

“As quickly as I retired, the one factor I actually wished to select up once more was snowboarding. It has been superior. I actually get pleasure from being within the mountains. I like that distinction in life, residing in New York Metropolis with the vitality that is right here after which the flip facet to go someplace completely quiet up within the mountains. … It felt like a terrific match the place I am at in life proper now, and it was a chance to do one thing with my brother, Joel.”

It is among the alternatives that comes with being a hockey icon, which Lundqvist was all through his profession.

He was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame as a part of the 2023 class with a resume that features the 2011-12 NHL Vezina Trophy winner as league’s prime goalie and 5 All-Star choices. He by no means completed a season with a save proportion under .905 and ended his profession with a complete save proportion of .918 and a targets in opposition to common of two.43.

Lundqvist is healthier positioned than virtually anybody in historical past in terms of evaluating the goaltender place, and he could have his eye on Shesterkin and Fast with the Rangers, in addition to Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning, through the upcoming season.

“I like watching Vasilevskiy,” he mentioned. “He is actually good, and he is highly effective on his toes. With Igor, it is a totally different model however I simply love how easy he makes it look typically. And I’ve to say, not as a result of Fast is a Ranger now, however I’ve all the time cherished watching Jonathan and taking part in in opposition to him. He is very acrobatic on the market and artistic with how he is making saves. And I like that there is alternative ways to give you saves, and he is actually good at that.”

It’s a testomony to New York’s historical past of goaltending that it has an all-time nice in Fast as its No. 2 choice. Fast is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time William M. Jennings Trophy winner for the fewest targets scored in opposition to and can look so as to add to his resume when filling in for Shesterkin.

New York might need to undergo the Lightning within the Japanese Convention, although, which is simpler mentioned than achieved with Vasilevskiy spearheading the efforts.

Like Lundqvist with the Rangers, Vasilevskiy has change into a legend with one staff in Tampa Bay since debuting through the 2014-15 season and is a two-time Stanley Cup winner, five-time All-Star and the proprietor of the 2018-19 Vezina Trophy.

Lundqvist can be following Vasilevskiy, the Rangers and the opposite goalies this season as a media member after he was a part of NHL on TNT’s coverage of final season’s playoffs.

One non-goalie storyline that stands out to him is the Edmonton Oilers’ quest to bounce again from their troublesome loss to the Panthers within the Stanley Cup Ultimate. Edmonton reached the Stanley Cup Ultimate for the primary time since 2006 however proceeded to lose the primary three video games earlier than it got here storming again with three consecutive wins to pressure a Recreation 7.

It appeared like that remaining contest could be a defining and crowning second for Connor McDavid’s profession, however Florida gained 2-1.

The Oilers responded this offseason by making Leon Draisaitl the league’s highest-paid participant with an eight-year contract that pays him a mean annual worth of $14 million. Now they flip their consideration to making an attempt to do precisely what the Panthers simply did after Florida misplaced the 2023 Stanley Cup Ultimate to the Vegas Golden Knights after which got here again to win all of it.

“It is going to be fascinating to see how the Oilers reply after that robust Recreation 7,” Lundqvist mentioned. “They simply locked up Draisaitl, that is an enormous piece. I believe they are going to be harmful once more. You noticed what Florida did dropping the one yr and coming again the subsequent yr with that have and a lot motivation to make it occur. I might see the Oilers having the same feeling going into this yr.”

Maybe Lundqvist’s Rangers can be ready for them within the Stanley Cup Ultimate this time.