After 15 years as the New York Rangers' franchise goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist's life is as busy as ever.
King, now 42, has been nearly five years removed from his last NHL game, but continues to be praised for his accomplishments during his illustrious career in New York.
On Monday night, Lundqvist will attend the 39th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner at the New York Hilton in Midtown.
Mr. Lundqvist has worked with some of the most prominent figures in sports, including NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, World Series champion Roger Clemens, NFL Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, and NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton. He said he is looking forward to a special evening that will benefit the Buoconti Foundation. Cure paralysis.
“I'm really enjoying what I'm doing right now,” Lundqvist told the Post by phone Sunday. There was an unmistakable calmness in his voice.
But until recently, Lundqvist was in the same position as the Rangers' current star goalie, Igor Shesterkin. He is entering the final year of his contract with no extension and expected to receive the highest annual salary. NHL goaltender.
When asked what he remembered from those days, Shesterkin, who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023, expressed similar emotions to those he had when answering questions about hockey at the start of training camp.
“As an athlete, you just focus on the sports side of things, that’s it,” Lundqvist said. “It's a business, but you have to put that aside and focus on what needs to be done. That's it. You can let your team do whatever needs to be done.”
Lundqvist ultimately signed a seven-year, $59.5 million contract in December 2013, making him the league's highest-paid netminder at the time with a cap hit of $8.5 million.
A lot has changed since then.
The cap has gone up.
The goalie market seems to have changed dramatically.
And currently, the largest contract for a goaltender goes to Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens at $10.5 million per year.
But the pressure and expectations that come with breaking records (which Shesterkin expected when he signed) will always be the same.
“I think you set a standard for yourself,” said Lundqvist, who will also be featured in some of MSG's games this season. “It doesn't matter because I put a certain amount of pressure on myself. If you want to go there, put money aside, but it's more about performance and achieving what you want to achieve. The pressure you put on yourself is what really matters.”
It's a different era in Lundqvist's life, now centered around just living, family, and the causes he holds dear.
Additionally, Lundqvist enjoys attending the U.S. Open, watching Pearl Jam at MSG, and teaming up with his brother Joel to represent outdoor sports equipment company RevolutionRace.
The King of New York is more than just the King of New York, especially when it comes to high-profile events and fashion moments.
But partnering with charity has taken on new meaning for Lundqvist since undergoing surgery in 2020 to address a malfunctioning bicuspid aortic valve in his heart.
He finished his campaign with the Swedish Heart and Lung Association this summer. During that time, he also partnered with Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals to raise awareness of recurrent pericarditis, which causes swelling and inflammation around the heart and ultimately forced him to retire.
Further health-focused initiatives will be announced in the near future.
“Whenever you face a health problem, you always reflect on it,” Lundqvist says. “I definitely think that health is something that you often take for granted. Especially as an athlete, when you fight through it, you have to adjust your mindset along the way, change your lifestyle. Things happen where you have to make some adjustments. So, of course, I feel special when it comes to my health and feeling good.”
