The Henrik Lundqvist era with the New York Rangers came to an end Wednesday, when the team announced they were buying out the final year of his contract. Fifteen seasons, one trip to the Stanley Cup Finals and so many accolades later, King Henrik will move on to the next step in his career. To talk about Lundqvist’s Rangers legacy and memories over the years, we present a special edition of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast with Rangers great Ron Duguay.
Ron opens the show talking about Lundqvist’s time with the Rangers, the goaltender being dubbed “The King” for a reason and the hardest working guy on the ice. I read a message I received from one of Lundqvist’s good friends from Sweden before Ron chats with a cavalcade of special Rangers guests: Larry Brooks, Darius Kasparaitis, Mollie Walker, Mike Richter, Dave Maloney and Linda Cohn
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Longtime NY Post Rangers beat writer Larry Brooks is up first to join Doogs. Brooks talks about Lundqvist being the face of the franchise for 14 of the 15 years he was here, symbolizing class and pride in being a Ranger. Brook discusses him being the complete package, some of his biggest moments in a Rangers uniform, playing at an elite level in playoff elimination games and why he was such an important figure in New York sports history. Brooksie also gets into what the future holds for the goalie as he explores his options, which he hopes would be for a west coast team.
Darius Kasparaitis was Lundqvist’s teammate when he was a rookie in 2005. He joins Ron to talk about the goalie’s first year and him living in his house with his girlfriend for a month. He talks about Henrik buying his first Maserati and showing him the ropes about enjoying life outside the rink. Kasparaitis discusses the professionalism he saw in Henrik, how good he was in overtime and shootouts, taking the game serious and every loss being emotional for him.
NY Post sportswriter and friend of the program Mollie Walker then joins the pod. She talks about being eight years old as a Rangers fan when Henrik got to the Rangers, using him as ammo against her Devils-fan friends, getting to talk to him in the locker room, how gracious he was and quickly he became a New York icon. She says he was always the model athlete for New York, embracing the city and her story on outpouring of farewell messages around the sports world for Henrik.
1994 Stanley Cup champion-winning goalie Mike Richter then joins Doogie. Richer discusses what the experience is like being a goaltender in New York, the pressure of winning here, him walking away proud, not winning a Stanley Cup and getting into the Hall of Fame. He says if he feels he has game left in him that he should go play elsewhere.
Former Rangers captain, MSG Network and ESPN Radio New York Rangers color commentator and friend of the program Dave Maloney then drops by the show. Maloney said Lundqvist was like the “moral beacon” of the franchise, being there through thick and thin and not cheating himself in preparation. Maloney also talks about him being one of the few goalies you could always count on, wanting to see him get a chance for another team and wanting to see his name on a Stanley Cup.
Longtime ESPN anchor, rabid Rangers fan and friend of the program Linda Cohn then joins Duguay. Cohn talks about how special Henrik was to the organization, everything he has done on and off the ice and being on the Mount Rushmore of great New York City great athletes. Cohen also discusses the future for Lundqvist and why she thinks going to the Capitals would be the perfect fit for him next season
Catch up on all episodes of “Up In The Blue Seats,” a New York Rangers podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. The next episode of the show will come out following the NHL Draft in October.