On Friday night, Rangers’ legendary goaltender Henrik Lundqvist had his jersey number retired at the famous Madison Square Garden in front of a sold-out crowd, including his friends and family. 

Throughout the entire day, Lundqvist participated in press conferences and interviews, including one with Jimmy Fallon. He also spoke to former teammates and staff members during the day. Mats Zuccarello of the Minnesota Wild, a former teammate and good friend, was able to watch the proceedings from the opposing team’s bench. 

Affectionately known as “Hank” and “the King” among the Blueshirts’ fanbase, Lundqvist becomes the 11th former member of the team to have his number raised to the rafters. He began his NHL career on Oct. 8th, 2005 and earned his first win five days later. Lundqvist was nominated for the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded to the year’s most outstanding goaltender in the NHL, a total of five times and won in 2012. By the end of his illustrious career, he won 459 games with the Rangers, cementing a franchise record and sitting at sixth place all-time in the NHL. 

Rangers fans all over the world have been waiting for this night, especially because Lundqvist was never given closure as a Ranger. He was never able to give a proper goodbye to fans in the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. His Rangers tenure ended after the 2019-2020 season, when the Rangers lost to the Carolina Hurricanes on Aug. 3 in the modified playoffs, resulting from the emergence of COVID-19. In the offseason, he was signed by the Washington Capitals but was never able to play for them due to a heart condition. 

Fans watched Lundqvist dominate on the Rangers for 15 years, which included an impressive 12 playoff runs. In the 2013-2014 season, “Hank” led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Kings. He is succeeded by Igor Shesterkin, who remains the most valuable player to the Rangers so far this season. Lundqvist’s leadership undoubtedly contributed to the smooth transition of goaltenders. 

During the proceedings on the ice, Lundqvist gave an incredible speech showing his appreciation for the city of New York and his fans’  support for his 15 years as a Ranger. He spoke

between the constant chants of his name by the crowd, as he couldn’t go more than a few seconds without a “HEN-RIK” erupting from the stands. For anyone watching, his legacy as one of the most beloved players in franchise history was evident on Friday night. 

As his number was getting lifted to the rafters, Lundqvist stood beside his wife and two daughters, whom he continually lauded as his biggest supporters throughout his career. Former teammate Kevin Weekes gave a moving tribute to Lundqvist and his impact on the community of New York City and highlighted his contributions to the Garden of Dreams Foundation. As Weekes so accurately put it, Lundqvist was an inspiration off the ice as much as he was on the ice. 

Number 30 will hang alongside the numbers of Rangers legends Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Mike Richter and Adam Graves, all of whom were in attendance for this special night. They joined Lundqvist for a picture after his number was immortalized in Rangers history. 

The Blueshirts all wore his jersey for warmups in anticipation of their matchup against the Minnesota Wild, a team they have not faced since February of 2020. “The King” of New York’s jersey was worn on the ice for one final time as his former team beautifully honored his legacy.