Kevin’s Morning Hash: Lundqvist Always Made it Clear That He Loved the Game

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, 39, might have had a few bad starts during his career. But he never gave a bad interview. At least, not to me.

Given Lundqvist’s age and recent health injury, he undoubtedly made the right decision yesterday to retire. But it still makes me sad. When people ask me to name the players I’ve enjoyed interviewing in my 35 years of covering the NHL, I always have King Henrik in my top five.

Selfishly, I was hoping he might play one more season. Just wanted one more time to kibitz with him about whatever seemed relevant. One time, we started to talk about his reputation as the NHL’s best dresser and he told me he owned more than 60 suits. Turned out to be an interesting story and a conversation starter with other players.

When I go up to talk to them, they’d said they read that Lundqvist story and then would tell me they owned six suits, or eight, or whatever their number was.

No matter the topic, Lundqvist was always interesting. It was clear he loved the game. We talked the last time we had a national media day and he didn’t know when he would retire, but he did say he planned to stay in New York.

Happy to remember that. Maybe we still have another interview or two in our futures. At the very least, I will interview him when he enters the Hall of Fame.

Henrik Lundqvist’s 459 wins are the most among goalies who played every game of their career with one team. Yes, he signed with the Capitals and wore their jersey but that record remains intact.

Carey Price is the closest active goalie, 99 wins back. https://t.co/L4sRRTCYKY

— Steve “Dangle” Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) August 20, 2021

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