Henrik Lundqvist

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 195
team = New York Rangers
league = NHL
nationality = SWE
birth_date = birth date and age|1982|3|2
birth_place = Åre, Sweden
career_start = 2000
draft = 205th overall
draft_year = 2000
draft_team = New York Rangers


image_size = 230px

Henrik Lundqvist [Swedish Language| ['hɛn.rɪk 'lɵnd.kvɪst] (born March 2, 1982) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy in each of his three seasons in the NHL, finishing third all three times. His dominating play during his rookie season resulted in the New York media and Rangers fans giving him the nickname "King Henrik".cite web | publisher=msnbc.com | url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/11050198/ | title='King Henrik' keys Rangers' revival | date=2006-01-29 | accessdate=2008-03-12] During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, he led the Sweden national men's ice hockey team to their second Olympic Gold Medal.

Before joining the Rangers, Lundqvist played for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elitserien. During his years in Sweden, he developed into the league's finest goaltender, winning the Honken Trophy three consecutive seasons; 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005 he also won two of the most prestigious awards in Swedish ice hockey, the Golden Puck and the Golden Helmet.

Lundqvist is considered a butterfly style goalie, though unorthodox due to the aggressive way he performs the butterfly. [cite web |url=http://mckeenshockey.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=476527|title=NHL Jagr & Lundqvist Broadway Show|accessdate=2007-07-26|last=Burstyn|first=David|date=2005-11-08|publisher=McKeen's Hockey] He is best known for his sensational quickness, athleticism, and strong positional play. [cite web |url=http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/7219/rangers_top20_prospects/ |title=Rangers Top 20 prospects |accessdate=2008-02-29 |date=2004-09-27|publisher=Hockey's Future]

Early life

Henrik and identical twin brother Joel (a center with the Dallas Stars of the NHL) were born to Eva Johansson and Peter Lundqvist. They grew up in Åre, Jämtland, an area where alpine skiing is the most popular winter activity, but Henrik and Joel chose to play ice hockey over the more popular winter sports. During the winters their kindergarten teachers used the kindergarten's 9x3 meter sandpit to freeze an outdoor ice rink where the twins would frequently skate. Their interest in hockey grew even larger when their father Peter took the twins to see Västra Frölunda HC play in Scandinavium, Gothenburg. Peter worked for a company who sponsored Frölunda, and Henrik and Joel saw many games in Scandinaium and Frölunda became their favourite team. In 1990 Henrik and Joel joined Järpens IF and started playing organized hockey for the first time. During one practice when the coach asked if anyone wanted to be a goaltender Joel grabbed and raised Henrik's arm and said that his brother would like to. In 1993 the family moved to Båstad, Scania, in southern Sweden to support their older sister Gabriella's tennis career. Henrik and Joel joined local team Rögle BK, and were both selected for Scania's regional team in Sverigepucken in 1995. Henrik was selected to play for Scania in TV-pucken in 1996, and in 1997 when Joel was also selected. During the 1997–98 season Henrik and Joel were extensively scouted by Västra Frölunda HC, and while playing for Rögle in the 1998 Scandinavium Cup in Gothenburg, Frölunda's junior team manager and U16 coach Janne Karlsson contacted their father, who told Henrik and Joel about Frölunda's interest in them while driving home to Båstad.

Professional career

Frölunda (2000–2005)

After having a successful pre-season, Lundqvist made his Elitserien debut in the season opener on September 21, 2000, in a 2–4 loss against Brynäs IF. Lundqvist bounced back and recorded his first win in the following away game against IF Björklöven, stopping 18 shots and only allowing one goal while being short handed. In his third straight start, Lundqvist allowed two early first period goals in a game against Timrå IK and was pulled in favor of veteran keeper Håkan Algotsson. Lundqvist would dress for only ten more games this season and got only one start in a shootout loss to Djurgårdens IF. Lundqvist lost his roster spot to Canadian veteran keeper Pat Jablonski, who joined the team in October. Tommy Boustedt, the coach of the team at the time, later said that: cquote|Malfeasance, I think in hindsight, that he didn't get to start in more games that season. He showed then that he was that good. He should have played more, no doubt about it.Lundqvist played in nine games for IF Mölndal Hockey in the Swedish second tier Allsvenskan, before joining Frölunda's junior team in the J20 SuperElit in December. After his poor play in Allsvenskan, and a tough start in the J20 SuperElit, he allowed six goals in an exhibition game against Canada. National junior team coaches Bo "Kulon" Lennartsson and Mikael Tisell were worried and decided to have a talk with Lundqvist, where they questioned his motivation.Fact|date=August 2007 Lundqvist's turning point came at the turn of the year at the 2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Moscow, Russia, where he led the Swedish national junior's team to a fourth place finish in the tournament. He spent the rest of the seasons in the J20 SuperElit where he played 18 games, leading the league in minutes played by a goaltender. In the playoffs, he led Frölunda to their second straight Anton Cup win, which came in a 5–2 win over Leksands IF in the final at the Stockholm Globe Arena.

In December 2004, The Hockey News rated Lundqvist the sixth best European prospect, and he was 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 goal-tending prospects, where he was ranked seventh amongst the group. [cite web | publisher=newyorkrangers.com | url=http://nyrangers.com/team/playerinfo.asp?playerid=203 | title=New York Rangers Player Info: Henrik Lundqvist| accessdate=2007-02-22]

During the 2005 season, Lundqvist broke four Swedish national records: lowest goals against average (1.05), highest save percentage (.962), longest goalless streak (172 min 29 sec), and most shutouts in a season (6). He was also named Best Goaltender, Best Swedish Player, and he was selected as the league's MVP by fellow players.

In 180 appearances with Frölunda, he amassed 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.

New York (2005–present)

At the beginning of his rookie season in 2005-06, with starting goaltender Kevin Weekes injured, Lundqvist made his NHL debut on October 8, 2005, against the New Jersey Devils, stopping 24 of 27 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss. A few days later on October 12, 2005, Lundqvist posted his first career NHL win against the Devils. His first career shutout came on October 17, 2005, against the Florida Panthers, and with it Lundqvist became the first rookie goaltender to record a shutout for the Rangers since John Vanbiesbrouck on January 2, 1985.Fact|date=March 2008 During the season Lundqvist also became the first Rangers rookie to post 20 wins in a season since Mike Richter recorded 21 in 1990-91.Fact|date=March 2008 Finishing the season with 30 wins, Lundqvist broke the Rangers rookie goaltending record of 29 wins, previously held by Jim Henry (1941-42) and Johnny Bower (1953-54).Fact|date=March 2008 Lundqvist was among the league leaders in several categories: fifth in goals against average (2.24), fourth in save percentage (.922), 11th in wins (30), and tied for 16th in shutouts with two. His regular season success did not continue in the playoffs, where he appeared in three playoff games, posted a 0–3 record, a 4.40 goals against average, and an .835 save percentage in a series loss to the Devils. He was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's best goaltender, but he was not a finalist for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year, due to a high quality crop of first-year players. [cite web | publisher=newsobserver.com | url=http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/386134.html | title=Rangers' rookies play in shadows | accessdate=2007-11-05] He was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team, along with Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Brad Boyes, Dion Phaneuf and Andrej Meszároš. He won the 2005-06 MetLife/Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, a New York Rangers team award.

On December 14, 2006, against the Dallas Stars, Henrik became the first NHL goaltender to face his twin brother. He and his brother are only the third set of twins to play each other in an NHL game. The game was won by Henrik and the Rangers.Fact|date=March 2008 In the Rangers 7-0 win in game three of the 2007 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals over the Atlanta Thrashers, Lundqvist became the first Rangers goalie since Mike Richter in 1997 to post a playoff shutout. The win was also the Rangers first home playoff win since Richter's shutout.Fact|date=March 2008 For the second consecutive year, Lundqvist was a finalist being considered for the Vezina Trophy. Because Lundqvist was tied with Miikka Kiprusoff for third place in balloting, there were four finalists for an NHL individual trophy for the first time in league history. During the off-season, Lundqvist re-signed to a one-year, $4.25 million (USD) contract with the Rangers.

On February 13, 2008, Lundqvist signed a six-year contract with the Rangers worth $41.25 million, averaging $6.875 million a season. [cite web | publisher=The Sports Network | url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=229527&hubname= | title=Lundqvist inks 6-year deal with Rangers | date=2008-02-16 | accessdate=2008-02-16] This made him the highest paid goaltender in the NHL on average over the length of his contract. [cite web | publisher=NY Daily News | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/rangers/2008/02/rangers-announce-lundqvist-sig.html | title=Rangers announce Lundqvist signing (updated) | date=2008-02-14 | accessdate=2008-02-17] On February 24, 2008, Lundqvist became the first Rangers goaltender to record eight shutouts in a single season since Eddie Giacomin in 1970-71. On March 6, 2008, Lundqvist recorded his 30th win of the season, making him just the second goaltender, along with Ron Hextall, to record at least 30 wins in each of his first three NHL seasons. On March 9, 2008, Lundqvist became the first Rangers goaltender to record 9 shutouts in a season since Eddie Giacomin's 1966-67 campaign in a 1-0 win against the Boston Bruins. [cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/2008/03/09/2008-03-09_goalie_coach_benoit_allaire_has_knack_fo.html | title=Goalie coach Benoit Allaire has knack for keeping Henrik Lundqvist up | publisher="Daily News" | last=Dellapina | first=John | date=2008-03-09 | accessdate=2008-03-10]

He was named the Rangers Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season (2006-07 and 2007-08), as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. He is the first back-to-back winner of the award since Mark Messier in 1993-94 and 1994-95. [cite news| url=http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=359256 | title=Lundqvist named Rangers MVP| publisher=newyorkrangers.com | date=2008-04-11 | accessdate=2008-04-11]

Lundqvist has allowed two or fewer goals in seventeen consecutive starts against the New Jersey Devils. His active streak is the second-longest for a goaltender against a single opponent in modern NHL history, tied with Bill Durnan's streak against the Chicago Blackhawks, and second to Dominik Hasek's twenty-three starts against the Ottawa Senators.

International play

Juniorkronorna

Lundqvist is the all time leader among goaltenders, and eleventh overall of all players, in games played for the Swedish national junior's ice hockey team. [cite web|url=http://www.swehockey.se/t3b.asp?p=69309%20&x=1&a=1117682|title=De är historiska|accessdate=2008-02-26|author=Anders Feltenmark|last=Feltenmark|first=Anders|date=2008-01-04|publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association|language=Swedish]

At the 2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Moscow, Russia, Lundqvist led the Swedish national junior's ice hockey team to a fourth place finish in the tournament. After an upset 3–2 win over the hosting nation Russia in the quarterfinals, Sweden lost 0–1 against Czech Republic in the semifinals, and 1–2 in over time against Canada in the bronze medal game.

Tre Kronor

Lundqvist debuted for Tre Kronor on November 10, 2002, during the 2002 Karjala Tournament in Helsinki, Finland. [cite web|url=http://www.swehockey.se/files/%7B6A834FA2-E7DA-4EC7-9A39-9A98DF894BAD%7D.pdf|title=Debutanter i Tre Kronor sedan 1937|accessdate=2008-02-26|date=2007-12-13|format=PDF|publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association|pages=22|language=Swedish|quote=679 Henrik Lundqvist Västra Frölunda HC 10/11 2002 Karjala Tournament, Helsingfors, Finland, Finland-Sverige]

Lundqvist was selected to the 2003 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships but was third string goaltender behind Tommy Salo and Mikael Tellqvist. The following year at the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships Lundqvist was the starting goaltender and he was selected to the tournament all star team.

Lundqvist and Jörgen Jönsson were the only two Elitserien players selected to play for Sweden at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Lacking experience on the smaller ice surface Lundqvist was again third string behind Salo and Tellqvist.

In the Euro Hockey Tour during the 2004–05 season, Lundqvist was named best goaltender in Karjala Tournament and Sweden Hockey Games by the directorate and also to the media all star team in both tournaments. At the 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria, Lundqvist played in all nine games during the tournament where Sweden lost the bronze medal game against Russia. [cite web|url=http://www.swehockey.se/files/%7B447620C3-CCC9-4D0E-BDF5-7D40C6C652AF%7D.pdf|title=GOALKEEPERS IN TRE KRONOR 2004/2005|accessdate=2008-02-26|date=2005-05-16|format=PDF|publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association]

Lundqvist's most memorable international performance came at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where he led Sweden to the gold medal over their arch rival, Finland. In six Olympic starts, Lundqvist went 5–1, allowing only 12 goals with a .907 save percentage.

Inline hockey

Lundqvist led team Sweden with spectacular goaltending to their first ever medal in Inline hockey when they won Gold at the 2002 IIHF Inline Hockey World Championships. [cite web|url=http://imanager.ip-finland.com/iihf/magazine/1-2003/10.php|title=Sweden Strikes Gold in 2002|accessdate=2008-02-26|year=2003|work=In-Line Hockey Magazine|publisher=International Ice Hockey Federation] [cite web|url=http://www.swehockey.se/files/%7B31BABAF2-5346-4905-91C6-7832BA62F79D%7D.pdf|title=2002 IIHF WORLD INLINE CHAMPIONSHIP|accessdate=2008-02-26|date=2002-07-31|format=PDF|publisher=Swedish Ice Hockey Association]

Off the ice

In 2007 a video appeared on the website YouTube with a drunk man impersonating Lundqvist. Two major Swedish tabloids, [http://aftonbladet.se/vss/sport/story/0,2789,1089894,00.html Aftonbladet] and [http://www.expressen.se/sport/ishockey/1.712632 Expressen] wrote about the event, and Aftonbladet later released a [http://aftonbladet.se/vss/sport/story/0,2789,1090086,00.html statement] from a man claiming to have been the impersonator in the YouTube clip.

In April 2006 he was named one of "People"'s World's 100 Most Beautiful People. [cite web | publisher=etonline.com | url=http://et.tv.yahoo.com/celebrities/14550/ | title=People's World's Most Beautiful People | accessdate=2006-05-28]

In 2004 he was awarded Best Dressed in Sweden. [cite web | publisher=nhl.com | url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=342260 | title=Lundqvist front and center for Rangers' revival | accessdate=2007-11-05]

Lundqvist used to play guitar in a Swedish rock band called Box Play.Cite web|url=http://nypress.com/19/46/news&columns/feature2.cfm|title=One On One With Henrik Lundqvist|accessdate=2007-08-11|publisher=New York Press|author=Hollander, Dave]

Career statistics

Regular season

NHL

ee also

*List of family relations in the National Hockey League

Notes

External links

*nhlprofile|8468685
*hockeydb|51269
*TSN-NHL-profile|2585
* [http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app?page=HistoricalPlayerDetail&pkey=8468685&service=page Rangers All-Time Roster: Henrik Lundqvist]